Hello all,
I have a 2010 S40. I got a used transmission installed at a shop a month ago and now it is shifting very hard. I took it to them 3 times since and they keep telling me nothing is wrong. Do these cars need their transmissions adapted like some other euro cars? any help would be appreciated THANK YOU!!

 

most drive cycles are to establish emission controls but here's a link to check out

https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/fo...ic.php?t=60817

As to your transmission issue, first thing to do is check fluid level. Then I'd go back to the receipt from the shop who did the install to see if they noted which fluid was used - seems possible they could have used the wrong spec transmission fluid or didn't follow the correct hot transmission level check. You may want to have a Volvo friendly shop do a drain/fill to ensure the correct fluid type/level. Finally, you may need to check if the electrical connectors are clean and secure, including ground contacts to the transmission.

 

A Volvo-specific shop will use the VIDA tool to reset the transmission adaptations, and will then do a very specific "learning drive cycle" to "train" the tranny how to shift again. If you skip these steps, your tranny may eventually relearn and start shifting properly again. Or not... depends on the transmission you got, and what the shop did.

Like mt6127 said, it's possible that the shop used "generic" fluid, which isn't a good idea for a Volvo transmission. You might ask them which fluid they DID use in the tranny. Also yes, DO check the level, as if it's wrong, you're going to have problems.

Otherwise, my money's on the problem being bad / gunked up linear solenoids in the tranny's valve body. Not really expensive or even all that difficult to swap - I did a youtube video on the process (shouldn't be too hard to find).