Not all the time but when warm my transmission seems to be slipping. Also at times it seems to hesatate going into gear at start (automatic). Next when put into reverse seems to drop into gear hard (thud). Car is under warrent 2001 s40 anyone know of a transmission going on this model with only 40,000 miles of non-hard driving?? Could it be something else? Still have not fixed the Fuel gauge issue yet like posted in the past but may have to bring it in for the transmission since that is covered by the warrenty.

 

The trans is going bad.

 

there actually is a couple TSB's about the tranny..."Harsh 302 downshift, 2-3 upshift flare" According to the description, "sympton may be described as a bang or thump in the car while slowing down." about the upshift flare, "the flare could be described by the customer as the transmission slipping, the car feeling like it was in neutral for a short time, the tachometer needle jumping up or the engine racing during a shift"

 

What good are the TSB's? I went to the dealership for a program upgrade for my 2001 and then service says sorry no program fix for this. This is my 5th (and possible last). My 940T has 235,000 miles on still going. I started telling the dealer when I purchased the car, from a private party) with 52,000 something felt strange in the transmission. They said NO transmission problems with the S40.

 

The S40's only have one software upgrade for them. They don't have seperate ones for Issues.
That it till the 2004.5 came out.

 

there actually is a couple TSB's about the tranny..."Harsh 302 downshift, 2-3 upshift flare" According to the description, "sympton may be described as a bang or thump in the car while slowing down." about the upshift flare, "the flare could be described by the customer as the transmission slipping, the car feeling like it was in neutral for a short time, the tachometer needle jumping up or the engine racing during a shift"

-My car is actually doing this. Is something WRONG with the transmission? As in is it damaged?

 

I've had the same stupid transmission issues with my V70 since I bought it. Mechanic has it at the moment and he thinks it is a network / software issue, probably the network corrupted by a bad ABS module. Makes sense to me. The slipping and flaring doesn't feel like a mechanical problem, it feels like the throttle and the transmission not talking to each other properly.

I'll keep you posted.

 

I went for a 20 miles drive with a transmission specialist on Friday who swore up and down that there is nothing wrong with the car. In fact, he actually said to me that "the adaptive features of the 5-speed automatic can often make a customer who is used to a 4-speed automatic feel like something is wrong".

I think he looked at the TSB that I had with me and 'gulped' at the cost of the the TCM (warranteed...)

 

I have a 2001 s40 and have the 2-3 upshift problem. I had the fluid changed at volvo, ($300.00), and it didn't really help. What's next? Software upgrade? 85,000 miles.

 

I have read some reports that say a transmission control module software upgrade - as opposed to a replacement - might *not* correct the problem.

I have the technical service bulletins from Volvo. One of them says that software upgrades are available, others with later dates (and for other models with the same transmission)say that the TCM should be replaced - and the replacement unit carries the correct software.

 

You can try getting one. They will tell you if none is avalible for the car.

 

The dealer told me there is no TCM upgrade for my 2003 s40. replacement is $800 !!

 

Then the tranny is bad.
Was that a total price parts and labor?

If so then that is a good price.

It is usually almost $2000.00 for the job.

 

Replace the transmission or replace the TCM?

The dealer will not admit anything is wrong with the vehicle. This is probably because my car is still under warranty.

I have read as much as I can on the subject, and my understanding (which could be incorrect, so check me) is that there is no "software upgrade" for the slippy transmission. Getting a NEW tcm is what the TSB says will correct it.

I would investigate doing that change (it is $432 for the tcm part) before dropping 2k on a whole new trans. It seems rather silly to me that a car that costs close to 30k should have a dead transmission at 50k miles.

 

I agree but I would say the TCM would not fix the problem.

I have seen to many of these transmissions burnt up in the last 6 years.

 

tech, any idea if the transmissions changed for the better on the later model 2005+ ?

 

Yes they are better on the 2005 cars.

 

Well the TCM replacement is $800 bucks where I am with P/L. I bought the car from third party dealer. After diagnostic at the Volvo dealer, I had my 3rd party replace the TCM.Volvo dealer told me, my 3rd party dealerput in an used TCM but with the updated software,but it may not be working correctly. The problem is still there but not as bad though. So they reset the adaptation but that didn't help. Volvo dealer is saying that they need to put in a brand new TCM to start with. What can I say......then again the problem is lot less now atleast after replacing the TCM with an used one....
I checked VADIS and everything points to TCM. Ifitis atranny issue, wouldn't there be some error code? what are thesigns when a tranny is going bad and is this one of them?

 

Slipping and really hard shifting are signs of it going bad.

 

Here are some updates about what my car was doing:

1) It tends to do it more often (a couple of times per week) when it is hot out. In the winter, it barely did it at all. Revs up from 2000-3000 and then back down. No thunk, no clunk, no nothing.

2) It will not do it under hard acceleration nor extremely light stop 'n go throttle. I would say it only does it under "partially light" throttle.

3) I mention this condition every time the car is in for a regular service and ask them if they notice anything. Do not ask them to look for codes or anything like that because you end up paying them to come back and tell you they can't find anything.

4) My advice is if your problem is really bad, get the car hot and take it for service while it is still hot...it may increase your chances.

5) The dealer cannot replicate the condition, and thinks I am nuts. He asks me regularly if I am accidentally hitting the "winter" mode. With what? My kid?