ok, I am at a loss as to how to go about asking the
service guy at my local (albeit crapppy) volvo dealer
about my transmission issue.

Heres the case;
2001 volvo wagon awd cross country 84000 miles
great condition seem to have no issues..

prior to purchase checked all fluids., test drove aggressively
no issues..even found tranny fluid stick everything seemed ok.

took a drive to mass from vermont, no issues
got home and engine revs, tranny slips,,suddenly gear shift
doesnt work so well, got home, service trans light comes on
engine light comes on..

i have a local volvo guy small scale, got the car to drive the next morning
to his garage..he checks fluid,says its full, shouldnt be doing what it is
doing.he checks his computer thing to check codes..hmmm its showing
0 for gear ratios.. and the shift isnt moving anything...into any gear
car is not moving and wont move..

so he doesnt have vidas or whatever the mother computer is needed to
diagnoss the situation but a dealer fairly close does..I personally hate
this dealer for other vehicles i have had with them, and have not gone
back to them for this reason..i have the car towed to them.
after like 4 days,, they say
you definitely need a new transmission..
they did not tell me that the codes said so, they say thats what happens..
i ask about uploading software to re do the gear ratio codes..
they say thats a waste of time and money and the car needs to
get a new tranny..
i ask about how they know it needs a new trans they say it \
'happens on all the 2001 wagons and i just have to accept that

i ask if they are sure the trans is shot, they say that they assume it
is, annd just do the work, they have not removed or examined the trans
they say the little compuiter codes indicate a gear ratio failure..so i should
just replace the transmission..

so i need some advice from you all

what the hell is going on? should i listen to these guys...h
or have it towed to someone else for costly money, since the other
dealer nearby is nearly 90miles away..

what should i ask for in terms of diagnosis and solutions/options before
replacing a whole tranny??

i have heard on some sites that unecessary tranny replacements happen
on this car because the techs just are adept at finding the real problem.

is this a ECM problem that may be a recall situation??

HELP!!!!

 

How long have you had the car? Do you have access to full maintenance records? Perhaps you can get some helpful information there.

I have a '98 that I bought knowing it had transmission issues. I've reset the code myself several times. I'll drive it until I can't stand it and swap in a transmission from a parts car I bought.

I apologize that my response is mostly commiseration (sp?) but AWD models have issues.