2000 S80 T6 140K miles, Tiptronic. Complex story: I had mechanical only work done recently by my local general mechanic – muffler, brakes, minor suspension parts. No electrical work. When I picked it up, the climate control module did not work properly. No fan, seat heaters, etc. I returned it to the guy, but he said he was at a loss as to how the mechanical work he performed could have affected the CC unit. Coincidence, he claimed. He priced a new unit but I opted for a used unit. He installed it. But to make it operational, he had to take the car to the local Volvo dealer to have the unit “flashed.” When I got it back, the CC unit worked but the car barely moved. Felt like it was starting off in 4th gear. I immediately returned it to the local mechanic. He and I each contacted the Volvo dealer, who claimed coincidence here, too, saying there could be no connection between the tranny and the flashing he performed on the CC unit. Without even seeing the car again, he said I’d need a new tranny. I then spoke with a different Vovlo dealer, who basically confirmed what the claims of “coincidence” by both the local guy and local Volvo dealer said, and that I was due for a new tranny anyway. Next, I had it looked at by a reputable transmission specialist. He spent many hours diagnosing it, and says he is 99% sure the problem is not inside the tranny, but rather a computer module problem. However, he said if he purchases a module but that doesn’t fix the problem, he’s (I’m) stuck with the module, since it can’t be returned. But he said if I take it to a Volvo dealer, the dealer could return the module if it’s not needed. Help! Is this a matter of coincidence, or should I go after the local mechanic and/or first Volvo dealer? Notes: no previous tranny problems. Local mechanic had to jump-start the car several times during servicing. Claimed leaving the key on for even a few minutes drained the battery. No history of this kind of problem.
I owned 2 Volvo V70XC wagons, one a 2000 and the other a '98. Owned is definately in the past tense, but I did learn a few things. Volvo’s have lots of unique aspects to them, so a general mechanic is going to run into problems. I needed to find a good Volvo knowledgeable shop since the dealer’s charge pretty much $1,000 to 3,000 dollars every time they see the car.
In time I tired of the high repair costs that are inevitable with any older Volvo, hence both cars are now emptying someone else’s wallet. My good Volvo mechanic claimed he had never seen a transmission in a V70XC go past 150K miles without replacement. My car at the time had 180K miles. He won’t flush the trans, said that could cause it to fail just drive it until… Which I did until I sold it at 210K miles and the tranny never failed me, just bunches of other stuff did.
To much coincidence here and too little competance. If you have to keep the Volvo you need to find a really good Volvo knowledgeable shop. That will be expensive too, but easier to take than the dealer. I’d suspect the computer module is either bad or the “flash” which I guess is a reboot of some sort didn’t take. Can you get the transmission into 1st by manually putting it into low and then shifting up the gears manually? My V70XC’s had a “winter” mode which was a start from a stop in 3rd gear (4 speed auto). It sounds like your transmission has either defaulted to “safe” mode or is in winter mode. Whatever system is telling the tranny what to do is out of whack.
If you figure it out, seriously consider getting rid of the Volvo and buying something else. I’ve got a Honda, a Ford, and a Toyota and spend less on repairing all of them per year than I did on one Volvo.
First don’t blame your original mechanic for failure of the CC. It is unrelated and bad coincidence.
If you can afford to move on do it. IMHO over 10yrs/150k you easily move into expensive car repairs or maintenance as people call it. You hit that.
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