Need advice fast on clunking transmission!

[Chris B.]

I'm looking at buying a 2004 Volvo S60R with an automatic transmission in near perfect condition inside and out. It has a great maintenance history with 87,000 miles. I test drove last night and noticed right away the transmission clunks and the car bucks a little when it down shifts from 2nd to 1st gear. It shifts great at all other times. The selling dealer said they had disconnected the battery that day to do a minor repair on the seat and he think because the battery was disconnected the transmission was "relearning" it's shifts points. I then drove it 60 miles to my local Volvo shop to have it inspected. On the way there the transmission smoothed out was was acting perfect. I could not get it to clunk or buck. Any ideas? I have to have the car back by days end. I'll know soon what my Volvo shop says. Many thanks!

 

[Donald]

Well it could be what they said, but I would not trust them. It could be it got warmed up. Maybe its marginally low on ATF and the fluid warming & expanding got it full enough to work properly. Get the vehicle hot and disconnect the battery and see.

 

[Chris B.]

It has a transmission flush 1,000 miles ago at a Volvo shop. I tried to check the fluid level but the dip stick is impossible to get at without removing the air box.

 

[229]

Trust your Vulva mechanic.

 

[Chris B.]

Originally Posted By: 229
Trust your Vulva mechanic.


LOL!!!

 

[punisher]

Originally Posted By: 229
Trust your Vulva mechanic.


Strangely enough I was premed for a few semesters in college. I was thinking of going into that line of work but I have really big hands and decided against it.

 

[itguy08]

It may be normal for that car and transmission. My wife's Escape will clunk every once in a while on up and downshifts. Especially if you let off the gas when it wants to shift. Been doing it since day 1 and at 115k the car still runs fine and has the original transmission.

 

[Bgallagher]

Most Volvos have the Aisin Warner transmissions. I get the same issues sometimes with my Equinox. Nothing out of the norm. The "relearning" sounds pretty good to me

 

[Volvohead]

Some shift and engine irregularity is normal during the re-learn stage on these. Both the ATX and ECM have to relearn after a full battery disconnect. If it's light engine surging and bucking and then settles down, I wouldn't worry about it too much.

Heavy bucking and clunking is not normal. If it still surges and bucks on re-start after a decent length trip following a battery reconnect, that is not normal.

There are also some systems and modules that have to be recalibrated/reinitialized on these after a battery disconnect/reconnect. Not that big a deal, though.

 

[bdcardinal]

Honestly wish I could help, but mine is a 6 speed manual, never been in one with an auto. Check out swedespeed.com in the R section and see what comes up for that auto trans.