Comments on: Breaking News: Update from Volvo

By: Finola

Finola — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 22:05:42 +0000

My Volvo S60. I too have had too many unpleasant encounters with Rusnak. I had engine problems at about 50,000 miles and now have tranmission problems. Volvo is currently willing to pay $1,500.00 for an over $5,000 repair. I find the offer offensive. Customer service at this location has been a nightmare, they are like walking zombies at Rusnak. No one there really cares. They can never pin point a problem. I always have to point it out to them. I loved my Volvo so I thought. I think they are great safety cars but run absolutely terrible. Unfortunately, I will never purchase another Volvo after my horrible experiences with repairs and customer service at Rusnak. Extremely frustrated and dissapointed!

By: ILikeMyS80V8

ILikeMyS80V8 — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 22:15:38 +0000

Hopefully Volvo beefed up the AWTF80-SC transmission in my S80 V8, if that’s the one this car has.

The Wikipedia article on that transmission and Aisin’s web site inidicates a maximum torque of 331 ft lbs, Volvo lists the V8 motor at 325 ft lbs torque.

I’m assuming engine output is electronically limited to keep torque below 331 ft lbs, but it kinda makes me nervous knowing I might be running a transmission on the outer edges of its torque limits.

By: rusmackedvolvo

rusmackedvolvo — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:28:02 +0000

Joel, Taking samples of my coolant and transmission fluids is a good idea. It’s like Volvo forensics!

By: Joel

Joel — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:02:09 +0000

Here is the info on the GM transmission from the XC90 that I forgot to dig out yesterday. (Note: in the orig post I said I couldn’t find a wikipedia article on the AW50-42 – this is a different trans again from this GM unit, though they both have 4 forward speeds)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_4T60-E_transmission

The Volvo cars page has a nice list of the various transmissions used by Volvo.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volvo_Cars#Transmissions

I am not sure who makes the various manual transmission, though I’m pretty sure Getrag makes some like the M90 (and I’m assuming the M56):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volvo_M90_transmission

I have not heard any complaints from the owners of the various groups of owners of those other cars but I have not been paying attention for that either…

As I and another poster said earlier on another one of your posts, I think you’ll find that this problem was caused by a)no trans fluid changes (it is ‘common knowledge’ on the various Volvo forums that this IS required even though Volvo doesn’t call for them in their maintenance schedule) and/or b) a problem in the radiator which allowed trans fluid and coolant to mix (simultaneously sucking your coolant away and ruining your transmission).

Please keep us posted as to what the Volvo techs find when they come to have a look.

Actually if I were you Freya I would take it to an indie today and have them take a sample of your coolant and of your trans fluid for testing by one of the various fluid testing firms out there. I say do it today because if you wait the Volvo folks might change the oil or the whole trans (!) and then you won’t have the oil to test anymore!

I know of one that will test your Trans fluid for you and sells a handy ‘lemonaide’ kit for doing the testing, and it’s not expensive :
http://www.blackstone-labs.com/lemon-aide.php

You can take the samples yourself too, but you have not mentioned whether you are mechanically inclined or not and it would be easiest to have someone else do it for sure. It wouldn’t be much money to have a mech take these samples.

BTW there are likely more local companies that do similar testing as well that your indie mech might be able to recommend.

It would be good proof that something is wrong in there (or not actually)

By: rusmackedvolvo

rusmackedvolvo — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 05:25:09 +0000

Dear Peter and Janice,
I am so happy your Volvo kept you safe during your accident. Your experience is an example of why I feel so passionately about my own Volvo. Thanks for the support.
Best, Freya

By: rusmackedvolvo

rusmackedvolvo — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 04:55:00 +0000

I wonder if they have as many problems as we Volvo peoples do!?

By: Peter H

Peter H — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:30:53 +0000

Hi Freya,
I wanted to let you know that I won’t be watching to see how this works out for you. It appears to me you aren’t concerned with working with Volvo, after these dramatic posts. I commend you for being creative, but that is all. I’m not sure I can trust that you will be truthful in the end. I may be wound a bit tight to Volvo…In 2004 it saved my entire family, from the most horrific accident. It was dark, deer walked out into the road, truck came into our lane, I swerved and was hit on the driver’s side and our car stuck to the truck for a few hundred feet. I cannot tell you what that was like. The accident was so bad that when the state patrolman came to our car, he couldn’t believe we were still alive. Volvo builds very good cars, please don’t forget that! Dealers are like anyone else, and can make a mistake. I hope it all works out for you.
Peter and Janice

By: Joel

Joel — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 19:34:13 +0000

As I said somewhere else on this site in the comments – Volvo doesn’t make their automatic transmissions – most are made by Aisin (the same company that makes transmissions for Toyota) in Japan, and one was made by GM.

The same transmission can be found in the Saturn Vue and Ion, and Chevy Equinox, to name a few.

4-speed:
Aisin : AW50-42 (can’t find wikipedia article)

5-speed:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aisin_AF33_transmission

6-speed:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AWTF-80_SC

geartronic article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geartronic

By: Gordon

Gordon — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 06:17:34 +0000

Volvo’s quality has gone down hill – older RWD Volvo rarely had transmission failures – I have owned 7+ RWD Volvos without a single tranny failure (a couple of these had over 300K miles!!!) – admittedly all purchased used. I purchased my first used FWD Volvo a 1998 C70 and transmission failed despite being an Aisin Warner transmission.

Volvo should be ashamed of S80 GM 4 speed automatic failures (XC90 T6 too) – they tried to go upmarket and screwed themselves with many owners who would NEVER buy another Volvo again after owning a first gen S80 or XC90 T6. Volvo should have footed the cost of practically ALL these transmission failures and offered FREE tranny fluid changes for life for owners stuck with these under engineered cars. Instead Volvo often hid its head in the sand stuck the unfortunate owners with paying to replace these transmissions which NEVER should have been used in the first place.

Why didn’t they just stick torque limited Aisin Warners in them like they did the automatic R versions (2005 and 2005 model years) ?

By: ILikeMyS80V8

ILikeMyS80V8 — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 01:47:37 +0000

Until a manufacturer is willing to provide ratings and disclose feedback on their dealers, I’m inclined to not believe the manufacturers care all that much about consumer complaints about specific dealers. Manufacturers only care about car sales, and for that they need dealers.

Volvo specifically is on the bubble — possibly sold to the Chinese automaker Geely — and Volvo needs dealers like an alcoholic needs liquor. They both need buyers, but not as bad as corporate needs dealers.

It’s great you’re now getting attention, but my sense is the dealer can screw up service massively with no repercussions as long as car sales remain strong. Weak sales a get manufacturer’s attention.

Sure, service to existing customers can affect return sales, but my guess is that there aren’t as many brand loyalists out there for cars as their once were. As people move up the food chain their car tastes change, and there’s a lot of competition for high end cars.