1989 Volvo 740 Manual Transmission Problem

Description:
Volvo 740 GLE Station Wagon
w/ manual gear shift + overdrive
About 200K


Hi All,

Wondering if anyone has had a similar problem, or can relay some
advice !

The car has performed great over the years, and is stil in great shape
except the 2nd gear slips out of place sometimes when accelerating.

Please Note : This does not happen to nearly the same degree during
winter months.

I have taken it to three dealers, and they don't seem to have a clear
idea, except to say "change the transmission". Frankly, I am wondering
if it could be the fluid, since I dont believe it has ever been
changed. I am willing to get a rebuilt tranny from volvo, but I am
being told it is in the $2500+ labour region.

If anyone can offer advice, it would be greatly appreciated. The
clutch is worn as well, but up to now, this hasnt affected the gears
slipping.

Please email dlow AT goodmedia DOT com, as well as post reply.

Thanks very much

DanL

 

It could just be a worn transmission - that tends to show up in
the lower gears. If it does it less in Winter, you might try a heavier
weight oil in the trans.
--







http://freevision.org/michael/index.html

 

Inside the transmission: As long as the gear, in this case second gear,
runs perfectly true to the mainshaft then when the slider engages the
gear during a shift everything lines up and locks up perfectly. As the
transmission wears, the bushing that is pressed into the gear and upon
which it rides, wears--due to age an lack of oil changes. Once the
bushing is sufficiently worn the gear can wobble on the main shaft. Then
whenever the gear is unloaded, when you let up on the gas, the teeth on
the cluster gear and 2nd gear misalign enough that the cluster gear
teeth actually push the gear away from the engagement slider and into
neutral. That's what's going on and has been the same in manual
gearboxes since they've been installed in cars. The cost effective
solution in your case is to pull the trans, replace the clutch and
install a new to your car transmission. The price you would pay for
second ghear and a trans overhaul would be astronomical.

Bob

 

Although it is probably inside the tranny, you should check the engine and
tranny mounts to ensure they aren't torn in two. I had a 1970 145 that
started popping out of 4th gear when I let off the accelerator. It turned
out to be that the engine was twisting enough to cause the shifter to bump
against the tranny tunnel and pop it out of gear. Lifting the boot over the
shifter should give you a view of the action, too.

Mike

 

Thanks for everyones replies on this problem.

The dealer took the transmission apart, and said the 2nd and first
gear need replacing

I am annoyed, since the dealer never indicated that a transmission oil
change was necessary in all the 200 K on the car

Thanks to everyone.

 

Bob,

Thanks for your reply.

The dealer has taken the transsmission apart, and said the 2nd gear is
damaged.

I am furious, since they never told us to change the transmission oil
in the time we had it (200K now)

Do you think they were negligent?

What would you suggest doing ?

Do you have a real email where I can reach you ?

Thanks

dlow AT goodmedia DOT com

 

Interesting, I have a '89 240 with similar miles and never had the
manual transmission fluid changed despite it having been serviced by
volvo. I presume it is not part of the service schedule?

 

I find this hard to believe. Unless the car was abused somehow I fail to
see how the "second hear is worn" Just how much driving does one do in
second gear? I had two Volvos that would pop out of gear ( I do not
remember which) and in both cases it turned out that the rubber boot around
the shifter stiffened up with time.



Regards,

Boris Mohar

Got Knock? - see:
Viatrack Printed Circuit Designs (among other things) http://www.viatrack.ca

void _-void-_ in the obvious place

 

Before JD Power survey results became important a 30K service included
all the fluids, all the filters, and ignition parts replacement. Once
the Japanese cars deleted all service except oil changes for the first
100K or 4 years their maintenance costs on the JD Power survey were
miniscule compared to there European counterparts that had always
stressed preventative maintenance that included much more prefailure
replacement of fluids and parts. The upshot was that suddenly the
weighted value for 100K and 3 year ownership pushed the CSI (Customer
Satisfaction Index) for European cars to the bottom of the list. In
order to bring the maintenance dollars spent to a more competitive
level, coolant changes, trans oil changes, and diff oil changes
disappeared from the scheduled maintenance list; this cut the parts cost
by a little (10%) and the labor cost by a fair amount (20-25%)most
places. The oil change interval had been based on a 12000 mile per year
usage until 1976 or so then raised to a 15000 mile per year, then 20000
miles per year, now 22500 miles per year and the service interval was
based on performing maintence every three months or once every season.

Bob

rdietzatrdgautodotcom

 

Obviously you've never driven in rush hour traffic in the NE US or
California. In DC rush hour starts around 5:30 AM and continues to about
9:30 PM

Bob

 

The upshot being that you can spend the better part of a commute in
second gear. 1st owner lived there. 2nd owner--probably a teenager used
second gear to slow down every time they felt racy or feisty (that
should cover about 95% of the time) 3rd owner gets a well used car.

Bob

 

Depends how it's driven. I've seen plenty of well worn syncros in the
lower gears, some people are a lot harder on the transmissions than others.