[S40Racer]

When I'm on the road accelerating in second and third gear, the RPM's will climb from around 2000 to somewhere in the low 3's, then fall back down to around 2500, then climb normally again, all while i hold the pedal in the same place. It did this before my exhaust was put on (custom 3 inch Magnaflow) but it is way worse now. Any ideas? Thanks...

 

[chrisasdf]

Re: RPM's fall when pedal held steady? (S40Racer)

Do you have an auto or a manual?

 

[Turb04S60]

Re: RPM's fall when pedal held steady? (chrisasdf)

def. sounds like an automatic transmission shifting out....

 

[S40Racer]

Re: RPM's fall when pedal held steady? (Turb04S60)

Yeah, i have the Geartronic. I bought the car about 6 months ago, and i figured it was just the way the T5 ran. After i put on the exhaust, i knew something must be wrong. What do you think i should do? It's highly doubtful that the dealer will replace or rebuild the trans all on a simple complaint from me...

 

[Turb04S60]

Re: RPM's fall when pedal held steady? (S40Racer)

Let me re-word what i said. It sounds like the automatic trans is just shifting gears as you drive along. It all sounds normal. Its not easy to explain, but it has to do with your rpms, vs throttle pedal position, vs vehicle speed. Even as you hold the pedal steady, the car will still shift, causing a decrease in the rpms, then a increase as the car accelerates and eventually steadying out as the rpms match the vehicle speed in top gear.

 

[S40Racer]

Re: RPM's fall when pedal held steady? (S40Racer)

Yeah, i agree with you there, but i don't think I'm expressing the problem fully. I've checked the gear by flipping it over into Geartronic, and it always says the same gear. I will start off the line (not crawling, but not standing on it), it will wind up to about 2300 and shift to second at about 15 MPH, and in second gear, it will climb to 3000 and i'll flip it over and see a 2 on the dash, flip it back as it falls to 2500 or so, flip it once again into manual and it still says 2. It's like a power band that increases up through the mid 2000's, drops sharply, then climbs again. It's not a problem if i stand on the pedal, nor if i ease it off the line. I just thought it was a little strange, and wanted to see if anything was really wrong. I guess this just means i need to floor it all over town and enjoy the power <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://www.vwvortex.com/vwbb/biggrin.gif" BORDER="0"> <br>Thanks for the help though...

 

[ifnt420]

Re: RPM's fall when pedal held steady? (S40Racer)

Sounds like you've got the surging symptom.<br>Most likely the TCV (Turbo Control Valve) going out, replacement is an easy and inexpenseive DIY job. <p>Keep us posted. <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://********************/smile/emthup.gif" BORDER="0">

 

[Turb04S60]

Described that way, it sounds like torque converter lockup. It doesnt have to change gears to lower the rpms. Once the converter locks up, there is no fluid coupling that allows constant slippage, rpms fall, then climb again without changing gears. Then all is right with the world again.

 

[S40Racer]

Re: RPM's fall when pedal held steady? (S40Racer)

Okay, either the converter or the TCV. On the subject of the TCV, i was looking at the ones IPD has (even though they don"t list it as a part for the s40???) and was thinking about getting one simply for the fact that it is so cheap. Is it possible that the TCV can go out this quickly? It seems to me that part is more important and would be built stronger by Volvo in the first place. On the subject of the converter, I would be kidding myself to take it in to Volvo, complain about it, and have them even think about replacing it under warranty... If that truly is the case, it looks like I'm using my first plan of praying the trans (or converter in this case) goes out while the car is still under full warranty (100000 miles is a long way off)... Thanks for the ideas

 

[chrisasdf]

Re: RPM's fall when pedal held steady? (S40Racer)

The torque converter is locking when you see the rpms drop. Once it locks though it will rise again as normal. This is what every modern auto does with a torque converter to help with fuel economy.