If it wasn't flushed before 105K miles or so, it's probably done

 

If it were my car I would do a flush as a last attempt to save it. There's a chance it will help as it sounds like you have some shift solenoids sticking which is caused by dirty fluid.

You'll have to have the transmission fluid counter reset. It may even be the reason you got the warning message.

 

My last one I flushed for the first time at 176k miles. I kept it to 220k. No issues. Do it in your driveway without a machine and you will be fine. 60 bucks in fluid is well worth the shot.

 

What tranny did you have that lasted to 220k?

 

the AW 6 speed in the 3.2. Same transmission as the V8. I did not reset the counter either.

 

Looking at an XC90 V8 now and that's one of my big concerns. Most of these cars have some miles on them at this point and more than likely nothing has been done with the ATF. I've only test driven one thus far and it started shaking pretty good with light throttle inputs at fairly low speeds.

 

I might get the flush done tomorrow. should I add Lucas with the flush? I like the truck otherwise and barring trans issues, if I can manage the condenser and power steering issues I might be OK for a few more years. I need it to be able to haul the family up and down the coast for a few more summers.

 

what about differential fluid...should that be flushed too?

 

went in for the flush, turns out I have a leak as well. and mech says fluid smells burnt. flush not done until he got more info on the 08960 code that came up a week or so ago. Car shifting mostly normal for a week. Where do I get the trans serial to know if i have the newer Valve body?

 

It's hard to see, but if you look straight down from the driver's side, near the back side of the transmission, beside the engine, there's a white tag. Use a flashlight.

 

I have 2006 only owner of xc90 2.5t awd and I changed oil many times and even flush.
Now I have 270.000 km. Aisin producer of this AW5 speed transmission write 30.000 km oil change
but dummy VCC say life time and they cheat many tousands of customers worldwide...in USA and Canada
you have good reliable customer protection law lemon law but we in Europe need to pay lawyers against
this stealers. Sorry If im rude but its like this. M friend with same car just D5 diesel they asked him 4500 euro
for exchange trans. First of all its gipsy business that Volvo Car corporation give you NOT YOURS but factory
repaired trans from someone else and for this money its robbery. Sorry robbery.

They know they made mistake but they dont care so much last 10 years.

1. Do flush with 12 liter at least Mobil 3309 fluid and dont save 10Cents like I see here people will kill
for save 10 cents a bootle and your economy and salaries are much highers than European and you still
live like small mouse in church saving on 10 cents. please give me a break. Car need regular services and oils
all in this planet need to be changed.

2. If car have really lot of km/miles yes in old oil in sospension is many small parts helping friction but also
helping clodgged valves and channels and many small balls inside...

3. FLush transmission you cant make nothing worse at the end if its gone its gone.

4. I suggested worldwide at least 8 people with very happy success after flushing out old oil
and transmission works well but I also suggest to go to Volvo stealer service to RESET counter for oil
and reset trans adaptation as well...in this moment ask also for free software TCM. Must be free or tell me
name of this Volvo service will send Terminator. hate hate to see again and again how VCC with "life time oil"
cheating people. Hate.

DO IT NOW> FLush and drive. We will waiting you feedback. Thanks. No hard feelings to Swedish good people
but to enginerring written "no need to change oil ever" BS>
See Im doing this in 30 min by myself and Im no mechanic at all. Simple flush add new ect...
https://mojalbum.com/hongkong/atf-oil-change-xc90-aisin-transmission

 

Just see this my photo...every time 1 liter I flush expell old out I touch with paper...
missing from left second one...this is 86000 km after first change...brown dark colour...
Put new oil cant harm at all. When clean red one start coming out this is it. Use another
2 liter...check level and reset oil counter, reset adaptation and ask for update software. There is update.

 

Volvo is FAR from being the only company to say the fluid is "lifetime." GM started it in the '90s. Lexus tells the lies, so do MANY other car companies, including Honda, or at least they did. I realize you've had a lot of issues with your XC90, but your experience doesn't reflect everyone's experience. Many of the parts that have failed on yours are also made by the same companies for nearly every other higher-end vehicle on the road. Some designs are just better than others.

 

^Doesn't matter who started the "lifetime" lie. It doesn't make me feel any better about Volvo just because they didn't tell the lie first. I've heard Volvo claim lifetime fluids since the '92 960. It wasn't a good idea then and it still isn't today.

 

Sorry my parts that I changed in first 4 years on new xc90 is common parts that I read last
11 years what people change and why and when. Also my Volvo good mechanic
show me every time every day what he is changing and tired of telling lies to
customers about bad very bad quality of some parts made in certain countries
and some for other more delicate law protected consumers...
Its not my car "monday produced" or single case. Please. Read forum and see
what people complain last 10 years. And how many dont use forum Facebook ect.?

Especially with automatic transmission problems and "life time oil". I know at least 4 of
my friends in Slovenia with xc90 and trans isuee. Who is liar who is cheating we dont care?
One of them 98000 km they asked in Volvo 4500 Euro but was only 1 single solenoid to change.
If any oil is life time than this will interest NASA developer. I dont care for others producer but
for Volvo who lost reputation of good quality cars, lost customers in Usa Canada worldwide...
Reliability and true is one thing - when you pay today 80.000 Euro new car another and sitting
days and days in Volvo services? No thank you very much not again pass this night mare.

p.s. and tell me why VCC sell to people old factory repaired trans and bevels instead of new brand?
Saving planet BS? Please if we pay we whant NEW part not repaired. So called exchange. They ask for
old part if not they will not give you repaired old one not yours but who knows from which car is part...
how they used ect ect...

Just reading section New xc90 2016 --- no comment !!!

 

Just read this posts and tell me about quality and reliability. No thanks never again any LOLvo.
Now how many will jump telling me that Im trolling? Not at all writing the true. Nothing but the true
from my experience last 11 years. And reading about new xc90 isuees...update update aha its not
only udpates...:facepalm:
http://forums.swedespeed.com/forumdisplay.php?5020-XC90-(SPA-2016-)

 

I honestly dont care for the 2nd gen XC90s. Those 4cyls under the hood dont inspre me at all.

The 1st gen is my favorite of all Volvos and they say it was the most influential car volvo ever built.

The V8s are the gems of them. Coming form my 3rd XC90 with a V8 the other 2 are still in the family one of them rushing towards teh 200k mark with no significant repairs to date its going to be a hard sale for me to move to anything else. I plan on driving these things as long as I possibly can.

I think they are amazing machines, and when one takes care of them well they repay by being reliable and in general good!

The new XC90... well only time will tell if it will ever be as good as the old ones.

 

2006 xc90 with 90k miles. 2.5T
Transmission is sputtering when going up inclines, especially noticeable 40-60 mph
Very disappointed.

Planning on flush. likely solenoids ?

I looked at used transmissions, all have >100k miles on them and are around 1k
Any idea on cost of installation of a used transmission?

I am disappointed. Yes: I have not done a flush so far.

 

The 5-speeds mated to the 2.5T aren't prone to valve body issues like the earlier 6-speed units mated to the V8 and 3.2. I'd do a fluid change, and see how it does.

 

If its losing pull while going uphill, that tells me that you have low fluid. I would do a flush, make sure levels are correct and look for any leaks.

 

We have the early 07 coming up to 200k km. not yet serviced and still functioning normally. I think it is time for a few drain and fills. What oils are compatible? I've heard Toyota and Mobil but what are the numbers? Any other brands?

http://forums.swedespeed.com/showthread.php?173044-Toyota-Type-IV-ATF-Technical-Data-Needed

After reading this I think I'll go with the Volvo fluid.

 

Mobil 3309 and Toyota T-IV are both waaay less expensive than the Volvo brand fluid and many (like me) believe it's exactly the same "stuff" in different colored bottles. More than a few write-ups on this in Swedespeed.

Prices are close enough between Toyota T-IV and Mobil3309 that I would think it's enough to buy whatever you feel comfortable with. Someone mentioned Idemitsu TLS fluid, I have no personal experience with this fluid but it's close enough to the others as far as price. Personally, I've used Mobil 3309 for 4 full changes (pump out via cooler hose) on my 2 cars over the last 10 years, have ZERO complaints about the fluid itself over time.

Good luck with whatever fluid and fluid change mechanism you decide.

 

That gives me some piece of mind that those fluids are OK to use. T-IV is about $7.50/L here. Volvo $20. Mobil 3309 out of stock for a week or two but is priced mid way between the two.

I never got a reply on the drain plug. Is that the one with the Torx screw in the center and the outside of it a 17 MM internal hex?

Thanks ggleavitt.

 

Someone who does regular drains/fills can chime in but I had a look and the larger hex is for removing the plug completely (like to drain). The inner screw is to check the level (trans fluid at approx. 50C, engine running, gone through the gears for a few secs, car then in P, level ground, close it up after drips, etc....), so probably right that only a liter or so came out. Cool that you put in right back came out, that'll give you some level of peace of mind.

 

car has been shifting OK for 3 weeks now. 3 trusted mechanics said to leave the fluid alone with that many miles. I just dont have peace of mind since I know the fluid is old. Argh!

 

^^i would absolutely not "leave it alone". If you pump it out using the internal pumps, you wont get the junk in the lines stirred up. It's true that a force flush could cause issues, but if nothing else do a few drain and fills.

 

Exactly. I started doing drain and fills on mine at around 170,000 miles. It's only been better, not worse, and I've put around 5,000 miles on it so far. The next drain and fill will include another bottle of Lucas. I'll probably get the other stuff together to do the transmission pump method in the spring.