Hey Guys

I need your advice. I have a 1997 850 turbo that just started making a loud metallic screeching/ticking noise. I thought it was the serpentine tensioner (which is a couple of months old), because when I sprayed a little WD40 on the tensioer the noise went away and I could see tensorer actually moving back and forth in time with the ticking. I took it to my very trusted mechanic today and he said that the noise was coming from the transmission, not the tensioner. The repair would be very expensive, the mechanic recommends just driving the car until it dies (it drives and shifts great - just makes a horrible noise).


I just spent about $1700 on the car (T-belt, waterpump, new brakes/rotors, rebuilt front end, etc.) since December and I like the car (it's paid for). Any ideas or suggestions?

Thanks

Generally transmissions making "loud metallic screeching/ticking" noises don't work very well. If yours is still functioning properly I would think that it's not the source of the problem. If this mechanic is the same one that did all of you other work then I would suspect he may have taken some shortcuts. Maybe even not replaced the parts that were listed as being replaced?? It still could be the tensioner, belt, roller or water pump. I'd take the car somewhere else.

Very interesting...

The transmission is on the driver's side and the tensioner is on the passenger side. If you thought you heard the noise on the passenger side, sprayed the tensioner and happen to hit one of the rollers in the process, and the noise went away, then I would assume you did the correct thing.

Is the screeching still happening? If not, you fixed it and the mechanic will never see your car again, because you will find a better mechanic.

The ticking at the tensioner should also not be happening. That means the belt that was put on has a fault and is not flat at the seam.

Of course, you should check the transmission dip stick when the engine is warm and running, with the shifter in park. The level needs to be at or slightly above the hot full mark. The fluid should be pink to red, if it is brown then get it flushed by someone that knows volvos.

Klaus

--
Two good Volvos, a 220 and a V70R

well, you can get a used tranny for about $400 though it is a crapshoot as to whether it works or not. I'm assuming you don't want to do the work yourself (who can blame you?) so who knows how much your mechanic would charge. I figure if he asks for $1000 to do a swap he's dreaming.

Have you done a full flush on the transmission?

Also if he's not used to doing transmissions, or especially if he's unwilling to do it then take your car to a transmission shop for an estimate. Some will give you a free estimate, some won't (usually they'll credit your bill if you do the work with them) and get a second opinion. Trust me, you might be surprised what they say.

GET A SECOND OPINION !!!

If you went to your local doctor and he told you that you had three months to live and there was nothing he could do for you, would you accept that ???

I sure as heck hope you would look for another opinion.

What do you have to lose ?

If you do plan on following that advice from your mechanic, camp out on Craigslist watching for someone with a blown engine selling their car (same model, poss. same year) cheap. In the meantime, find someone that can do the transmission switch for you, if that mechanic will not touch a used transmission, as some won't. Once the tranny has been pulled from donor car, you can recoup a significant amount of the money you paid from the carcass by relisting it on Craigslist.
--
Optimist - half full, Pessimist - half empty, Engineer - The capacity is twice what it needs to be.