Well here's the deal, crusin through town today, park my car in front of work and leave it idling for about 30 seconds. Get back in the car, go off, and something just doesn't feel right in the transmission - it wont shift right, and sometimes gets real jerky between gears. Get it home, taking it slow, about 2 miles. It still won't shift right - revs all over the place before finding gear and engaging roughly. When I get home, call the local Volvo indie mechanic, hes not there. Take it to the place where dad takes his Ford and sister takes her jeep, and on the way is where I encounter more probs. First off, makes grinding sound when put in reverse (initially only), then grinds when starting out, then cruises fine as long as no fast acceleration around 35-45 mph. Get to a small incline downtown, and nothing in the tranny catches, I glide after the hill ends, and push car to side of street. That's that. Think I need a new tranny? I sure as hell do! This is just so depressing - got the new/old stereo unit yesterday, cleaned the car real nice - looks so wonderful, and the engine sounds like new!!! I maintained this thing perfectly since I got it at 89k miles, now it has around 134,500 or so, and I am one sad brick driver. I still have my 740, but thats in the shop getting front wheel bearings and rear engine seal - things I'm not going to do myself! Hey, and I was talking to this aforementioned head mechanic at the shop i went to that works mostly on domestic cars, and he was like "Yeah, this thing's probably gonna need a new transmission." I asked him, "How much is that going to cost - a conservative guestimate?" He was saying, "Well, for a rebuild with a warranty here in town, I say - and it may be more - around $2500." One of the other mechanics sitting around added, "Last week a woman got a rebuild on her Mercedes cost her $6000" I asked about throwing a used tranny in there, and he said not such a good idea with a smug look on his face. This just sounds ridiculous - I'm just gonna take it to my independent mechanic and see what he says - much more straight forward, acts more like the car's a patient and it's my kid than some lump-a-metal out in front of his shop. Any advice? If it is a tranny how much to repair? And is it possible to drop a manual tranny in there? Has anyone done it? Thanks so much for your advice and consideration!!!!Yours,
Webb
1993 Volvo 854 GLT, 134,500 mi (sad and broken)