Some of the regulars at Brickboards will perhaps remember some threads from several months ago regarding the brand new Volvo AT on my '95 960 overheating ATF when driven uphill, even with a brand new Volvo radiator and completely overhauled cooling system. Well, at the time I thoroughly flushed with Mobil 1 ATF, put in a $400 Volvo auxiliary ATF cooler, cleaned and lubricated all AT electrical connections and so on. I did not see the orange arrow blink on the dashboard again. That is, until yesterday. I was driving uphill in the mountains (not big mountains), and I thought I would run the car in third gear at 4,000 rpm for a few minutes to clean the combustion chamber, valves, etc. as per Abe Crombie tune up. Sure enough, the orange arrow and ESW indicator lights started blinking. Fortunately, they all went off in a few minutes after I shifted into drive and eased off the throttle to about 2,000 rpm. The car really is a pain in the butt. If I can find where to put it, I will install an ATF temperature gauge. Now, I wonder whether I should flush that ATF that overheated. Please, let me have your recommendations. Best regards.

I second Tommy...

The temp sensor in the transmission could be funky, especially if you believe the conditions to be marginal for that kind of behavior. It can definitely wreak havoc on the operation.
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chris herbst, five volvos.

Hello Chris:

The temperature sensor was put in new after a previous episode a few months ago. The car is downright unreliable. When it built these cars, Volvo was out of capital and it shows. Like Jaguar 20 years ago, but worse. The good news is Steve Ringlee tells me that with Mobil 1 ATF I do not have to worry much about a momentary temperature rise, as long as fresh ATF still looks and smells good. BTW, you have a nice looking silver 940 or 940T. Best regards.

It is still possible that you have a errant temp sensor. In the range of normal deviation, it's possible, no matter how unlikely, that at some point you get a bad part from the box.

I can tell you that I've hauled a loaded trailer (maximum rental size for the car) back from Chicago and my '92 took the hills of western Maryland in third gear with no sweat.
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John Shatzer, '92 965 @100K; one of a few still in captivity.

Hello Shatz:

Thank you for your reply and the helpful information. It is good news that your AT pulled the load without trouble. Indeed, I rememeber you posted about it several months ago when I had the previous overheating episodes. In my neck of the woods, these cars generally blow up the ATF cooler inside the radiator, which soon blows the AT with "strawberry milkshake" (lack of) lubrication. Whether that is due to poor maintenance, climate or other factors, I cannot say. I can say that it happened to my car with PO although he strictly observed the maintenance schedule as shown by the dealer stamps in the service book. Of course, the dealer service representative swore to me they put in a new AT temperature sensor, but all I can tell for sure is that I read the OBD I code for a disconnected sensor and so found it under the car. I checked after the AT overheated so badly the car was enveloped in acrid smoke without any flashing of the orange arrow warning light. Information from Steve Ringlee regarding the high temperature tolerance of synthetic ATF also helps, as I run Mobil 1 ATF with a Volvo ATF cooler I put in. Anyhow, this time the orange arrow warning light and E,S,W indicator lights stopped flashing soon after I put the AT in D and eased off the gas. Best regards.

Knowing that synthetic ATF will take the temperature is little consolation for the fact that it's overheating. While the AT is rather complex, how many ways can it overheat? (I'm truly asking, because I don't know squat about it.) Seems like there are a finite number of things that will contribute to your problem. It can't be a design problem or something inherent in the car. And we already know that it's not possessed, since Christine lives. The AT overheats for a reason. It must be very frustrating. We'll look for your solution post.
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John Shatzer, '92 965 @100K; one of a few still in captivity.

Yep. The PO on my car had a full book of dealer stamped services too.

The car is a piece of shit.

I'm sorry.

Tom,
I fear you'll be in need of therapy if you don't begin to let this car go...;>)
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John Shatzer, '92 965 @100K; one of a few still in captivity.

Maybe Shatz. Maybe.

But I'll tell ya what. In my experience, your experience is the exception to end all exceptions. For every one 'Shatz' I know, I know 15 more who have been financially hurt, if not savaged, by that type of car.

I still have a few friends in the business (Volvo Dealer) who back up my assessment of that car 100%. I've even mentioned you to them. Their response is usually a shrug and "There are some...."

The trap I fell into... "I've already spent so much.... it is almost new anyway.... what am I going to do besides just fix it again.... I need to get my moneys worth out of it...." is a trap that any reasonable person could end up falling into. I would like to prevent that if possible, or at least offer a differing perspective.

As for "needing therapy".... you aren't the first to suggest that on this forum. I'm not entirely against it either. In fact, my "parts-buying" Master Card bill is due to arrive in a few days....... BRING ON THE THORAZINE DOCTOR!! I.V. PLEASE!

If it is Mobil one in there, you are probably alright as far as the overheat. I have also heard of those sensors going screwy after a while too. So a temp gauge is the only way to know for sure.

But you said it ALL..... "The car is a pain in the butt".

Get rid of it Rafael. I'm sorry. But that is my best advice.

Hello Tom:

Yes, it is Mobil 1 ATF, still rosy, very clean and clear. The sensor is new. Of course, the gauge would let me know what the temperature is and when it changes. Steve Ringlee tells me that synthetic ATF can take more heat than regular stuff. So I could use the flashing orange arrow as a warning to ease of the gas and not worry much about it. That is, as long as Mobil 1 ATF looks and smells good and gets flushed periodically. Still, it is a brand new AT from Volvo (not rebuild or remanufacture) with less than 3,000 miles on it. Yes, the car is a pain in the butt. Surely, she is Christine's sister. It is not that we got lemons, the car is downright unreliable. You should have seen the A/C positive wire connector today. The silicone around the infamous female barrel connector was burnt and crumbled to pieces, like the coil packs connectors a while back. I hope you Avalon will be so reliable that you will be able to spend all your time and money flying, even if I miss the Mullah Fuqua. Best regards.

The synthetic ATF, unless discolored and smelly, should be fine: its temperature properties are far superior to normal ATF. The car's temperature sensor thinks you cooked your fluid: you tricked it by running synthetic. A better idea would be to find a higher-rated temperature sensor so you don't keep having these flashing lights.

Mobil 1 ATF looks and smells new, rosy, transparent and very clean like cough syrup for children. From what you tell me, I could let the flashing orange arrow be a warning, but not worry much about it much beyond easing off the gas until it stops. Of course, I will regularly check ATF and periodically flush with Mobil 1. Still, I expected better from a brand new Volvo AT. The damn thing has less than 3,000 miles on it, first with whatever Volvo put in there, and since that overheated with Mobil 1 ATF. BTW, the guy who bought the first set of Sachs Turbo Gas strut inserts from FCPGroton (Dave Fried) posted under the thread I started "For 700/900 FAQ (struts)?" This is the first feedback on the Sachs strut inserts and he is happy: "great ride", "not harsh but firm", "car corners much flatter". Have a look. Best regards.

What was today's temperature during your drive?
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Warren Bain - '86 744Ti M46 >285Kmi, '96 965 >99Kmi Wifemobile near Manassas Va.. I get e-mail replies to my postings.

Hello Warren:

It was a pleasantly warm day, not hot. Moreover, I was in the mountains, where it is cooler than the coast and the ocean breeezes blow across the island. I was doing maybe 70 mph with that Volvo ATF auxiliary cooler right behind the spoiler opening to the left of the passenger side fog light. The Volvo radiator and the whole cooling system are new. Am I wrong to think the ATF should not overheat? BTW, should I change that momentarily overheated ATF?