Is a 90 day or 3,000 mile warranty (whichever comes latest) sufficient time for any problem with the transmission to show up? Based on earlier comments from this list, I am going to have a mechanic put a used transmission in my car. My current transmission has rust inside.

The Volvo mechanic who has the transmission bought it as part of an engine - transmission package and says he doesn’t remember the miles on it. My current car drove beautifully after a transmission flush in January until May, which was about 1000 miles only, when it had symptoms again. I had it flushed this week and the transmission folks said more clutch material is flaking off. My car is working, but there’s hesitation in shifting. So my concern is that even though my car worked great this winter, it still had serious problems that took awhile to show up in symptoms. How will I know the “new” transmission is doing ok before the warranty expires?

Thank you much for your information.

The question is why does your present trans have rust in it. Only reason I can think of is that the cooler in the radiator is/was leaking water into the trans. I bought a car once that had had that problem and it was a disaster. The trans finally had to be rebuilt, the water/antifreeze made the seals swell and it would stop shifting after a short operating time each day. So you need to find out how the rust got there. without knowing the mileage on the used trans, it is hard to tell how long it will run. they normally have a finite life, shed lining material slowly over their life and then finally quit. Used trans are a gamble.

Thanks for your reply.
Although a mechanic put a new Volvo radiator into my 740 car less than 20,000 miles ago, I figure now it must have been defective. Because since my car has been flushed a couple times, and had the fluid and filter changed another time since Oct. there still is water in there (so I've been told) each time. I began having transmission problems last fall from the rust. Last fall, some people on this list said the transmissions were generally good and lasted a long time, which was why I decided to go with the used. The transmission place doesn't recommend a rebuild since the transmission is rusting. My car has about 100,400 miles.

If you haven't solved the water problem, solve it first, THEN get the trans replaced. Water is coming from somewhere--the radiator. if it is defective, replace it. Unless you already did.

As far as the used transmission goes, the mechanic probably doesn't remember or doesn't want to remember the mileage. But that isn't necessarily a big problem. The AW70 units used in cars like yours, are not your garden variety used transmission. Generally they are very reliable, last for a very long time, and the best part is, they cost a fraction of a rebuild, which is often even a bigger gamble. IF you had to replace the transmission in another year or two, you would STILL be ahead of getting a rebuilt one. In fact you should still be hundreds of dollars ahead after two transmissions, vs. a rebuilt unit. This is just food for thought. The engine/trans combination might have come out of a wreck or something, in which case you know that they probably worked fine until the day the car was wrecked. That's about it. Otherwise you'll never know the history.
--
Chris Herbst, near Chicago.

Thanks, Chris for your reply.
I was going to replace the radiator the same time as they do the transmission. Is it better to replace the radiator first and wait? Even if they told me last Friday that the clutches are flaking in the transmission already. Clearing up the water at this point it's too late for the transmission? Although my car is still driving.

As Chris has said, you definitely need to solve the water in transmission problem before you put in another transmission and contaminate it. Are you sure they flushed your transmission fluid and not just drained and topped it up? If you solve the water problem maybe you could delay the transmission replacement until yours truly becomes problematic.

Ron
87 745 230,000 km

I'd have the radiator problem resolved and then have the transmission flushed thoroughly. The procedure is described in the FAQ if memory serves, so just print it out and bring it to whoever does it, and explain that you're curious to see how it is actually done. Then hang around and make sure they actually do it.

With luck your tranny may keep on working forever. No way of knowing unless you try.

Rob
'89 745 369Kkm
'86 Porscje 928S4 188Kkm