Fellow Brickboarders,

I just replaced the AW71 tranny in my '88 765T with a used one of supposedly known condition -- I bought the tranny from a person whom I trust and had my local master Volvo mechanic install it for me. But the tranny did sit for about two months between the time I bought it and had it installed. The mechanic drained the fluid out of the tranny and torque converter, replacing it with fresh stuff and a new filter was installed. New seals, a couple of internal o-rings, and a new output shaft bushing were also fitted. This was done a few days ago. Everything was great until today, the third day of driving it since having it replaced, and the first day I actually took it out on the freeway for more than a 3 or 4 mile jaunt (about a 20mi round trip today).

It has begun to do two things: a reluctance to go into reverse from either park, neutral, or drive, and the overdrive no longer engages.

I have read through the archives on the subject of the overdrive, and figure it is either the solenoid switch or the solenoid itself. I don't know offhand where they're located, and am hoping that they can be serviced without removing the transmission. If anyone can advise on this, I'd appreciate it.

Potentially more troubling, however, is what it's doing when I shift it into reverse. There's no familiar "clunk" when reverse is selected -- in fact, it feels like I didn't shift it into anything. It does respond to a light pressure on the accelerator, though, and the car begins to move. Once moving, it begins to shudder and then there's a "clunk" of sorts as it (I guess) finally settles into gear.

Any ideas on what could be causing this?