This is my 4th volvo, and maybe my last. I have had tranny problems with my last 3 at about 120,000. They were 1984 740GLE (rebuild $1500), 1990 740Turbo Wagon (rebuild $1200), and now my 1994 960Wagon.

The 960 seemed to run fine up until now, except for the "hunting between 3rd and 4th thing" at 40 MPH that many other people notice. I've gotten to the point where I ignore it. I dislike the sensation, but I ignore new.

The new problem is more serious. I drove 120 miles at 75MPH. It ran fine. After 5 miles of city driving, the tranny quit working (RPM went up, no motion) and it had a metallic rattle noise that increased with RPM. After it had been shut off for 10 minutes, it started and ran fine. I took it in for service the next day. They said that there was nothing in the tranny fluid, changed the filter and sent me on my way.

Two weeks later it did it again, this time after 20 miles at 50 MPH. Again, I let is sit for 10 minutes, it started and ran fine, no slipping. By the time I was nearly home (again 20 miles at 50MPH), same story. It started slipping and the metallic rattle was back. I let it cool and drove home.

Any ideas out there? I'm sure the tranny shops will just say REBUILD for $2K.

Thanks.

Mark

menelson@flash.net