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Dear Volvo Owners,
Wonderful wealth of information here..!
I have a 1984 Volvo 244 GLT Turbo with a B23A engine and a BW55 automatic (3-speed) transmission at 220+ Kkm in Thailand (with average 30*C year-round, winter/cold is no issue at all), happily driving it for the last 7 years as the 4th owner (as I learned, assembled in Thailand mostly of Swedish import parts). Lately, the tranny is slow to wake up in the mornings.! It's taking about 4-5 minutes to notice that I had put it in the "D".! Started doing it about 15 months ago, when originally the wait was 1-2 minutes, but now gradually increasing. Last ATF change Jan/2004, i.e., 12 Kkm ago (but I just checked the invoice, only 4 quarts, so not a complete power flush!)
Anyway, once it gets going, then no stopping it, works perfectly fine, shifting up or down, putting it back in "N" or "P" or "R", waiting at traffic lights, and back in "D" and off we go.! Until, of course, I park at the office and come back at the end of the day, and same thing again. I have tested, if I park the car for about 2-3 hours where the engine (and, I guess, the tranny) cools down, getting it going again takes another 5 minutes. Parking it for about 1 hour or so doesn't seem to be that bad, and it can start going again in less than 1 or 2 minutes.
Completely mind boggling.! My regular mechanic is recommending a new rebuilt (4-speed) kit on my existing core for about 1,000 US$ (incl. labour), and I am just not ready to part with the money (or the car!).
I check around on different places on the Internet, and general comments are towards:
(1) power flush and top with 12 quarts of synthetic ATF
(2) clean the pan and change screen/gasket set
(3) shift valve replacement
(4) inspect (maybe replace) drive-shaft center support bearing
I guess (1) and (2) above are simple inexpensive fluid change and cleaning issue. How about (3) and (4) --- are they costly jobs?
Has any of you run into or heard of any such case? Any help or pointers are appreciated.
Warm regards,
=EG=
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