That's what a lot of AWs get to feel like after a while. Some of them are like that at 30k miles, some of them never get like that.

My dad's RWD Volvos never have a hard 1-2 shift. Every single one that I've had, has a hard 1-2 shift.

My dad drove one of my cars for about a year. It had the hardest shifting AW trans that I ever had in a RWD Volvo. After he drove it for a few months... the hard shift was totally gone. Personally, while I know it has some things to do with the valve body itself, I think some of it has to do with driving style. The trans in my black 940, developed a hard shift shortly after I got it. My dad drives with a very hard foot, I drive with a much lighter foot. Maybe there is something at play. But maybe not.

Either way, it isn't necessarily a problem. You can replace some parts in the valve body -- it is a known repair -- or you don't necessarily have to do so. I haven't found a fluid change to be much help either.

Also, a lot of customer cars had the same problem, but others never did.
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