Auto box / transfer box failing?.. break it to me gently.

[M-R-P]

£815 to tax a T6? WTF!!!

The advantage of ex - plod is that it's calssed as PLG and will cost £120 for 6 months

[Squirtydog]

Well. R going in next week for the bad news. Plan to get the repair done properly and then consider whether I really do get rid.
At the end of the day any new car will be harder on the wallet than the R considering depreciation etc. However I really need the reliability of a new car both in terms of it being on the road all the time and also I being able to budget on a predictable monthly outgoing...
So really torn at the moment!

In any case. Looked at the v60 today and decided that the boot is a little small after the V70. The extra space in the xc60 is interesting though. So currently considering a new (but pre facelift) XC60 D4 AWD Manual R Design. Any experience/thoughts welcome.

[graemewelch]

have you looked at the phase 3 v70 r design. its by far the biggest boot ive ever seen

[Squirtydog]

To be honest I haven't. Have never been too sure about the styling of the P3 V70. Can't actually find the R design amongst the new V70s on the volvo site right now. May be worth a look though.

The only reason the XC60 D4 is affordable is that the dealer has one they seem to really want to shift before the new ones come in. Looking at the D5 though, it's clearly the engine to have. I wonder if I would ever be happy in a D4 knowing what I could have had.

[Harvey]

£815 to tax a T6? WTF!!!

The advantage of ex - plod is that it's calssed as PLG and will cost £120 for 6 months

Yep that's the first years road tax just shows you would think twice when sat in the showroom buying one.
Second year is cheaper.

[Squirtydog]

Really like the shape of this car. Never driven one, but they look lovely. The D3 engine is a 5 pot and has masses of torque. Not looked at official figures, but I would guess more than your R!!

Think I misread this. Thought you were referring to mpg figures for some reason.

On the power/torque front though... the outgoing D3 cars had 163bhp/400Nm. The new ones like I drove yesterday have 136bhp/350Nm - wasn't all that impressive really.

[Squirtydog]

King of all overreactions hopefully!

So far the mechanics have found only a dodgy front wheel bearing. They are going to have a good listen to the transmission after that, check the driveshafts and if all is ok then a general service.

One happy man here.

[volvokid]

Tell them to get all 4 wheels of the ground and drive the wheels. Thats the only time you could really here my transfer box failing. MRG had never seen one fail like mine did

[Squirtydog]

Tell them to get all 4 wheels of the ground and drive the wheels. Thats the only time you could really here my transfer box failing. MRG had never seen one fail like mine did

Cheers. I'll mention it. It is garage I trust. P&R cars in Leeds, Indy Volvo specialists. They recon they have changed almost a dozen angle gear collars so should know what they are looking for.

Just spent several days persuading myself I had fallen out with the car, so making getting rid of it a bit easier. Time to make up hopefully.

[Squirtydog]

Well. Wheel bearing only apparently. Car has been up on lift with all four wheels off the ground and driven as you suggested Martin and no issues found. One bolt found missing from a drive shaft hopefully contributing to any clonking. Full bill of health.

So... I had budgeted for a 1.5k bill. What would you do now with the balance after a service?

1) flush the transmission myself... Can anyone point me at the thread with the DIY instructions for this?
2)...

[graemewelch]

if was me id be getting a 3" down pipe and exhaust and a remap and a nice weekend away with the mrs with whats left. go on treat the love of your life. you decied if its the mrs or the car

[Squirtydog]

if was me id be getting a 3" down pipe and exhaust and a remap and a nice weekend away with the mrs with whats left. go on treat the love of your life. you decied if its the mrs or the car

I don't think She is under any illusion which way round it is.

[Nev]

Well. Wheel bearing only apparently. Car has been up on lift with all four wheels off the ground and driven as you suggested Martin and no issues found. One bolt found missing from a drive shaft hopefully contributing to any clonking. Full bill of health.

So... I had budgeted for a 1.5k bill. What would you do now with the balance after a service?

1) flush the transmission myself... Can anyone point me at the thread with the DIY instructions for this?
2)...

When my transmission was flushed they emptied from the drain, filled with normal ATF, drained the whole lot out through the drain with engine running. He says its okay to run for a few seconds until completely empty, then fill it up again with the proper stuff.

Don't be tempted to use inferior fluid, it breaks the box. The fluid is very expensive tho, so isn't cheap to do yourself either.

[Squirtydog]

When my transmission was flushed they emptied from the drain, filled with normal ATF, drained the whole lot out through the drain with engine running. He says its okay to run for a few seconds until completely empty, then fill it up again with the proper stuff.

Don't be tempted to use inferior fluid, it breaks the box. The fluid is very expensive tho, so isn't cheap to do yourself either.

Cheers, it's cheaper that the £500+ volvo quoted.

[Al115]

Great news!

Save the money for when it really does break big-styleee

[Nev]

Cheers, it's cheaper that the £500+ volvo quoted.

I haven't had my itemised receipt yet but I think the gearbox flush and software update was just shy of £200.
Much nicer to drive now, changes smoother, almost imperceptible if steady away

[Squirtydog]

Keep getting conflicting advice on this subject. Garage which have jut serviced it say just leave well alone 'like stirring a hornet's nest'. But all the testimonials and comments on here (which I accept I should respect) seem to suggest otherwise. Think I need to give it a go.

[Squirtydog]

I haven't had my itemised receipt yet but I think the gearbox flush and software update was just shy of £200.
Much nicer to drive now, changes smoother, almost imperceptible if steady away

That price sounds really good. Almost worth a drive up and a day out at the same time.

[graemewelch]

That price sounds really good. Almost worth a drive up and a day out at the same time.

ive also used the same garage and i havnt got a bad word to say about them. if you do visit this part of the world drop me a pm and ill come and meet up.

[Squirtydog]

ive also used the same garage and i havnt got a bad word to say about them. if you do visit this part of the world drop me a pm and ill come and meet up.

Cheers. Will do. If you could knock up a quick down pipe too...