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Car Help

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Titus69
Posts: 9327 - Karma: 17,742
Recently my car (Volvo 240) hasn't been downshifting uphill a lot. The last time it happened was about 2 days ago and it was really bad. I was almost flooring it up a not so steep hill and as i gassed it more it slowed down so i had to downshift myself (its automatic). I'm not sure what it is but its an on and off thing and I'm unsure on what needs to be done. Anybody know?
Oct 23 2013 8:56PM
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Aidan-G
Posts: 9411 - Karma: 10,798
Kick the tires. That usually works
Oct 23 2013 8:59PM
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act.resist
Posts: 8875 - Karma: 513
did you try turning it off and then on again?
Oct 23 2013 9:01PM
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Spagett+
Posts: 3499 - Karma: 14,884
This is a car thread no girls allowed!!
Oct 23 2013 9:02PM
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KimJong-Illest
Posts: 883 - Karma: 3,108
Have you checked if you're out of blinker fluid?
Oct 23 2013 10:04PM
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ejm
Posts: 794 - Karma: 196
Post this on a Car or Volvo forum, half of ns isn't even old enough to drive.
Oct 24 2013 12:01AM
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rigzz
Posts: 1768 - Karma: 147
And the other half who drive, drives a subaru..
Oct 24 2013 12:02AM
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UrbanYeti
Posts: 107 - Karma: 530
Get a subaru
Oct 24 2013 12:39AM
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Chief.
Posts: 276 - Karma: 399
I think your car might have a problem downshifting especially at steeper grades
Oct 24 2013 12:40AM
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volvotom
Posts: 2045 - Karma: 712
Ironically I had a 740 and my brother had a 240 which shared a lot of the same drivetrain parts. Have you had it professionally serviced? Seems like the trans fluid may need to be flushed (a complicated process that unless you've done it before and are skilled at working on cars I would have a mechanic do). The fluid (depending on trans model) will likely have to be ordered from volvo itself (they use a Mobil version that only volvo imports into the US). When I was having shifting problems this fixed it right up. The cheap solution would just be to manually shift down using either the "overdrive override" or lower gear options depending on what gear you were in and how fast you were going. Sometimes easing off on the gas a little helps to encourage the engine to downshift as well.

Volvospeed forums and brickboard.com are much better places to look than NS.
Oct 24 2013 1:09AM
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Barefootin_Fiend
Posts: 7618 - Karma: 4,727
how many miles do you have on the tranny? it could be going out. its possible that a flush could fix it, too, but it could also make it worse. you need to take this one to the shop. its not a diy project.
Oct 24 2013 1:51AM
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cannaguts666
Posts: 504 - Karma: 256
Psh why are you here then?
Oct 24 2013 5:39AM
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Laurent.
Posts: 10054 - Karma: 25,277
Sell it and buy glorious manual automotive perfection otherwise know as the:

Click for larger image
Oct 24 2013 6:18AM
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Titus69
Posts: 9327 - Karma: 17,742
yea we usually have it service by a shop besides oil changes then my brother will do it. it also has rought shifts like if im accelerating onto the highway and it goes up to around 4000-4500rpms and shifts it sounds unhealthy
Oct 24 2013 6:43AM
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speedin
Posts: 731 - Karma: 131
How many miles on the car? What year?
If the car has a lot of miles on it, it might be time for a rebuild. However, you may be able to lesson the erratic shifting by having the trans fluid flushed, depending the condition of the current fluid.
I don't know much about volvo's, but if there is a dip stick for the trans, check it. What color is the fluid? Should be a redish pink, if its dark, or black, then get the trans flushed. Should help.
If the trans fluid color is good, and is not low, then I suggest you bring it to a transmission shop to have them diagnose the problem. It is too hard to do so over the internet. You might have better luck on the Volvo forums.


Oct 24 2013 10:41AM
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Kid.Kelley
Posts: 565 - Karma: 181
Well no matter a automatic or standard to go up a hill you need to downshift so it's faster to accelerate. Sounds like transmission problems to be because my dad's truck used to do that when he blew his tranny. You might want to get that checked out...
Oct 24 2013 10:58AM
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Titus69
Posts: 9327 - Karma: 17,742
thankfully i have to bring it to our friends shop for a new ignition coil and other shit and hes an expert on volvos
Oct 24 2013 8:20PM
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Casey
Posts: 7785 - Karma: 23,466
What happens if you try to manually downshift? Does it struggle or not work either?
Oct 24 2013 8:32PM
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Titus69
Posts: 9327 - Karma: 17,742
well it does what would happen to anybody if i go uphill and need to downshift it slows a bit as it should then it becomes more responsive so i can accelerate in 2nd usually uphill and not 4th or 5th
Oct 24 2013 8:37PM
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volvotom
Posts: 2045 - Karma: 712
Sounds like you have a good mechanic, I would give him (or her, girls can be mechanics too) a call and explain what's happening and seek his (or her) advice. The trans flush is not cheap (European fluids) but is a lot less expensive than a new tranny so is probably worth a try.
Oct 24 2013 8:59PM
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volvotom
Posts: 2045 - Karma: 712
Sounds like you have a good mechanic, I would give him (or her, girls can be mechanics too) a call and explain what's happening and seek his (or her) advice. The trans flush is not cheap (European fluids) but is a lot less expensive than a new tranny so is probably worth a try.
Oct 24 2013 9:00PM
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kevmac
Posts: 347 - Karma: 1,172
post an add on thumper talk, i go there for all my dirt bike, truck, car needs. the people on there know everything about that kind of stuff
Oct 24 2013 9:12PM
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Titus69
Posts: 9327 - Karma: 17,742
yea gonna bring it in soon. thankfully it hasnt occurred again but now that i think of it the same thing happened about 3-5 months ago.
Oct 24 2013 9:33PM
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volvotom
Posts: 2045 - Karma: 712
http://www.amazon.com/Mobil-55221-12PK-Automatic-Transmission-Fluid/dp/B00BLKXW9O

$60 per case
Oct 24 2013 9:42PM
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Titus69
Posts: 9327 - Karma: 17,742
ill check the fluid tomorrow
thanks for the link
Oct 24 2013 9:50PM
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Yaraelpoof.png
Posts: 1556 - Karma: 6,417
beat me to it
Oct 25 2013 10:05AM
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Corin
Posts: 1665 - Karma: 524
I didn't know automatic 240s even existed. Cool.
Oct 25 2013 11:30AM
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Bassage.
Posts: 512 - Karma: 822
for that he would need a left handed wrench
Oct 25 2013 12:13PM
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Titus69
Posts: 9327 - Karma: 17,742
if youre serious thats about 90% of the ones youll find for sale most manuals were 4 speeds with O/D
Oct 25 2013 12:20PM
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Titus69
Posts: 9327 - Karma: 17,742
yea ive seen nice sports cars driven by rich guys.....automatic.....i gotta learn stick
Oct 25 2013 12:30PM
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Corin
Posts: 1665 - Karma: 524
I did some research and yes they do exist. I even found a few for sale. But most 240s over here are normal 5-speed ones. They're very common, and especially as a first car, since they're cheap, fun, practical and very reliable. The 240 and 245 are sometimes called "Tanks from Torslanda".
Oct 25 2013 2:29PM
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volvotom
Posts: 2045 - Karma: 712
Volvo "requires" the Mobil 3309.
Oct 25 2013 3:42PM
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Titus69
Posts: 9327 - Karma: 17,742
oh well i always see pics of the shifter and there 4 speeds but i just looked and saw about four 5 speeds
Oct 25 2013 5:45PM
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Titus69
Posts: 9327 - Karma: 17,742
just checked......it is dark.....
Oct 25 2013 5:46PM
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