What is life like with your car? Let us know and win £500 in John Lewis vouchers | No thanks
Volvo v70 2.4 auto 2000 - Automatic gearbox lifespan - KCSRenault

Hello,

My uncle is replacing his 2000 volvo v70 which he has had since new, and has offered it to me to use for my communting and work purposes. I have an older car which i would like to keep the miles down on, so it seems like a good idea. However the car has done 128,000 miles and has an automatic gear box. The gearbox fluid is still a nice red colour and changes gear well. Do these gearboxes last well or is it just asking for trouble?

Any help or experience with these boxes would be most appreciated,

many thanks

Volvo v70 2.4 auto 2000 - Automatic gearbox lifespan - SLO76
These are strong gearboxes and can last to huge mileages. The rest of the car is also fit to run to 500k if looked after. It’s a perfect old workhorse Estate. Bit greedy for commuting but really that’s all I can say against it.

Edited by SLO76 on 30/04/2018 at 17:19

Volvo v70 2.4 auto 2000 - Automatic gearbox lifespan - barney100

That car isn't run in yet, check out the Volvo high mileage club on the Volvo owners website.

Volvo v70 2.4 auto 2000 - Automatic gearbox lifespan - craig-pd130

As far as I know they're a reliable unit: all they seem to need is the fluid level to be correct and the fluid not contaminated.

My sister has had a 2001 S80 with the non-turbo 2.4 engine and autobox combo for the past 7 years, and apart from an annual service and consumables like tyres and brake pads, it's not needed anything. The only niggle was minor (a split breather hose weeping oil onto the exhaust). Once it was found, it cost buttons for a new hose.

The 2.4 petrol has the same basic architecture as the turbo variants (T5, 2.5T) and the gearbox is the same, so the drivetrain is under no stress at all in the non-turbo version.

Don't expect anything like good economy - it's a heavy car and the engine only puts out 170bhp on a good day - but it will run and run.

Volvo v70 2.4 auto 2000 - Automatic gearbox lifespan - nellyjak

Worry not...I had a '99 V70 for a few years and no problems at all.

The gearbox...like pretty much everything else, is almost bulletproof...it all sounds good so enjoy it.!

128k miles is beggar all for these cars

Edited by nellyjak on 30/04/2018 at 18:10

Volvo v70 2.4 auto 2000 - Automatic gearbox lifespan - corax

If it's the first generation V70 (1996-2000), the gearbox is very reliable.

If it's the second generation v70 (2000-2007) the Aisin Warner gearbox can give problems at higher mileage but usually only if fluid changes have been neglected. Volvo never had a change interval in the service schedule for the gearbox. Saab 9-5's used the same gearbox and did have a fluid change interval, guess what, no problems with the gearbox.

Volvo v70 2.4 auto 2000 - Automatic gearbox lifespan - SteveLee

Have the fluid and filters changed every 4 years or 30,000 miles and the transmission will practically last forever. Use an automative transmission specialist and it'll cost you the equivalent of about £50-£150 per year depending on your mileage or learn to do it yourself - some transmissions require to be plugged into diagostics for refilling which is why going to a specialist is a good idea. I use stephens engineering for transmissions I can't do myself. : www.stephensengineering.co.uk/.

The first thing I do with any auto car I buy (regardless of age) is change the transmission fluid. The only exception to that was a cheap Honda CR-V auto I bought as a 2nd car/stop-gap - and guess what? The transmission started playing up after about 18 months (vibration under load) I changed the fluid, which cured the vibes, then outted it quick before it went bang proper.

Volvo v70 2.4 auto 2000 - Automatic gearbox lifespan - pd

The gearbox on these have a terrible reputation. They're not strong at all and the same gearbox have problems in all sorts of cars. Many failed at 60k miles.

So, this one has done well, but if it's changing ok keep the fluid changed and it may well be ok. I can't believe the car is worth much so, really, use and if it goes scrap it. A lot failed under warranty before 60k miles old so there is always a chance it's on its second box anyway.

Volvo v70 2.4 auto 2000 - Automatic gearbox lifespan - SLO76

The gearbox on these have a terrible reputation. They're not strong at all and the same gearbox have problems in all sorts of cars. Many failed at 60k miles.

So, this one has done well, but if it's changing ok keep the fluid changed and it may well be ok. I can't believe the car is worth much so, really, use and if it goes scrap it. A lot failed under warranty before 60k miles old so there is always a chance it's on its second box anyway.

Never had any bother with any I’ve sold neither has anyone I know or had any local dealer I’m acquainted with had a problem. Are you sure you’re not getting mixed up with the later troublesome Powershift boxes? I’ve a good old customer I sold a 2002 2.4 auto V70 to with a six figure mileage up and he’s still got it 4yrs and 60k on without any problems at all.
Volvo v70 2.4 auto 2000 - Automatic gearbox lifespan - pd

The gearbox on these have a terrible reputation. They're not strong at all and the same gearbox have problems in all sorts of cars. Many failed at 60k miles.

So, this one has done well, but if it's changing ok keep the fluid changed and it may well be ok. I can't believe the car is worth much so, really, use and if it goes scrap it. A lot failed under warranty before 60k miles old so there is always a chance it's on its second box anyway.

Never had any bother with any I’ve sold neither has anyone I know or had any local dealer I’m acquainted with had a problem. Are you sure you’re not getting mixed up with the later troublesome Powershift boxes? I’ve a good old customer I sold a 2002 2.4 auto V70 to with a six figure mileage up and he’s still got it 4yrs and 60k on without any problems at all.

No, I am not. The 2000-2002 models are infamous for failed auto gearboxes, Just google it. Thousands have been scrapped because of it and ebay is full of S60/V70 early autos with "slightly rough gearchange". It was usually the valve body which went - either that or the B4 servo cover which can be fixed with a part from Volvo but most only fix it after it is too late and the box has destroyed all the friction linings.

The D5 and T5 models were the worst - more torque - (I have a very nice 62k - yes 62k mile - S60 T5 auto out the back gathering moss which I keep forgetting to call the scrap man to collect as evidence) but I have simply lost count of how many I've seen.

The same gearbox gave a lot of trouble on 1999-2003 Saab 9-5 models as well - despite the fluid change.

Volvo also had loads of software trouble with these autos - there are about 8 software revisions for them to try and improve change quality.

They did improve the box - by mid-2003 they seem a lot, lot better but I've still come across 100-120k mile 2004/2005 examples with thumping gearbox which is a sign trouble is on the way.

Volvo v70 2.4 auto 2000 - Automatic gearbox lifespan - John F

Have the fluid and filters changed every 4 years or 30,000 miles and the transmission will practically last forever.

Not necessarily. You are probably more likely to run into problems by regularly disturbing well made electromechanical machinery that is running nicely. I presume it's an Aisin AF 33 which only advises a fluid change after about 80,000m of harsh use. Many vehicles which use it have no service change requirement.

The first thing I do with any auto car I buy (regardless of age) is change the transmission fluid.

The thing I never did with any wisely chosen auto I've had (all torque converters with no change requirement) was change the fluid. None gave, or currently has given, trouble. If it works, don't mend it.

Volvo v70 2.4 auto 2000 - Automatic gearbox lifespan - corax

KCSRenault - I bet you wish you hadn't asked. Conflicting information from everyone here including me. That's why I asked if it was the phase 1 or phase 2 model.

If it's a phase 2 it needs to be really cheap and run as a banger until something expensive e.g.gearbox goes wrong. The early phase 2 models had some dodgy electrics too like failure of the instrument binnacle.

Volvo v70 2.4 auto 2000 - Automatic gearbox lifespan - KCSRenault

Hello Thanks, everyone for the comments, its a last of the line phase one model, very nice car and the automatic transmission fluid has been changed a few times, the last at 110,000 miles. So its okay for a few more. The car drivers very well and the gearchanges are just fine. Thanks for all the advice and help.

Volvo v70 2.4 auto 2000 - Automatic gearbox lifespan - corax

Hello Thanks, everyone for the comments, its a last of the line phase one model, very nice car and the automatic transmission fluid has been changed a few times, the last at 110,000 miles. So its okay for a few more. The car drivers very well and the gearchanges are just fine. Thanks for all the advice and help.

That's great. Those early v70's, being an updated version of the 850, were very durable cars.

Volvo v70 2.4 auto 2000 - Automatic gearbox lifespan - SteveLee

Have the fluid and filters changed every 4 years or 30,000 miles and the transmission will practically last forever.

Not necessarily. You are probably more likely to run into problems by regularly disturbing well made electromechanical machinery that is running nicely. I presume it's an Aisin AF 33 which only advises a fluid change after about 80,000m of harsh use. Many vehicles which use it have no service change requirement.

The first thing I do with any auto car I buy (regardless of age) is change the transmission fluid.

The thing I never did with any wisely chosen auto I've had (all torque converters with no change requirement) was change the fluid. None gave, or currently has given, trouble. If it works, don't mend it.

Yeah, coz it's common knowledge, not servicing something makes it last longer....

The no change requirement is simply because the manufacurers know it'll last the warranty period without fluid changes. "Sealed for Life" is actually "Sealed for death".

Volvo v70 2.4 auto 2000 - Automatic gearbox lifespan - pd

The last of the line Phase 1 are generally a lot, lot more reliable than early Phase 2s so that is a good thing.

Being 4 wheel drive it may even have the older 4-speed gearbox in it, which is a more robust unit than the 5-speed.