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[pscocoa]

Maybe 2 or 3 times a day, there is a slight shudder through the gears when slowing down. Car has done 100,000 miles and so I thought rather than go too deep with torque converser etc I would have the oil changed as per a couple of online how to's recognising you cannot get all the oil out in one hit etc. Local garages don't seem to want to take on and a transmission specialist garage says we don't just change oil. They want to change torque converter and oil (at least) without seeing vehicle. Am I getting something wrong here - I know these gearboxes are supposedly sealed for life but there is a drain plug and filler I believe on a 61 plate 2 litre diesel. Any thoughts please?

[Doctor Gollum]

The Frans fluid and filter should be readily changeable, if a bit messy.

Not all torque converters have drain plugs, so the only two ways to replace almost all the fluid would indeed be to drop the gearbox to remove the TC, (not sure why they feel the need to replace it), or to flush the fluid through with new via the trans cooler lines. Mercedes have a service instruction on how to do this on their 'sealed for life' gearboxes, so it's not that it can't be done in principle... Indeed many people on here have done similar with the Omega over the years.

[biggriffin]

You need GM 93165147 or an equivalent, according to manwell it takes approximately 3.0ltrs, I would drain and refill, then drain and refill again.

[pscocoa]

Thanks both. Still waiting for a couple of sources to come back to me. Didn't expect it to be such a problem

[Jim82]

I had a Volvo V70 once which was having gearbox trouble. Took it to an automatic transmission "specialist" who plugged it into an OBD reader and told me to get a new torque converter fitted, and that they could then do a full transmission rebuild for about £2k.
Went to an independent volvo specialist who suggested to drain and flush the ATF first of all. Rather than just refill they flushed it through with a large quantity of ATF. That improved things but it was still a bit clunky. They then replaced the solenoid pack which cost about £1k including labour but it was as good as new after that. There was also a software update they did which takes into account the wear and tear on the box and stops it changing into neutral when stopped eg. At traffic lights.

I don't know if the Insignia has the same gearbox but my Saab 9-3 V6 had the same transmission albeit 6 gears rather than the Volvo's 5. Apparently the labour to change the solenoid on the 6 speed is a lot less as there is no need to drop the subframe. I think it's the Aisin Warner 55-50 or similar in the Volvo/Saab

[Doctor Gollum]

The last Saab 9-5 is essentially an Insignia.

The only obvious complication would be if it's awd...

[pscocoa]

Thank you Jim - much appreciated

[biggriffin]

Thanks both. Still waiting for a couple of sources to come back to me. Didn't expect it to be such a problem

 What's the problem, the correct fluid is available, It's just a matter of draining it running it draining it again and refilling.
It shows how to in the Haynes manwell.

[pscocoa]

No idea why. There seems to be quite a bit of work removing battery compartment according to a couple of you tubes but clearly no appetite from garages around here. We will just run it for now. Has behaved itself for last week.