clutch slip just on first cold pull away?

I have a 97' 960 w/170K miles. First time I pull forward in the
morning it feels like the clutch is slipping just for 100 feet. No
other slipping any other time. My mechanic says the car is in good
shape mechanically, that the xmission fluid is full and looks okay. I
had one person tell me this can be normal if the xmission needs
flushing and then it would be okay. Is that real? I'm not familiar
with Volvos. Any other car I'd think the clutch or xmission is on the
way out. Is it or is this normal?

Thanks

njem wrote:
> I have a 97' 960 w/170K miles. First time I pull forward in the
> morning it feels like the clutch is slipping just for 100 feet. No
> other slipping any other time. My mechanic says the car is in good
> shape mechanically, that the xmission fluid is full and looks okay. I
> had one person tell me this can be normal if the xmission needs
> flushing and then it would be okay. Is that real? I'm not familiar
> with Volvos. Any other car I'd think the clutch or xmission is on the
> way out. Is it or is this normal?
>
> Thanks


Manual transmissions as a general rule don't slip, any slippage would be
the clutch. Perhaps the slave cylinder is sticking?


If this is an automatic, it's probably time for a transmission rebuild.

Yes, forgot to mention this is an automatic.

On Sat, 10 Apr 2010 10:07:50 -0700 (PDT), njem <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>I have a 97' 960 w/170K miles. First time I pull forward in the
>morning it feels like the clutch is slipping just for 100 feet. No
>other slipping any other time. My mechanic says the car is in good
>shape mechanically, that the xmission fluid is full and looks okay. I
>had one person tell me this can be normal if the xmission needs
>flushing and then it would be okay. Is that real? I'm not familiar
>with Volvos. Any other car I'd think the clutch or xmission is on the
>way out. Is it or is this normal?
>
>Thanks


wish i could help. this is a very year specific question. it is not
that brand specific. a BMW, Saab, Audi, even Fiat might have the exact
same tranny. you see the EU works together - nuff said.

there is still a decision strategy that i can suggest. how important
is a catastrophic failure compared to the cost of a new clutch plate?

i don't think you have a 3rd millennium tranny. so i will give you the
old school answer. how difficult is flushing the tranny? do it! but
170k it sounds like the clutch plate -- it's just a glorified brake
pad. they wear-out. until then warm your clutch by letting it out
slowly (if you still can, your yr may be a little late to do that) or
depress the clutch a afew times, let it out & wait for the clutch to
warm up. you see, what is happening is that parts expand when they
heat up. so parts that don't quite meet (& don't transmit power) begin
to touch. then again you said fluid & not 80 wght, so what do i know?

Richard W Langbauer wrote:
> On Sat, 10 Apr 2010 10:07:50 -0700 (PDT), njem <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>> I have a 97' 960 w/170K miles. First time I pull forward in the
>> morning it feels like the clutch is slipping just for 100 feet. No
>> other slipping any other time. My mechanic says the car is in good
>> shape mechanically, that the xmission fluid is full and looks okay. I
>> had one person tell me this can be normal if the xmission needs
>> flushing and then it would be okay. Is that real? I'm not familiar
>> with Volvos. Any other car I'd think the clutch or xmission is on the
>> way out. Is it or is this normal?
>>
>> Thanks
>
>
> wish i could help. this is a very year specific question. it is not
> that brand specific. a BMW, Saab, Audi, even Fiat might have the exact
> same tranny. you see the EU works together - nuff said.
>
> there is still a decision strategy that i can suggest. how important
> is a catastrophic failure compared to the cost of a new clutch plate?
>
> i don't think you have a 3rd millennium tranny. so i will give you the
> old school answer. how difficult is flushing the tranny? do it! but
> 170k it sounds like the clutch plate -- it's just a glorified brake
> pad. they wear-out. until then warm your clutch by letting it out
> slowly (if you still can, your yr may be a little late to do that) or
> depress the clutch a afew times, let it out & wait for the clutch to
> warm up. you see, what is happening is that parts expand when they
> heat up. so parts that don't quite meet (& don't transmit power) begin
> to touch. then again you said fluid & not 80 wght, so what do i know?


Flushing it is not a bad idea, it might nurse it along a bit longer. If
a clutch pack is worn out it would be silly to go through all the
trouble of removing and tearing down the transmission to just replace
that one clutch pack. If that's the issue, either rebuild the whole
thing or replace it with a good used transmission.

Whats the chance you need to adjust the kick down cable as well as a good
clean out work the manual selector as well as they often get a groove in
them from lack of use .Low oil was a problem with my old Fairlane in cold
weather doing left hand turns .Adding a little extra over the full mark
fixed that up .Left hand sharp turns up hill would throw it out completely
..I would love to know if that fixes it .I used to give my tranny a bit of a
work out sometimes so it didn't sludge up .Give it a good clean out as well
..


"njem" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:4fdfe056-c663-42ea-aa48-(E-Mail Removed)...
>I have a 97' 960 w/170K miles. First time I pull forward in the
> morning it feels like the clutch is slipping just for 100 feet. No
> other slipping any other time. My mechanic says the car is in good
> shape mechanically, that the xmission fluid is full and looks okay. I
> had one person tell me this can be normal if the xmission needs
> flushing and then it would be okay. Is that real? I'm not familiar
> with Volvos. Any other car I'd think the clutch or xmission is on the
> way out. Is it or is this normal?
>
> Thanks

On Sat, 10 Apr 2010 10:07:50 -0700 (PDT), njem <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>I have a 97' 960 w/170K miles. First time I pull forward in the
>morning it feels like the clutch is slipping just for 100 feet. No
>other slipping any other time. My mechanic says the car is in good
>shape mechanically, that the xmission fluid is full and looks okay. I
>had one person tell me this can be normal if the xmission needs
>flushing and then it would be okay. Is that real? I'm not familiar
>with Volvos. Any other car I'd think the clutch or xmission is on the
>way out. Is it or is this normal?
>
>Thanks


an automatic? well then. yes it's beginning to go. so buy a
replacement or a cell phone (so you can call someone when it stops
moving).

Thanks for all the replies folks. I was debating whether to sell it.
Now I know.

On Apr 12, 1:34*pm, Richard W Langbauer <rwlangba...@sonic.net> wrote:

On Mon, 12 Apr 2010 17:53:40 -0700 (PDT), njem <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>Thanks for all the replies folks. I was debating whether to sell it.
>Now I know.
>
>On Apr 12, 1:34*pm, Richard W Langbauer <rwlangba...@sonic.net> wrote:


be careful of mandatory disclosure laws. they are very location
dependent (ask a local pro), but often require the disclosure of any
"known" defects. you can no longer claim ignorance.

WAS THE OIL RIGHT OR DIRTY ?DID YOU CHECK THE CABLEFOR THE KICK DOWN ?
"Richard W Langbauer" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> On Mon, 12 Apr 2010 17:53:40 -0700 (PDT), njem <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>>Thanks for all the replies folks. I was debating whether to sell it.
>>Now I know.
>>
>>On Apr 12, 1:34 pm, Richard W Langbauer <rwlangba...@sonic.net> wrote:
>
>
> be careful of mandatory disclosure laws. they are very location
> dependent (ask a local pro), but often require the disclosure of any
> "known" defects. you can no longer claim ignorance.