Volvo S80 Transmision Service

Start by removing the splash pan bolts there are seven 12mm bolts to be removed.

Put a drain pan large enough to cover the whole pan under the transmission. Loosen the bolts on the rounded corner of the pan(LH side of picture) only take them about 1/2 way out. Then go to the rear of the pan (facing rear of vehicle) and do the same thing and now do the front bolts (all only 1/2 way out). Leave the right hand side bolts tight for now. As you can see it will start draining out the rounded corner. If not you may slightly loosen the RH side bolts but carefully. If you drop the full pan too quickly you will be soaked with ATF! After it has drained down enough, loosen the RH bolts slowly. Now remove all the bolts except a few on the RH side of the pan. I usually just leave 2 bolts in the RH side and work them out a little at a time to let it finish draining. Take one hand and push up on the pan then remove the final bolts on the RH side. Using both hands carefully lower the trans pan into your drain pan and dump it completly. It can be tricky!

Above you can see the filter.

New S80 Transmission Filter

You will see to the right of the filter the filter seal/holder this can be used but it can also be very difficult to remove from the transmission body. I usually do not use the new one unless I have too but that will be discussed next.

To remove the filter I use both hands on either side and pull downward and sometimes wiggle it a bit. Have the drain pan under it though as when you remove it there will be a rush of fluid to come out from above it. This pic shows the filter removed.

Ok back to the filter seal/holder. I have a special tool to remove this you can try to pry it out with a small chisel or flat bladed screw driver. However I like to slide my finger in the hole and feel the rubber lip at the top if it doesn't feel cracked or dry and I can't crack it with pressure from my finger I opt to "just leave it in place and reuse it".

Put a bit of ATF around the top of the filter tube and slide it up into the holder you will have to use some pressure to make sure it is fully seated. This picture shows the new filter in place. Now take the pan and spray it out with carb clean or equalivent solvent clean your magnet and wipe off the sealing lip.

Don't throw away that gasket it's totally reusable!!! I asked a friend of mine who owns a transmission shop how many times he has reused that style of GM gasket and too my suprise his answer was seven. Just wipe the gasket down with a shop rag and reinstall the pan.

Now refill the transmission with the proper fluid. Check your owners manual for fluid requirements or ask your selling dealer. This particular unit takes Dexron IIIG or IIIH. I start by filling it with 6 quarts then check it, chances are you will come up a quart low. They usually take 7 quarts and this one did. Give it 15 minutes or so to completly run down the tube for a proper reading. You have to have the vehicle running to check the fluid level. After you check the fluid level and it's at the full mark cold check the pan for any leaks. If none found roadtest the vehicle for 5 miles or so then recheck your fliud level it should be 1/2 to 3/4 up between the hot/cold mark or somewhere close. Then re check for leaks and if none found re install the splash pan and your done.

S80 Transmission Service