Help needed - CVT problem

[nomashedswede]

My brother has a problem with his CVT, and I`ve been lumbered.... Car was functioning okay, but this morning would not move. I went and had a look - goes into gear okay, but will only move - forward or reverse - when you are revving it to 4500rpm +, and then only really slowly. My head says that there must be some internal clutch slipping, or belt slip, but I am really pretty clueless on these boxes.
The car has done 80k, loads of history, BUT, I can`t find anything to do with maintenence on the `box - except it had new belts at 76k. Any help or pointers will be gratefully received.

[volvodspec]

your problem is the clutch, do this test:

put gear leaver in D,

now rev it, then after that; rev it with the selector button pressed. with the selector button pressed the de-clutch mechanism is applyed so the revs for making the car move should be way higher. if there's no difference, then the de-clutch mechanism is broken aswell.

you'll have to find the filling plates to adjust the airgap of the clutchplate, you can see that trough the inspection hole on the bottom of the bellhousing when turning the flywheel around. remove a set of filling plates, probably 2mm+ needs to be removed, then measure the airgap with feeler gauges. if you can get the air gap between 0,1 and 0,3mm still with filling plates left, you're ok for now. if you can't get it between 0,1 and 0,3mm with the plates removed, don't drive any further and replace the clutchplate!

also a note, airgap NEEDS TO BE adjusted between 0,1 and 0,3mm every 10.000km or 6000 miles!!!!!!

mileage on a cvt says nothing about clutch, you can completely destroy a brandnew clutch within 6000 miles if airgap is way too big or declutch mechanism is faulty.

[nomashedswede]

Many thanks for taking the time to reply - will check that tomorrow, but I`m pretty sure you must be right ! If the clutch needs replacing is it a job that can be done at home ?

[volvodspec]

this year I replaced about 15 cvt clutches, usually takes me about 4 hours, and i get the clutchplate from a donor vehicle at the scrapyard.

that's the big advantage of CVT vehicles opposing to manual. with manual you engage the complete clutch every time you press the clutchpedal. on cvt you only engage the clutch when driving away after idle and with the selector button pressed. therefore with a normal worn clutch you'll only need to replace the clutchplate. because the other parts usually last a car's life

however, some people drive it till it doesn't even come off it's place with 6000 rpm, and only then they realise that there's something wrong. in that case you usually end up replacing the flywheel and pressure plate. last year i even had a car wich had the pressure plate broken in 3 pieces!!

if you lived in the netherlands, i could do the job at your front door, like this one:





there's the pressure plate and on top of it the clutch plate, at least what was left of it..



so yes, you can replace the clutch at home

[volvosneverdie]

^^^^ dude, you should have a summer driving holiday in the UK this year.
You could tour the country fixing peoples cars on their doorsteps and solve everyones technical problems in person.
The Anjo Summer Roadshow.