How do you fill the transmission on your 1996 Volvo 960 There is no dipstick?

Answer 1

There is a transmission dipstick on the Volvo 960 (in the UK the 960 has a 3 litre engine - though I believe that in the States the car is known as the 940).

Open the bonnet (hood) and stand at the front. Locate the OIL dipstick on the right as you look at the engine. Draw an imaginary line from you to the OIL dipstick -then to the bulkhead. The transmission dipstick is located an arms-length down from where the imaginary line hits the bulkhead. It's awkward to find and not easy to access.

The transmission oil dipstick has a yellow top (you will probably need a flashlight to peer down and see it) with a square recess. The square recess is designed to take a 3/8 LONG extension bar to pull it out. The dipstick is actually held in place by a spring-clip.

Alternatively, you can crawl underneath the car from the left hand side - driver side in the States, Passenger side in the UK...) and remove the dipstick by reaching up. This is probably the easiest option.

There's a couple of photos of the transmission dipstick location on my website www.glennsmart.btinternet.co.uk Click on 'Volvo 960' from the drop down menu.

On 1995 and later US market 960s, there is no transmission dipstick. "Logic" at the time was that you NEVER had to change the Transmission Fluid. We now know this to be faulty "logic". Fluid must be filled from a fitting on the upper side of the transmission.