It is never pleasant to find out a sound on your vehicle that you don’t know where it comes from. You may be thinking what to do when you detect a reversing gear noise that continues on your Volvo XC90? Any gearbox trouble can be critical, but before making sure, it is better to do a few checks. Our team has written this document to support you resolve it. First, we will see what the sources and the different gearbox noises can be on Volvo XC90, and second, what are the solutions available to you.
Classical reverse Volvo XC90 noises and some tips to preserve your gearbox
Why does the reversing of my Volvo XC90 make a different noise from my other speeds?
De facto, integrating all gears, bearings and pinions into a gearbox is a difficult action. The sound generated by the reversing of your Volvo XC90 is logical. It can be explained in a fairly simple way. In fact, the gears used for conventional speeds (1st to 5th or 6th) are so-called “helical” gears (oblique gears) . The use of such a pinion makes the noise caused by the gears less strong than with spur gears used for the reverse gear.
Tips to reduce wear on your clutch and gearbox
- Don’t give a big boost:
In fact, if you kick the throttle hard when you are in reverse or when you put the vehicle in the revs, you risk to burn your clutch or gnawing at the gearbox pinions. - Never reverse while the vehicle is in motion or vice versa:
Reversing the direction of operation of the gearbox during operation is a very bad plan. In fact, the pressure you will put in on the gears will be monumental and you will create a premature wear and tear of the gears. You can even break the gears of your gearbox at speed by doing so. It will therefore be completely normal if you experience a reverse noise on your Volvo XC90 if you shift gear under these conditions.
Diverse Volvo XC90 reversing noises and their causes
Finally in this section, we will move on to what you are probably most enthusiastic about in this content, to find out about the cause of reversing noise on Volvo XC90. Here are the 3 typical noises you may be victim of.
I acknowledge a grinding noise when starting in reverse gear
If you find out a grinding noise when you start in reverse with your Volvo XC90, it may be the engine mounts that are tired. In fact, when the engine is in reverse gear, due to the pinions we saw above the vibrations made by the gearbox are higher and it is therefore plausible that due to their wear the silentblocks no longer absorb the engine vibrations well. In this circumstance, do not hesitate to consult this document for more details about strut mount noises on Volvo XC90.
An increased reverse knocking noise on Volvo XC90X
If you are subject to a knocking noise when you are in reverse with your Volvo XC90 and this noise tends to increase as you gain speed. It is plausible that you are experiencing a serious trouble that needs to be resolved fairly quickly before ruining your entire gearbox. In fact, an intensifying rattling noise means that the gears are damaged. If they are, debris will propagate to the rest of the box and damage other gears in short order. Take your vehicle to your mechanic quickly or check out this article about gearbox noise on Volvo XC90 for more data.
I listen to a noise when I go in reverse
Hearing a noise when you shift into reverse is normal and connected to the gears and sprockets used in the gearbox. If, on the other hand, you have the feeling that your Volvo XC90 reverse gear makes more noise than before, it is plausible that filings have been made and are moving around in it. It is therefore time to empty the box.
