740 / 760

1982-1992 / Sedan / Estate / Sweden

All 740 / 760 problems All workshop issues

Minor Transmission and Drivetrain

Manual Transmission Shift Linkage Wear

Symptoms

Sloppy, vague shifts, hard to find gears, grinding when cold.

Cause

The shift linkage bushings wear out. There are several in the system, all plastic.

Fix

Replace all the bushings in the shift rod and the selector mechanism under the car.

It's fiddly but cheap.

IPD sells a kit for around £30.

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// More 740 / 760 problems

Other known issues

Critical Transmission and Drivetrain

AW71/AW72 Automatic Transmission Slipping or Delayed Engagement

Flare on the 1-2 or 2-3 shift (engine revs but no acceleration), delayed engagement into Drive or Reverse, harsh shifts.

Common Transmission and Drivetrain

Propshaft Centre Bearing (Carrier Bearing) Failure

Vibration at speed (especially 50-70 mph), clunking under acceleration, sometimes a droning noise.

Critical Engine

Oil Leaks from Cam Seals and Valve Cover Gasket

Oil puddles under the front of the engine, sometimes dripping onto the exhaust manifold and smoking. The valve cover gasket weeps oil down the side of the block.

Critical Engine

Timing Belt Failure

The engine dies instantly, often with a loud slap or clatter. Won't restart. If you're lucky, it just stops; if you're unlucky, bent valves and a destroyed head.

Common Engine

Flame Trap Clogging (PCV System)

Rough idle, oil leaks from every seal, oil in the intake tract, sometimes a whistling noise from the crankcase breather.

Critical Engine

Oil Consumption (Turbo Models)

Blue smoke on startup or under boost. Oil level drops a quart every 500-1000 miles.

View all 27 740 / 760 problems