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MOTRS

940 / 960

1990-1998 / Sedan / Estate / Sweden

All 940 / 960 problems All workshop issues
Common Transmission and Drivetrain

Propshaft and differential issues

Symptoms

Clunking when changing direction (forward/reverse), vibration at speed, or whining from the rear.

Cause

Centre bearing on the propshaft wears out. Guibo (flex disc) at the gearbox output hardens and cracks. Differential bearings or pinion seals fail.

Fix

Replace the centre bearing and its rubber mount, cheap and straightforward.

Fit a new guibo every 100,000-150,000 km.

If the diff is whining, check the oil level and quality, should be SAE 75W-90 synthetic.

Noisy bearings mean a rebuild or replacement diff.

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// More 940 / 960 problems

Other known issues

Common Transmission and Drivetrain

AW71 automatic transmission issues (940)

Harsh shifts, slipping, delayed engagement, or the transmission won't shift out of first gear. The overdrive may not engage. Flashing arrow on the dashboard indicates a fault.
Common Transmission and Drivetrain

AW30-43 automatic transmission issues (960)

Similar to the AW71, harsh shifts, delayed engagement, or limp mode. Some report juddering on take-off or when downshifting.
Common Transmission and Drivetrain

Manual gearbox and clutch issues

Difficulty selecting gears, grinding, or clutch slip. Clutch pedal feels heavy or doesn't return properly.
Critical Engine

Oil leaks everywhere

You'll find oil pooling under the car, dripping from the valve cover, front and rear main seals, cam seals, or oil cooler lines. The B230 engines (940) and B6304 (960) both weep oil as they age, it's not if, it's when.
Common Engine

Flame trap and PCV system clogged

Engine bogs down, idles rough, struggles to rev, or won't start when hot. You might get excessive crankcase pressure, blowing out seals and pushing oil into the intake.
Critical Engine

Rough idle, hesitation, or won't start (fuel system issues)

Stumbling acceleration, poor fuel economy, hard starting, or stalling. Sometimes it runs fine cold but misfires when warm. Check engine light may be on or flashing.
View all 24 940 / 960 problems