Now a 2003 Volvo XC70 D5... Here we go again...

[Roverageous]

Bit of an impulse purchase. But I have bought a '52 reg V70 from a local chap because I really rather fancy one.

 

It's a one owner car, with the 170bhp variation of the 2.4 engine (non turbo?). Everything looks in order with full Volvo service history from new up to last month. Clean MOT and drop links / CV gaiters / brake pipes all renewed for the recent MOT.

 

It now occurs to me that I've spend £notalot on a huge slab of 15 year old Volvo with a known-to-be-fragile autobox.

 

Go on then, scare me. What have I let myself in for?

[SiC]

Autobox can be a problem because Volvo didn't specify a ATF change interval. I.e. sealed for life. I'd get the fluid changed asap if you have no record of it being done. If you don't, the valve body suffers excessive wear. This leads them to stick and leak. The consequence is that it'll bang into gear when fully warmed up. Loads of guides around on how to do it. The ATF isn't rare anymore and not that expensive.

 

When changing it, it is critical that you get the correct level filled back into it. The way you do it is by measuring exactly what had gone out and putting exactly the same back in again.

 

Also the radiator circuit can leak into the ATF circuit and kill it even quicker. Not as often but still happens.

 

If the box is banging, don't fret too much. Hooli has my old Saab 9-5 that does it and he's put at least 10k on it in that state. The previous owner to me put similar on it from when it started banging too.

[CreepingJesus]

Other than the autobox, the problems on Ph2 P80s are mostly electronic, and can be fixed. Particularly the ABS module and ECU earth problems, which come up quite often.

Despite being a blue badge, these are pretty much the last of the actual Volvos: Ford hadn't had much input into them.

[They_all_do_that_sir]

Awesome cars and I maybe should have hung on to mine, though being the 140bhp model it was a bit slow

 

All the mechanical bits are really well engineered and easy worked on.

 

PCV system probably worth renewing as they clog. Cam end seals go as a result but these are also easy to change.

 

Terrible steering lock aside they are wonderful things to drive.

 

I still have the book set floating around if yours are missing?

 

Sent from my SM-A510F using Tapatalk

[rantingYoof]

The electronic throttle module can fail on older petrol cars resulting in a hunting idle.

 

Other than what other people have mentioned, cambelt change at around 80k and regular services and it'll be sorted forever.

 

Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk

[FakeConcern]

I had a 2002 V70 T5 from 2005-2012 and loved it. As said above change the ATF, mine started with the hard shifting at about 150K, I changed the fluid (I got a funnel with a long spout) following tutorial on youtube and it pretty much fixed it. They still look really good and modern now to my eyes at least!

[Cheggers]

Sounds like a bargain.

 

Cracking car, well bought.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[NorfolkNWeigh]

Mrs N had a 2.4 170 S80 for about 3 years and it's still her favourite car 12 years on. Most comfortable old sofa of a car that could cover ground surprisingly quickly, presumably the V70 would be the same.

That shape V70 looks much posher than the Mark3 that I've got now.

[RichL]

Well bought.

 

Unusual for a 285 to need new brake pipes though... I've been looking underneath these things for the last 10 years and the body and brake lines always look in very good condition with no sign of any corrosion. Fuel filters can rust and are often overlooked on services.

 

As for the box, the manual M56 wasn't without fault when they were new... I'd have the auto every time. 

[Jifflemon]

Own one, love it. Change the auto box fluid now, and do it regularly. German eBay is the place to source it. Very easy to change either by a sump dump or cooler hose.

They have a known issue with the throttle butterfly, so watch out for a fluttering idle.

Only other niggle is the alarm service warning (duff battery in the alarm

Box) cba to fix, causes zero issues!

Shocking fuel consumption round town, but sensible on a nice leggy run

[timolloyd]

Loved my 140bhp '02 V70. Mine was on 170k and hadn't had the gearbox fluid done - unless you plan on keeping long term or it's cost you lots, I'd be inclined to just enjoy it for a while then have a think about preventative maintenance.

 

As someone alluded to above, the later XC90 we bought as a replacement definitely doesn't have the build quality of the earlier V70.

[forddeliveryboy]

Toyota's own synthetic ATF T-iv is nearly half the price of Volvo's, they own the gearbox company and fit them to their own cars. Google will inform you of JWS3309. Same goes for the power steering fluid, the Volvo spec stuff is a fortune, Febi do the right fluid for about a tenner a litre which is less prone to finding leaks.

 

Great cars in every way. I noticed a couple of years ago that exhibitors at steam fairs use them, albeit in 50 mpg diesel form.

 

If the steering isn't accurate or it wanders under braking/acceleration, the wishbone bushes are shot - they're not known for lasting. Cambelts are fairly easy and quick to do, well worth £150-200 at a specialist rather than playing roulette.

[rantingYoof]

Fuel consumption on the 170hp model may be better given it actually has sufficient oomph to move itself, but basically expect 17-20mpg around town, 27-30mpg combined and 37-40mpg on a nice long run.

 

My eyes are out on stalks for a V70 with the same 2.0T that my S60 has; this replaced the 2.4 170hp and has the extra benefit of turbo-torque. There's something comforting about driving a car that you could sleep in if it FTPed in the wrong place and at the wrong time...

[Squirrel2]

Great car and hopefully will not disappoint.

 

With regards to the autbox; if you do not have any information in the service history about auto trans fluid change then it would be a good idea to plan to do one especially if the fluid looks a bit brown or 'burnt'.

 

The fluid is JWS3309 for the Aisin Warner transmission NOT conventional ATF! The most thorough method is a full flush and googling this will bring up various information and also utube vids on the subject. The full flush is sometimes referred to as the 'Gibbons Method' and gets the trans fluid as clean as possible. However you will need to buy a 20l drum of fluid, some tubing and measuring jugs as this will use about 13 to 15l to get the fluid clean. I did this to our XC70 just after purchase and can vouch for its effectiveness.

 

Squirrel2

[rainagain]

 

PCV system probably worth renewing as they clog. Cam end seals go as a result but these are also easy to change.

 

 

 

My PCV 'fix' :

 

http://autoshite.com/topic/23849-rainagains-s80-now-for-sale-now-only-%C2%A3749-roffle/page-5

[95 quid Peugeot]

if you're in need of any minor parts let me know, i've a V70 diesel i bought for bits

[rainagain]

if you're in need of any minor parts let me know, i've a V70 diesel i bought for bits

Likewise I've a brand new air filter and a second hand but still good lower ball joint.

[0ldCh0d]

Great car and hopefully will not disappoint.

 

With regards to the autbox; if you do not have any information in the service history about auto trans fluid change then it would be a good idea to plan to do one especially if the fluid looks a bit brown or 'burnt'.

 

The fluid is JWS3309 for the Aisin Warner transmission NOT conventional ATF! The most thorough method is a full flush and googling this will bring up various information and also utube vids on the subject. The full flush is sometimes referred to as the 'Gibbons Method' and gets the trans fluid as clean as possible. However you will need to buy a 20l drum of fluid, some tubing and measuring jugs as this will use about 13 to 15l to get the fluid clean. I did this to our XC70 just after purchase and can vouch for its effectiveness.

 

Squirrel2

In other words, colonic irrigation for cars?.....lol.

[Roverageous]

Thanks guys - I feel a bit more confident about this now. The garage I'm buying from is next to a Volvo Specialist (he'd used them to put a clean MOT on it) so I've insisted it went there for a full service as part of the deal. Garage seller matey boy was happy enough to do that and didn't baulk at doing it at all.

 

Just had the word that it's ready, but he won't be around till lunch time for collectioning. Watch this space.

[CreepingJesus]

Sweet deal. All the best!

[Roverageous]

Tadaaaa!

 

 

Standard Volvo silver. Drives really really nicely. Doesn't rattle. Feels solid. I love the footwell lights. And the big squishy seats.

 

Spoken with the dealer in Bristol where it has had a FVSH. They knew the car and spoke highly of it. It has had a cam belt less than 20k ago, but 2 years ago - it'll do for a few years yet!

 

Smashing!

[timolloyd]

Great buy! Does yours have the little picnic table in the rear centre armrest?

[RichL]

Looks like a good one to me. Enjoy!

[Roverageous]

Yep - I'm going to enjoy this one - it's lovely.

 

Can't find anything that doesn't work (yet), even the aircon does a fab job. Ride is firmer than what I'm used to but it's by no means bad. Engine is seriously quiet in the cabin, you just get a bit of a rumble when pressing on but it shifts well for its size!

 

I don't quite know how to describe it, but you feel very 'in control' of the car. Perhaps it's the seating arrangement, but it just feels right.

[FakeConcern]

That looks lovely! It's making me nostalgic for the T5 I had, what colour is the interior? Mine had the cream seats and light brown carpets (I believe the interior was called "Oak") which looked great and was so much easier to keep clean than the all black I have now.

 

They really are handsome cars and they handle so much better than a huge estate car has any right to, mine was also much quicker than anyone expected it to be, quite the "Q" car.

 

 

[Roverageous]

That looks lovely! It's making me nostalgic for the T5 I had, what colour is the interior? Mine had the cream seats and light brown carpets (I believe the interior was called "Oak") which looked great and was so much easier to keep clean than the all black I have now.

 

DSCN5204.JPG

They really are handsome cars and they handle so much better than a huge estate car has any right to, mine was also much quicker than anyone expected it to be, quite the "Q" car.

DSCN5208.JPG

 

I love that blue-y silver. Never really noticed these before, but they're good looking cars!

 

The interior of mine I'd describe as 'biscuit'? I don't know what its official name is, but it's a very light brown / beige.

 

Best picture I've got at the moment:

 

[FakeConcern]

I love that blue-y silver. Never really noticed these before, but they're good looking cars!

 

The interior of mine I'd describe as 'biscuit'? I don't know what its official name is, but it's a very light brown / beige.

 

Best picture I've got at the moment:

 

IMG_20171107_173821.jpg

I don't have any pictures of mine as cool as that of yours! Mine was a lighter colour inside.

It had built in booster seats

And two more rear facing seats in the boot (kids loved them!)

[rantingYoof]

Well bought sir. These (and the S60s) have just about the most well screwed together dashboards and interiors you can ask for. They may not be quite ergonomically up there with others but they feel like they could survive a grenade going off in the footwell.

 

 

My V70 was a 140hp manual and boy was it slow. But in all other respects it was an absolutely wonderful barge. But it was so slow. If it'd been the 170hp I'd still have it today...I think I was changing down into 4th on motorways on inclines when going on holiday and decided that I just needed something a little more effortless.

[CreepingJesus]

Must've been the gearing on the later ones, then: my Ph1 140 horse 10v happily lugged a huge amount of camping kit without any trouble. Very rarely did it feel truly underpowered.

[rantingYoof]

I actually did some digging to find out whether there was a problem with my car or whether I was driving it wrong.

 

While I appreciate to being quite a spoilt brat and used to a bit more grunt, it appears the Volvo's peak power/torque is delivered ridiculously high up the rev range just before a cliff-edge style drop-off. 70mph in fifth was just under 3000rpm, fourth was higher, but peak power was at something like 4500rpm. Peak torque was a more reasonable 3300rpm but at 160ft/lb the torque wasn't scintillating either.

 

However, for those content at cruising at 60mph it could do it literally for hours in supreme comfort and refinement.