Hoping someone can help. A couple of problems that are not being addressed by the dealership. Suggestions welcome.

The engine fan goes on after two minutes ideling or 5 minutes driving. No pushing just regular driving. Engine seems unusually heated as the air comes back through the vents - a blast of very warm air when the heating/cooling system are not on. As well the hood is hot to touch.

Also when in drive it seems that the over drive arrow comes on, on the dash. It also feels like the over drive is on. Happens at random. Must revert to park to rectify the situation.

Since I have had the car. Not one cell phone charger works - they all blow in the the car lighter socket + the gears then fail to light up. Consequently at night no indication of which gear one is in. Anyone else with this issue. Remedy?

Steering is tight and noisy especially on turning in the winter. Any ideas the stops were dry and have been lubricated.

ADB,
There is no overdrive indicator in these new Volvos. The arrow, so long as it is not blinking, indicates you are not in D or drive. Or, the winter button is pushed. The solid yellow arrow also means you will not be in 4th gear. When it comes on again, verify that the W button is not engaged and that you have it in drive. If you are going down the road and there is no one behind you, try shifting to "N" and seeing if the arrow goes out. Then just pull back one notch to drive, no need to stop when doing this.
As for engine heat, check your temp gauge on the dash. It should be pointing to 3 o'clock. And, yes, the engines are normally hot. The center vent on your dash has a separate control to allow outside air to enter the cabin. This vent draws air from the area just in front of the windshield and can be initially hot if the car has just been restarted or sitting in the sun. Not to worry, it will/should draw in ambient temp air within seconds.
You need to have someone test the voltage in the lighter socket. It should be at 12V. If it is much higher, like 14-17V, then your voltage regulator will be at fault. It is a bummer to lift up your center console to replace that one lightbulb, but it is still easy to do. http://www.volvospeed.com/Repair/SV70console.php

A noisy steering wheel is usually attributed to a bushing at the base of the steering column. It needs to be cleaned and regreased. Easy DIY. see:
http://www.volvospeed.com/Repair/70steering.php

Klaus

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(V♂LV♂s 1975 164, 1995 854T, 1998 V70R)

There is an interestind development in my the 12v cigarette lighter senario. Picked car up from the shop and tested the charger and it worked. Got home and the alarm system on the car wasn't working. Went back to the shop they insisted it was not the fuse; looked at the fuse said it was fine. I insisted on them trying a new fuse and the alarm started working. Tried the car charger when I got home- it blew the fuse again - strange thing is the fuses don't look visibly damaged.
Most importantly should this reinforce looking at the voltage regulator - or should I be looking elsewhere? Thanks for the tips.

First try the rear cigarette lighter slot for your cell phone charger. It's a different fuse. If that works, then the contacts inside the lighter plug may be a little loose and arcing, causing too much stress on the fuse holder. If the fuse does not look like it is burned out, it probably isn't. You can always put that used fuse in another 15 amp slot and see if it still works.

The contact in the fuse holder may be a little dirty and loose, so that pulling the fuse out and putting it back will make it work again. My initial response to your post had me worried that your charger was burning out, but that is not the case, so the voltage meter is not the problem.

How is the 'up shift arrow'?

Klaus
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(V♂LV♂s 1975 164, 1995 854T, 1998 V70R)

How does this explain why a completely different fuse the 'alarm fuse' blows when I put a charger into the socket?

Volvo took the owners manual off their web site for 1999. MY 2000 doesn't even show a lighter or alarm fuse. My 1998 has different fuses for front and rear lighter. Perhaps you could tell us which fuse numbers you are working with.

Klaus
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(V♂LV♂s 1975 164, 1995 854T, 1998 V70R)

From the owners manual I do not know where the fuses for the cell charger are. Where are they in your 1998. The fuse that is blowing though when a charger goes into the slot, is completely different, it is the alarm fuse #3 (15A) in the supplementary fuse box. It is really strange as before it went to the shop it seemed to blow a fuse in the charger area - I never changed this fuse on my own so I am not sure which it is; now it blows a fuse that is specific to the alarm?????
p.s. The alarm light is now brighter since replacing the fuse and it also blinks with greater frequency - I am wondering if its pulling more power now?

In the end the volvo dealership that changed the fuses in the car charger put in incorrect voltage fuses, consequently everthing would blow including the car charger. Had to pay another dealership to check all the fuses, and replace as necessary.