Volvo AWD S70 Forum

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Talk Me Into An S70 S70

posted by RFT on Fri Apr 26 20:10 CST 2013
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last visit: Sun Oct 12 22:05 CST 2014

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I've been driving Volvos since 1978. Have owned several of each rwd series except the six cylinders, one of each (loved the B30, hated the PRV).

Anyway, my latest 240 was rear-ended recently and I need another work car.
I'm retiring in two and a half years, so I need about 50,000 miles.

I would be very comfortable buying a 240 with 250,000, but competition is getting pretty fierce for decent ones.

Could I reasonably expect the same from an S70 with, say 175,000 on the clock?

What should I look for and avoid?

Thanks.

P.S. I'll be posting the same on the 850 board, so let me know your preference between the two.

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Talk Me Into An S70 S70

posted by KlausC on Sun Apr 28 09:29 CST 2013
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last visit: Fri Oct 24 10:15 CST 2014

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Don't rule out other Volvo models:

TwinCities Craigslist

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/hnp/cto/3766326643.html

2004 S80 with a 5 cyl autobox and 130K miles. Probably more than you want to spend at $5300, but it is a suburban car.

Reminder, rust is not an issue any more as the body panels are galvanized on both sides.

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Talk Me Into An S70 S70

posted by SBranscom on Tue Apr 30 10:22 CST 2013
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last visit: Fri Oct 24 13:18 CST 2014

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Owned a 99 S70 NA. One of the best Volvo's I owned. No problem with the ETM but did send the ABS board out to Vic Rocha for his $100 service instead of $1000 at the dlr. It was a perfect car for my son going back and forth to school and Canada from Seattle. Sadly, it was totaled. He walked away without a scratch.

I'm going to recommend you don't pursue the 960's. I owned 3 of them. I like them but your mileage will be limited to 22-24 mpg on the road. No matter how you drive you won't get over those levels. If the car is in a hot climate the leather on the door panels will pull away from the backing and "gather" right at the window sill. No repair available. Front end work will wear out prematurely in a hot climate as well. Timing belt in 97's and 98's is 70K. Interval in my '92 though was 30K. Easier to work on than the S70 and 850's because the engine is not transversely mtd the cars are also known for their electrical problems. They are nicely appointed and fun to drive but you may begin to have problems getting parts, even such things as shocks. It is RWD and posi-traction. I do miss them but I think I like the S70's, V70's a bit better. Just one man's opinion.

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Talk Me Into An S70 S70

posted by Bill1959 on Sat Apr 27 21:12 CST 2013
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last visit: Wed Sep 17 20:59 CST 2014

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218,000 and going strong! Lovin it!

I would look for one from the south, and make sure its spent most of its life down there. An S70 will now be 13 to 15 years old ... you don't want any car that old from the rust belt, unless of course it was stored for the winter months.

Besides the obvious things to look for in any used car, verify when the timing belt was replaced. Needs one every 70,000 to 105,000 miles depending on tensioner style. Critical. Figure $700 to replace including water pump.
--
1998 S70 T5, 5-speed manual, 218000 miles

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Talk Me Into An S70 S70

posted by jwalker on Sun Apr 28 08:06 CST 2013
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last visit: Fri Jun 6 08:39 CST 2014

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Water pumps and tensioners (older style) are very strong in these cars. They should last 200K+. I just did all three at 213k. I knew the timing belt history, but didn't know the tensioner and water pump history so I assumed they were original and replaced them too.

--
95 855 GLT Sportwagon 222k, 90 244 DL 300k+ - after 11 years has a new home

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Talk Me Into An S70 S70

posted by Newbie on Mon Apr 29 22:20 CST 2013
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last visit: Wed Jun 11 19:55 CST 2014

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I have a 99 S70 is that considered the one with the older style water pump and tensioner?
I am wondering when to change the water pump and tensioner?

Andrew
99 S70 GLT 1501,000 miles

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You changed the subject S70

posted by KlausC on Tue Apr 30 08:52 CST 2013
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last visit: Fri Oct 24 10:15 CST 2014

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Please start a new post if your question is not related to the topic.

To answer the question, your car has the manual tensioner which gets replaced when the Tbelt gets changed. Original specs called for a change at 105K, but most changed out earlier because the tensioner for 1999 was prone to early failure. The newer revised tensioners will last over 105K miles.

There should be a sticker on the top of the computer box in the engine bay which has mileage written on it when the Tbelt was changed. Add 105K to that.

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You changed the subject S70

posted by jwalker on Tue Apr 30 09:17 CST 2013
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last visit: Fri Jun 6 08:39 CST 2014

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Hey Klaus,

I know this off topic, but do the 2000 models also have the manual tensioner that was prone to early failure? Or do they have the revised one?

Ty!
Jim

--
95 855 GLT Sportwagon 222k, 90 244 DL 300k+ - after 11 years has a new home

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You changed the subject S70

posted by KlausC on Tue Apr 30 10:19 CST 2013
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last visit: Fri Oct 24 10:15 CST 2014

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Early 2000 models might have the original tensioner introduced in late 1998, but not many. If you have a 2000 with over 90K miles, most likely you have the new model or a bent valve. All replacement tensioners were of the newer model as far as I know. Volvo discovered this early on when tensioners died starting at 60K.

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Talk Me Into An S70 S70

posted by jwalker on Tue Apr 30 08:04 CST 2013
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last visit: Fri Jun 6 08:39 CST 2014

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Not sure about the tensioner in your model year. I believe they are same from 94-98. They might have changed in 1999. I'm sure someone else will know. Does your car have the 105k or the 70k mile timing belt change interval?

AFAIK all the water pumps are the same. Should be good for 200K+. Considering its age, it's probably a good idea to keep an eye on it. If it starts to leak or get excessively noisy it needs to be changed.

--
95 855 GLT Sportwagon 222k, 90 244 DL 300k+ - after 11 years has a new home

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Talk Me Into An S70 S70

posted by RFT on Sun Apr 28 00:20 CST 2013
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last visit: Sun Oct 12 22:05 CST 2014

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Good tips.
Thanks.

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