Hi all!


Purchased a 1999 V70 with 275,000 miles from a family member. Car has been maintained meticulously with Amzoil. Engine starts right up and tranny feels like it's brand new. Timing belt done about 10K miles ago.


That said, what can I anticipate to be common problem with this car? I've already had to replace the exahust and the lower control arms since buying it. There is a smell in the cabin that indicats the heater core may be on its way out.


i did also screw-up replacing the gas cap after fillingup once a few weeks ago. The check engine light, which has been checked and verified to be gas cap related, is still on.


The car runs great. The girlfriend loves driving it as it keeps her buns warm Hopefully I can at least get 100K more out of her before I need to do a MAJOR repair.

 

Sorry. It's a base V70. Standard 2.5 motor with an automatic tranny.

 

Main thing is keeping the oil changed and timing belt done religiously. We have a v70 that's approaching 300k miles and it's the best car we've ever owned. Other than the normal stuff, we haven't done anything major to it. ABS module went out at 205k, got a rebuilt from Midwest modules for under $100. We're confident it will go 400k, our 91 240 is already at that mark and still goes.

 

I too recommend the Midwest ABS!

I've rebuilt a 1999 Volvo V70 XC and a 1998 Volvo V70 GLT. My Wife loves them and won't drive anything else. I believe the Volvo to be a well built car-ish. The plastic bits of the interior, components/sensors related to the Bosch ME7 fuel injection system (new product, with new product bugs), and suspension moans and groans will most likely be your minor, nagging issues.

I'm sure your car has a "Yellow Sticker" Electronic Throttle Module (ETM), if not you will need this at the very least or better the XMODEX ETM (a permanent fix for the Fiat ETM that plague this model Volvo). The ETM was a Lawsuit issue in I think 2008, brought in Colorado.

Since you don't have a turbo you have already saved yourself grief. I would invest in a code reader that is "ACTUALLY" able to read Volvo specific codes and that can truly reset the codes. My wife got by for two months erasing ETM related codes when there was a problem with our AUTEL 300 to keep the car from going into "limp mode". $600 for a XMODEX was tough to come up with right away, .

The Brake Pedal Position Sensor in the brake booster will wear out in a small area but can be fixed and replacement in approx 15 minutes. Small item in price, but when it goes bad will cause problems looking like ETM failure at its worst.

I take my VVCT solenoid off every 30,000 miles or so and clean the small passages.

The inside rear hatch cover will rattle and get loose, IPD has a Metal fix it kit that works well for $20.

Have your radio code in a file. When you replace your battery or when work on it requires the battery be disconnected, you will be locked out of the radio.

If you want more alternator power (120 amp is stock, usually) you can put a 140amp or 160 amp alternator on for approx $200-$250. I have a 140 I put on my 1999 V70 XC, bolts right on. The parts houses will tell you nothing else is listed, but proof has been running for approx 2 years now. I have the tech data on the upgrade.

Congratulations on your Volvo!