Hello from South Jersey, My wife and I just purchased a 120k 2004 XC70 from a used car lot today. I was actually there to check out a 2000 Acura TL with low mileage at a good price but the dealer said it was getting its tranny fixed and shouldn't have been online where I found it. So went out and took a look at the lot, first thing caught my eye was this navy blue XC70. Sat in it, wow comfy seats, liked how everything is positioned around me, I am a 6'1 230 pounder guy. Kept that car in mind as I checked out a Subaru Outback few cars down, sat in it ugh felt cramped in it, got out pretty quick. Went back to the Volvo and asked to test drive it. We both liked it a lot. Traded my (Sobs) '03 Saab 9-5 Aero AND '02 Ford Explorer for the Volvo for a sweet deal. The Explorer served me well and was starting to become problematic at 154k. My Saab....I didn't want to let her go but she needed major repairs on the cylinder head and I didn't have a garage to work on her.
So, here we are, new owners of a XC70. Oh, I forgot to add....we are the second owners of this car. Its a whole new car for me to learn how to maintain it myself. Can anyone here give me a list of things to watch out for on this car? One last question, does this car have a turbo? I swore I saw a cute little turbo behind the engine close to the firewall. Please do throw me some cautions on this specific type of car. Thank you and wish me Luck!

 

Hi and welcome to the site. I do believe that it does have a small turbo.

The only thing I know of is the timing belt. Should have been changed at 105,000, make sure that's done and you should be good to go.

Most of them have cabin filters, common neglected item. Lastly, always use Volvo or Mann oil filters.

 

Hopefully you explained the problems with your two old cars so the dealer was not left with your garbage.

 

Cabin filters and Volvo or Mann Oil Filters, got it, thanks.

Let me guess, you, yourself, are/were a dealer/salesperson? They knew right away what was wrong with the vehicles, I even left extra parts in both cars. Trade-in price was reasonable even with repairs to be done on both cars. No harm, no foul.

 

All XC70's are turbo, so yes, you have a turbocharger.

Also, they all have cabin filters.

rspi is correct though, if the timing belt hasn't been done, do it (or get it done) right away. The engine is an interference engine, meaning if the belt fails, the pistons will hit the valves and damage is very likely to occur.

Fuel filter is also due at 105k. Spark plugs are due every 60,000 miles so I'd do those as well.

And make sure the angle gear isn't leaking, they are common to leak at the case half.

 

Carfax stated Timing chain has been replaced and everything has been serviced at Volvo Dealership so I believe this is a good car. I gotta get this car inspected soon and checked to see if there were any codes stored in the ECU, nothing there. I will be bringing this car to the dealership to do a complete look over, just for the peace of my mind.

Angle gear, case half? That's new to me. I have worked on my Saab and thats how i really learned how to work on a car. This Angle gear thing is something I gotta read about. Leaks make me very nervous. Where can I find this Angle Gear?

 

The angle gear (also called bevel gear) works as a transfer case. It is bolted right to the transmission and the passenger side axle goes into it. It's common for them to leak where the two halves of the assembly bolt together.

 

No simply an honest person who would disclose any info....

 

Thanks, I'll keep eye on that. New gasket is the solution to the repair if a leak is found there?

 

Not that simple, unfortunately. Volvo released a bulletin about rebuilding the angle gear, including all new seals and a process to modify one of the halves for a better seal, which is basically beveling the edge and using a different sealer which flows into the bevel to seal.