Hi, new to the forum here. My friend, not me, actually just bought a 2002 S60 T5 sedan. He got a great deal on it for $5,000 i.m.o. It's got 127K. But we've got a couple issues with it, so I'm scouting answers for him... anyway:

It's got a leaky power brake air line or something... we've been told that's what it is. It sounds like compressed air is shooting out whenever the brake pedal isn't pressed. Anyone know the deal with that? Common on these cars? Big deal to fix?

Also the ride is the roughest I've ever felt in a volvo. Are the struts probably shot at this mileage? How much do struts cost for a volvo?

I wanted to ask what to look out for or to be sure is maintained? It's turbo, how do those usually hold up? Any maintenance required? Any transmission issues?

Any insight at all would help. thanks guys.

 

Hi! I have the same car, so here are my two cents:

--Make sure the timing belt, tensioner and pulley have been replaced. That should have been done at the 105k service.

--Volvo recommends oil changes every 7500 miles with dino oil. Being turbocharged, I recommend a shorter service interval and the use of full synthetic oil.

--Speaking of turbos, let the engine warm up a bit before driving and allow it to idle a bit before shutting down. This will allow proper lubrication and cool-down of the turbo.

--The ride is a bit rough on mine too, but I think the suspension is intentionally stiff on the T5 as to enhance the sporty feel. I think we will need input from other T5 owners to determine if it a problem or normal.

--I have read the car's weakness is the transmission and mine has been a little temperamental the past 5k miles (started around 100k). I had it flushed last week and it is smoother now. Not perfect, but smoother.

--Use premium gas. I drove it using regular for two years... Made the switch two months ago and now it feels more responsive during spirited driving.

I hope your friend enjoys the car!

 

Thanks a lot ikey, very helpful. One question: I'm very familiar with sythetic oil and it's uses and maintenance intervals, but what is dino oil? Is that a grade or a brand or something?

 

Hi,

It's short for "dinosaur", a slang way of referring to conventional oil.

 

wow. im embarrassed. Thanks again.

 

That would be your power brake booster. My '01 T5 is at 130k and the brake booster was "whistling" when I bought it at 117k. I've yet to get it fixed. I've heard it can be on the expensive side, though. The stiff ride is normal, IIRC. I think the T5 model had a sportier suspension. Ikey is right, the transmission is the downfall. Keep up on it. Get all the software updates and make sure you do a transmission fluid drain and fill every 30k miles.

 

Do you have to get the software updates at a Volvo Dealership? Or is that something most foreign car mechanics can do? And transmission fluid ever 30k, huh? that's pretty often... but if that's what's needed, then it'll be worth it to keep the trani working.

 

The break booster cost form Volvo OME $500+ you can get a rebuilt one from Cardone(bought mine at AdvancedAuto) for around $250 its a pretty simple DIYS job.There are a bunch of how 2 on replacing these if u look around.Common problem.

 

Software updates can be done at the dealership or a indie Volvo mechanic who is licensed to have the Volvo software. A trans. drain/fill every 30k is what a few people recommended to me, so that's kinda what I go by.