I'm looking at buying a 2000 V70 AWD. The owner says that a person looking at the car brought it to a mechanic who told them the AWD wasn't working. The car drives fine (no squealing tires or bucking), but the rear wheels don't pull. What could be cause this? Is it possible that the mechanic could be wrong? I'm not familier with the Volvo system, but I know that with some early AWD's you could jack up one axle and with the car running and in gear the wheels off the ground would spin without the wheels on the ground moving. Thanks in advance for any help

 

it's most likely the dreaded angle gear which is responsible for driving the rear wheels.
Mines been out for past 30K or so. It's the weak link in the drive train; when it's suppossed to be
robust. On top of it all the drive gear from the transmission on mine is worn out and the only
solution for that is new transmission. The front drive system is still good and seems to retain the
differential slip functions; but I'm sure is not a deep snow car like I paid too much for.

 

The AWD don't meant to work until a slippage occurs. if u can find ways to stops the spinning wheel the other wheel that was not moving will spin (can be dangerous). Also older AWD system from 97 850AWD to 2002 XC70 the all wheel drive system don't work as well as the new haldex system since it used a viscous coupling (mechanical system). On the other hand the rear wheel on the newer cars is computer controlled and applied torque to rear wheel when needed. The AWD doesn't spins all wheel all the time. hope this help