Volvo V70 Wagon Experience

dardson1 · December 2001

a 98 V70 with the light pressure turbo. While I don't own the car anymore, the best thing about it was the way it pushed you back in the seat when the turbo kicked in. I can't imagine the small turbo wouldn't be enough for anyone.

vonn1 · December 2001

In response to your question in the Highlander vs Passat post: I never even for a moment thought of buying the V40 over the V70. I have not heard many good things said about the V40. There are many other wagons to go with if you are considering the V40. It really is in a whole different class than the V70. The V40 is simply a dolled up Mitsubishi. I do not have anything against Mitsubishi, I have owned two Colts which are simply Mitsubishi's in Chrysler clothing, and I had great success with both. I feel that you can find a much better wagon for the money in the V40 category. There are a lot of cool smaller wagons coming out these days that warrant some looking into.

If cost is your only concern with the V70, you may want to consider the Overseas Delivery Program. You can get exactly the car you want for much less money. You get one free ticket and a night stay in Sweden. If you do it right, you can save a bundle on the car. The only down side is that it takes a long time to get your car. Figure around five months before you are driving it here. If you can wait, it is worth the extra time.

Bottom line, if you can get the V70, do it. If you can't, look at your other choices. I believe Edmunds has a current review of the V40 in the "Spin Around Town" section. If you have not read this yet, I feel you should.

If you can stand the look, the Subaru WRX wagon is a kick for the cash. It's just one of several good choices in a smaller wagon I would look at before the V40. Good Luck and happy hunting.

rex_ruthor · December 2001

I should have mentioned the WRX wagon as well. I have the sedan..its a great car. And you get AWD.

but its not a big car, its definitely on the smaller side.

msieve · December 2001

I drove an '02 V70 T5 the other day and WHOAA! Scary off the line, dead solid perfect at higher speeds, corners like a BMW, all this in a wagon. Unbelievable. No fake wood on the dash, great sound, even stopped to pick up groceries to check out the rear bag holder. The price at $41000 + is beyond me, but this is my next car, if I have to I'm going to pluck one out of the paper the first time one comes up with a few miles on it. What a ride. Currently driving a '98 S70 GLT, love it, but this wagon is Volvo at its best. Would appreciate anybody's help in steering me to a dealer that will sell it $500-700 over invoice.

jrosasmc · December 2001

How is the performance of the base V70 with the NA 2.4-liter I-5? I understand that it's basically the same engine that debuted in the '93 850.

rex_ruthor · December 2001

Its adequate, (barely). Remember, small displacement motor, 3500 pound car. Nothing to brag about. It does the job, but may leave a lot of drivers wishing for more power, like when passing, merging, hauling a lot of cargo, etc.

xcdriver · December 2001

I picked up my new 2001 XC last Feb and have driven 17000 miles so far. First, I love the car. But, there have been a few annoyances such as the failed control module preventing proper remote entry operation. Took the dealer 3 visits to identify and fix it. They tried very hard to blame it on my tinted windows. Seems to have been a common problem. I now have an issue where the doors will lock fine but the alarm won't always arm. Dealer tried the tinted window explanation again but had trouble explaining why locking from the door panel produced the same result. They haven't solved this inconsistant issue yet.

My biggest complaints are poor headlight power and terrible wipers. I had to install winter blades to prevent streaking left by the new factory blades. The dealer replaced the new blades soon after I picked up the car - no improvement.

I do question Volvo's committment to quality. When I took delivery, my cars door seals looked like they were 25 years old - they were literally crumbling apart. I also found a large cut, obviously done before installation, in the carpeting. How this car left the factory like this is evidence of a poor quality assurance program.

The sunroof had a loud rattle in it for quite awhile. The dealer didn't try very hard to solve it until I got loud. They kept saying they couldn't hear it. Once they took me seriously they tore into it and found a broken part that was rattling around. Very quiet now.

Dealer fixed these problems but I ended up making too many visits very soon after purchase.

My highway/city gas milage is usually 20-21, on a cross country trip I saw 24mpg. I use 87 octane fuel.

For those worried about performance, the car is not a hot rod, but is very capable. My 18 yr old step-son gives the power level a thumbs up so it must be OK. I have no problems climbing mountain passes and plenty of go when I need it on the road.

For a well driven car, the car is still very solid. No rattles. The doors kinda a clank a bit when you close them, but it's not bad.

Overall reliability, comfort, performance has been great. Quality is suspect. I am glad it's leased. I do wonder if this particular car had a troubled start, or if this is indicative of Volvo. This is my first Volvo, not sure yet if I'll get another. Like I said, I love the car, but....

I'd sure like to see what other owners have to say about their experiences.

vonn1 · December 2001

I have a 2001 T5 with 6000 miles on it and I have had it to the dealer once. My fog lights stopped working at around 3000 miles. Dealer replaced a fried component and it has been fine since.

Over all quality on my car is seems good. I have not found many things to nit pick about. A few items are: Slight squeak from fake wood trim on drivers door, Plastic on the top of the rear bumper that scratches way to easy, rubber trim around door missing satin like coating in places.

It's not much to complain about. I do expect a car that cost this much to be pretty darn close to perfect. I feel that the quality should be better. For now the positives out way the negatives. Man, is this car fun to drive! I am also tempted to take out the seats and mount them in the entertainment room of our home. I have yet to find a better seat in any car or living room for that matter.

It is still fairly early in the game for our car. I am nervous about the future, but hopeful. If the car gives me much grief in the future I will sell it before the warranty is up. Hopefully Honda will have a wagon back in the states by then. For now I am going to enjoy every minute of drive time I have in my T5.

jnrose · December 2001

i think my last post was maybe a year ago or more--ive had my T5 since may 2000 and now have 45 000 miles on it--my overall conclusion is that ive been very happy to date---main nitpick--the car and florida are terrible on tires--the original michelins got me 25 000 miles but with a bubble in the side--then bridgestone potenzas(i think) got me another 20 before sidewalls on two got ripped--now riding Fuldas--which ive had for 1500 miles and love---have had my share of bulb burnouts and a rattle in the door that volvo fixed NC(loose window assembly) and a defective trunk/hatch lock--ive been through one brake job--im VERY hard on brakes--but overall the car drives and rides like a dream rocketship--
in aug 2000 i drove straight thru from nyc to home in miami--1350 miles in 19hrs--i didnt stop except for the bathroom and gas --and while iwas a zombie when i got home, neither my back nor legs were stiff or sore---average gas mileage was 28 mpg I-95 the whole way average speed 70
the engine works effortlessly on the highway, the triptronic was fun to drive through the winding roads of the adirondacks-- and i dont know if its psychological but i believe that theres no turbo lag when you accelerate through the gears in "manual". I'm debating a new lease to replace my wife's S70--but the S60 seems a tad small--any suggestions? I'm not sure I'd want the S80--anyone have a suggestion for a good safe sedan to replace the S80?--thanks all--joel

acarter2 · December 2001

Can anyone tell me where the reset is for the service reminder light? My wifes 1999 V70 just turned 45,000 and its on again. I would like to save a trip to the dealer and reset it myself. We had a Acura Integra and the button was under the dash, Volvo has put it in a good hiding place in sure.

revka · December 2001

Hi xcdriver- You said: "They haven't solved this inconsistant issue yet."

Have you considered taking your V70 to a different dealer service? If you do, it's also not be a bad idea to call ahead and speak to the service manager directly... to explain your situation. Btw, here's a direct link to Edmunds' Maintenance Guide where you can check for any TSBs (Technical Service Bulletins) that may be related to any of your vehicle problems. Good luck, and please keep us posted.

To everyone- Thanks for your updates. Your information is very much appreciated. We look forward to hearing more.... Happy Motoring! ;-)

Revka
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kinger3 · December 2001

A lot of conversation goes on about Volvo cars and their attributes. I want to share my ordeal with my leased 1998 Volvo V70 wagon that I understand is more common than Volvo or most owners want to admit. It is now turned in and I own a Nissan Altima- a much better car I admit.My Volvo was "possessed" from the minute I drove it off the lot. Consumer Reports now rates all Volvos as below average, particularly pointing out the car's poor electrical reliability and I know why. Electrically this car was a nightmare. I had both headlights replaced a couple of times, the light harnesses replaced twice ( Volvo doesn't do recalls they do 'campaigns' and you'll only know of a 'campaign' if you take your car in for other service), all marker and parking lights and harnesses replaced under 'campaign', stereo replaced four times, speakers replaced, heater fan replaced twice, wiper motor replaced, spray motor replaced, seat belts replaced twice, air bag fixed under 'campaign', power window motor replaced, canister purge valve replaced, ignition swich replaced as it wore out, had interior panels just fall off the car (rear hatch), tires replaced at 19,000 miles (I drove the car locally less than 10,000 miles per year), brakes replaced under warranty for premature wear (23,000 miles),faulty light indicators repaired,a dashboard that lit up like a christmas tree on occasion, a rear hatch lock that was replaced twice, numerous and mysterious rattles and noises that they couldn't identify or fix, steering wheel collar that needed replacing. A safe car? Aren't these mostly safety related items? I called Volvo consumer affairs and they assured me satisfaction via a form letter (never acheived satisfaction, they repeatedly couldn't fix everything). I went further and called a critical case specialist at HQ in New Jersey, and her comment was that "some people are sicker than others, you have a sicker car". I tried to contact the then President of Volvo in N.J. and he referred my letter back to the Critical Specialist in which she reminded me of my cars "sickness" again. My local Volvo rep couldn't be bothered and offered me a free 30,000 checkup. My dealer agreed that the car should be replaced or the lease terminated, but Volvo played hardball, forcing me to pay dearly until the end of the lease. You draw you own conclusion; I only present the facts and have all the repair bills to prove it. I would be more than happy to share these with you if you are considering the purchase of a Volvo. Really ask an owner what they think and they'll tell you about the nickel and diming. Look further and you'll find a true story. My other friends have had the same issues. I have another friend who had similar problems with his Acura - it was replaced totally and in its entireity, dollar for dollar. I hope this helps many people in their quest for an upscale ($32,000.00)family car. For those who dispute this, I sincerely and genuinely hope you have a good experience.I wouldn't wish mine on anyone. Thank you for your time in this lengthy but neccesary message.

rex_ruthor · December 2001

The Consumer Reports negative ratings were changed when the new platform was released. I think they give Volvo a good rating these days. But, what I dont know from your story, is whether or not your car fell into a lemon law category. I dont know where you are from, but here in CA, one of the provisions of the lemon law requires vehicle manufacturers to buy back your vehicle if it spends more than 30 days out of service in the first 18 months of its life. Of course, this law applies to warranty problems and usually the problems need to be beyond the category of annoyances such as electrical gremlins. Ie, problems with air bags, brakes, motor, etc.

Anyway, sorry to hear of your negative experiences. I have a 2001 V70 T5, with over 15K miles on it, which has never been to the shop. (knock on wood) On the other hand I know people who have the same car and have had some problems. I guess its just luck of the draw.

This is not to suggest that the cars are flawless now, of course, but they are much much better than the last generation was. You can ask any service advisor at a Volvo dealer and they will tell you the same thing.

crestonave · December 2001

Car has everything but the versatility package.
Incidentally I drove the XC for the second time
and found it had plenty of pep, from a standing
start was well as passing gear. Rides like a
dream. Was gonna wait for the XC 90 SUV in the fall, but what the heck ,,,,,

mstssc · December 2001

I have a 99 V70 GLT and with the exception of burnt out headlights, mass flow meter and some minor odds and ends have had no problems. It is now pushing 50,000 km.

If you look at the posts on any model and manufacturer here you will find problems and I agree that getting a good car (or bad one) from any manufacturer is a numbers game.

As far as CR goes, they believe the Chrysler mini-van is a 'best buy' even with all its problems.

alwaysed · December 2001

Like others, I'm sorry you had so many electrical problems with '98 V70. I leased a '98 AWD R and turned it in at 45m miles and did not have any electrical problems. However, I did have to replace the rear brakes at 30m miles which I thought was a bit early. One thing I will agree with you on is the dumb responses from the Volvo HQ and the responses from their web site. I now lease a 2001 T5 and tried to get some info on the 17" Pirelli P6s that were on the car. I got sandbagged from both aforementioned sources. So far, at 14m miles, the T5 is perfect-but I would like to know more about the performance characteristics of these tires. BTW, the replacement cost is around $260/per.

multithreaded · December 2001

I'm sincerely feel for the owners of the previous generation V70, general reliability problems appears to be a constant theme for most of the posters. I waited until July '01 to pull the trigger on a 2001 V70 after reading this board since the previous September. I tried to illicit negative reponses from 2001 owners but rarely got any. Nonetheless, I chose to lease to make sure I did not get stuck with a lemon, and because I got a great price.

After 6 months and 6000 miles the car feels as new as the day I drove it out the door. We've had no problems. My wife drives it most of the time and loves it for many reasons, and not just because it's not a minivan.

We got the base V70, and other than passing, fully loaded, while ascending "hills" in Vermont the acceleration has been just fine. Mileage around town has been 25 mpg @ 28mph average, with a peak of 31.3 mpg on a 350 mile trip (65 mph average) downhill from Stowe, VT to the coast of RI. (I did a lot of cautious drafting)

I'll be the first to post if anything goes wrong to ensure that you all remain informed buyers but so far this cars been a gem.

rex_ruthor · December 2001

Hey, what kind of performance info were you looking for on the Pirellis? Have you checked out Tirerack.com? They have lots of helpful features regarding most tires, including subjective ratings generated from their customers.

vonn1 · December 2001

Perhaps you have seen this already. Here is the path to the P6 info on the Pirelli site:
http://www.us.pirelli.com/en_US/tyres/catalog/tyre_product.jhtml?selected=desc&catid=CAE_HP&productid=4486

I have done a lot of searching for info on these tires and this is the only place I have found any. Tire rack does not have these tires. They are a OEM only tire. I hope to lose these tires soon as they are way to soft and make the car handle like a Buick. I have a set of Blizzak LM-22's on the car now (01 T5) for the winter and they handle better than the P6's even though they are a winter tire and a smaller (225/55/16) size. I ordered the snow tires from the Tire Rack on 16 inch alloy wheels. If I can convince my wife (which I highly doubt) I would like to replace the P6's with Bridgestone S-03 Pole Position summer tires. I have a set of Pirelli P6000 Sport Veloce tires on our second car and I have not been happy with them. I will not buy Pirelli's again.

vonn1 · December 2001

While doing a bit more research, I found this:

http://www.pirellip6.com/

I found this through the Pirelli UK site. This site gives just about all the info anyone would need on this tire.

The only strange thing about the info here is that it does not show the size 235/45/17 as being a size option. As those of us who drive 01 T5's know this is the size on our cars.

At any rate, enjoy the tire info.

rex_ruthor · December 2001

Are you SURE you have P6's on your car stock from the factory? I have the 2001 too, and it came with P6000's.

I know Volvo switched to the P6 for MY2002...

vonn1 · December 2001

The P6000's only came on the earliest 01's. Trust me on this. I was not happy to learn that my V70 came with P6's. I ordered my car through the OSD program in early March and picked it up in Sweden in June. I believe the tire change started in about March of 01 or even an little earlier. When I ordered the car in March, I made a big deal at the dealer about wanting P6000's and not P6's. Of course the dealer has nothing to do with it, so I wasted a lot of breath for nothing. If you have P6000's consider yourself lucky. The P6's are soft as bean bag chairs and do not belong on a 250hp Estate.

rex_ruthor · December 2001

Mystery solved! Yah, I had one of the first 2001's...we received it in July of 2000.

Ive been very happy with the P6000's for the most part.

Another tire I have used and liked a lot (on a 5-series BMW) is the Firestone Firehawk SZ50-EP. I will probably replace the P6000's with those when they are worn out.

kinger3 · December 2001

Thank you first of all for not labeling me a 'complainer'. I see that sometimes this forum is used for complaining and bashing. My intent was to inform and for people to make their own educated decision about Volvo. I truely wish the car had performed as expected as we were set on becoming another million mile customer. This was to be one of those extended decisions in the life of a young family. You have all been very kind. For those who are curious, I had pursued lemon law with the car in the State of New York. Problem with this was that the issues were persistent and continuous thru out the life of the car(39 months). Electrical problems never go away, they just travel further throughout the vehicle. It was in the shop every month I owned it, never out of service more than a day, the dealer having a genuine concern in the repairs and pushing for resolve (termination of lease). They knew the car was substandard as was the majority of 1998 and 1999 V70 wagons - all configurations. The dealer was very open with their comments. The local Volvo rep even told the dealer to stress the safety instead of addressing the known reliablity problems of this model. Again, I'll mention that a lot of the problems were safety issues. How safe is a car without headlights, turnsignals, airbags, seatbelts etc. It was disappointing that Volvo was off the mark with their customer service/ bedside manners. I wanted to believe that because I purchased an upscale car, a Volvo, that the treatment of a customer was to be extraordinary. In the past I have read of others having the same issues. Along the way, I wanted to know if I was the only one having these problems so I used to read Edmunds alot for justification. There are currently other letters still on file with Edmunds that read the same as mine. I even thought that perhaps Volvo would have offered to extend the warranty to keep me as a customer. This was not as option or important to them either. With the exception of the dealer, it was an all around bad experience. If I could do it all over again, I understand the Subaru GT wagon is a beauty. Sorry for taking so much space. Again, thank you for everybodies patience and understanding. Good luck in your family wagon decisions.

rex_ruthor · December 2001

Yah, its just a nightmare when stuff like that happens. Its a real disappointment too from a company that has the respect and good reputation, deserved or not, that Volvo has.

Again, that generation of cars makes for some dark spots in Volvo history. There are probably a lot of owners, like yourself, who will leave and never return, because of the negative experiences.

However, I have a lot of faith in Volvo, partly because I have had a good car, but also because its my opinion that their Ford ownership will help them to overcome these types of problems.

I believe we're already seeing this effect take place with the most recent platform and its comparatively outstanding service record.

If you are looking for another wagon, and considering the Subaru, I would reaffirm your interest. I recently bought a Subaru and have been extremely happy with it.

If I had the means to do so, I would probably choose from the selection of V-8 equipped wagons from BMW or Mercedes.

alwaysed · December 2001

Thanks rex_ruthor and vonn1 for the additional input on the P6's. I should have mentioned in my original post that I had contacted Pirelli by email, phone, and local dealer--without one bit of useful information. However Vonn1, I had not accessed that the UK site, it was helpful.
The most disturbing issue in all of this is that Volvo foisted on their performance oriented customers a "family car" tire if we wanted the 17" wheels. Frankly, I don't think this is something BMW or MB would pull on their customers.

vonn1 · December 2001

Kinger3, I am really bummed to hear about all your issues with Volvo. I can understand getting a bad car from any company, but I cannot understand a company not stepping up to bat for it's customers. Your story is not the first I have read and for this I am very distressed. Personally I would have purchased from another car company had anyone had a car like the V70 T5 on the market at the time. I looked at a lot of other cars and none of them offered what the 2001 V70 T5 did. I am still nervous about the future with this car, but I must admit that I do love driving it. Wether or not Ford owning Volvo with improve things remains to be seen. Ford is not know for backing up it's client's any more than Volvo is. Big business is what it is. It's all about money. I hope your future car purchases bring you better luck. I appreciate your taking the time to tell us your story.

Alwaysed, I agree with you 100% about Volvo's poor desicion to put P6's on the 17" T5 wheels. I can understand the P6000's as they are a firmer, better performing tire. It is unfortunate that Volvo decided to switch when the P6's became available. My biggest complaint with this car so far is the tire choice. At least it is easy to fix this problem. Not cheap, but easy. If this continues to be my greatest complaint, I will be a very happy T5 owner.

lanshahan · December 2001

As the lease comes to it's end on my 98 V70 I can say that this is my last Volvo. The car will be happily returned at lease end. This is the third Volvo for my family. The first was back in 73 and it was a dud, lots of problems. My most vivid memory of that car was always going to the dealership to drop it off, or drop dad off to pick it up. The second Volvo was a 240 series and I must admit that car just keep going and I learned to drive in that car. The third is the 98 V70. It has been by far the most unreliable, most expensive to maintain vehicle I have owned. And to top it off VCNA is not a customer oriented organization. What type of troubles have I had.
Transmission replaced during first year of ownership due to torque converter problems. All of the driveshafts, carrier bearing, bezel gear replaced in order to reduce odd vibrations. Inoperative door locks, finish problems with door panels, rear set leather coming undone, rear seat belt failed twice, various switches failing, CD player failing, and numerous TSB's and recalls. This is just a list of the major items. In three years this car has spent more than three months in the shop. VCNA fought the dealer and myself on resolving the transmission problem. Only after months of working the system all the way to the president of VCNA was the problem resolved. Maintenance has been expensive as well. I perform the basics myself but the major service at 30k was very pricey. Three years of maintenance on the V70 cost me twice as much as the 4 years of maintenance on the BMW 3 series I owned before the Volvo ! Above and beyond the frequency and cost of repair is the fact that these cars just don't deliver the driving experience they should for the price. The suspensions lack the excellence of the German cars. My 98 V70 rides like a rock and the new V70 floats and has feedback like a Buick. Volvo can't seem to get the feel, compliance and control right. The 5 cyl engine makes decent power but sounds like a bucket of bolts in the process. Brakes are pretty good, I will give Volvo that but the last couple of S80's and V70's I drove Volvo has messed that up, no they are overboosted. The interiors rattle and creak but the seats are great. All in all the most dissapointing vehicle I have ever owned.

joecone · January 2002

As a new Volvo customer it is disheartning to read all the negative comments concerning the 98 - 99 V 70 Models. Can anyone comment on what Volvo's response was to a very obvious quality issue ?? Why did problems affect V70's ??? S 70 owners appear to be pleased with their cars ...
Are they not the built on the same platform ????

mstssc · January 2002

the same car. From what I see here and other posts, most of the problems are with the first year 98s and less so with 99 and 2000. Our 99 has been pretty good and with less problems than any other new car we have owned in the past including an earlier Toyota 4 runner.

jameshayden · January 2002

CPIKE1 and DUNKA (Chris and Mike),

I originally posted the issue about a clicking noise coming from the steering column of my '01 V70. Chris talked about the TSB on post 361 and Mike had it soon fixed by his dealer. I just returned to the Town Hall and was happier than a clam at high tide to hear about your resolution. I'm taking my wagon in on Jan 14th to get fixed but was wondering if you had the TSB #. I know you mentioned that is was from last May. This would really help the service tech at the dealership. I know I know, they should look it up but they are not known as the most outgoing crew so I want to help as much as possible. The bottom line is that I want to do what is necessary for my T5 to feel as good as she can.

Thanks for your help.

James

rex_ruthor · January 2002

One thing some of you current generation V70 (2001, 2002) owners should be familiar with already...the center seat position is entirely too narrow to install a child (infant or otherwise) car seat without eclipsing the seat belt latch for the right rear passenger, thus rendering that seating position null.

I wish I had know about this design defect before buying the car. Its my only regret. Turns a five passenger car into a 3 adult, one child passenger car. I dont know what you would do if you have two kids and two carseats.

Also, where the heck is this alleged ISOFIT (or as we call it here now, LATCH) system? On my car, all I see are two little, white inverted horseshoes that are mounted near the right and left rear passenger doors, down by the floor. What the hell good is that gonna do anyone who wants to install a seat in the center? Theres no place to tether the rear facing seat to. Maybe when they touted the ISOFIT system they were referring to something that can be installed in the car, but does not come with it. Slick marketing if you ask me! The way it was described in the literature was "Oh, yah, we're Volvo, we make the safest cars in the world. And ISOFIT is the best system for child restraints...you just click a compatible seat right into place and no adjustment required! Its revolutionary".

Now, 18 months later, you still cant buy the seat they show in the brochure from Volvo, and there is only two car seats that use the LATCH System sold in the US, and they both suck in the ratings. Britax, whom supposedly makes the best car seats, doesnt offer a LATCH seat. I just bought a Britax (the Advantage), it cant be installed safely due to the lack of a tethering point for rear-facing in the center position, and even if there were a tether, the right rear seat is still unusable.

The center is the safest place in the car for the child seat to be. And LATCH is the best restraint system. Volvo has made it completely impractical to use either one of these great safety features.

cpike1 · January 2002

James,

I don't have the TSB number, but I believe that it was initially a problem reported on the S80, however, my dealer told me that it also applied to the V70. I think your service tech should be able to find it really fast.

Sorry I can't be of more help.

Chris

mstssc · January 2002

Our 99 V70 has three car seats - two regular forward facing and one booster. Have carried three kids 8,6,3 for two years now. They all fit but you need to be very selective in the width of the car seat you buy.

dunka · January 2002

James,

I am unable to get you TSB # as well. I went for a ride with the "head tech", he drove and felt the same click. I related that it was a problem on the S80's and was resolved with new bolt and some grease. As far as I know he took that info and ran with it and solved the problem, he also wanted to know where I got my info. Your dealer should have no trouble making this minor adjustment. Good Luck

revka · January 2002

Hi Folks- Have you tried looking up (nhtsa) TSB information in Edmunds Maintenance Guide? Good luck.

Revka
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Hatchbacks / Station Wagons / Women's Auto Center Boards

kinger3 · January 2002

Joecone thanks for asking the question of Volvo's response to quality issues. I had taken my problems directly to the top of Volvo, their President (I believe I read he is now the President of a major American car manufacturer)after I had not received any suitable answer from consumer affairs and their Critical Case Specialist. Again their response, 'some people are sicker than others. You have a sicker car'.I believe their questionable reputation was on the line and competition from other European auto makers as well as Japanese is getting stiffer. They didn't need any admission or lasting evidence to the fact that they manufactured a substandard car. My friends S70's were affected also. Fortunately Consumers Digest captured it perfectly with their questionaires and research. These cars are rated below average. Even the previously mentioned report by another owner stating a upgrade still makes me wonder why we have to pay so much for even an average car in consumer satisfaction and reliability. Is vanity so important in our lives. I don't know about you but I also don't have the time, money or patience to spend in the dealers garage. I didn't pay $32,000.00 to get to know the service manager by name. (This is also an expensive car to have plastic hubcaps, manual seats, a cassette deck, fixed intermittent wipers, no roof rack, fog lights or other amenities offered on cars thousands of dollars less). For $32,000.00 I expect perfection or we have forgotten the value of a hard earned dollar. Admission to their problems? Cost too much to repair the problems and their cover is the now well known 'campaign'. If you feel you have a problem or are lucky enough to be in the garage for an oil change etc. they'll mention that other work needs to be performed. You won't even receive a letter from them of potential problems. Volvo has never been lilly white. Remember the old Volvo scam of the commercial where the truck was on the Volvo roof. Beefed up roof they later found and not a production model. They were reprimanded for this. Bitter you ask, you bet I am. I'm a big boy though and can handle the situation as it ended. I have never been treated so poorly by anybody before and never since. I did not ask for the world or these problems just an explanation addressing my issues. They didn't have the human decency to even try to remedy the situation. They gave up on me and wrote me off as a lost customer. Can anybody afford to do this now? Again use your best judgement in choosing your car. I only offer my ordeal as a thought for you before buying and potentially what you will have to put with after.
Lastly, the clicking in the steering wheel - I had to have the steering wheel collar replaced in my V70 and a grease job. Any other questions just ask, I experienced just about every problem in mine and might be able to help you out. Thanks again to all you kind people - Happy New Year!

alwaysed · January 2002

The Feb issue of R&T has a long term test update of the 2001 V70 T5. There are not many miles yet, but, the comments are quite positive.

One editor/reviewer that he was not a station wagon fan, but, the T5 was starting to change his mind.

kkat · January 2002

My 1998 V70 won't start today -- has been very reliable until now (39K miles). I hear a couple of clicking sounds when the ignition key is turned -- engine does not appear to be turning over. Thought it might be the battery, but jumping the car did not help. I was wondering if anyone else has experienced anything like this. Thanks.

rex_ruthor · January 2002

I would start with checking/cleaning your battery posts and the cables as well. Believe or not, small amounts of corrosion often cause a problem exactly like you describe. If this doesnt work, I would put the battery on a trickle charger overnight. (if the battery has become severely discharged from full, jump starting often will not help, because you need a certain minimum level of amps to turn a starter, regardless of the voltage applied to the circuit)

If THAT doesnt work, you could try these diagnostics;

1. If you have a 12 volt test light or multimeter, try testing at the starter, at the starter solenoid, and at the relay. With what you describe, one of those should not be getting 12 volts.

2. You should also check the "neutral safety switch" to make sure it is not damaged.

Good luck!

dmerski1 · January 2002

Our young family purchased a 2001 v70 2.4 in may. we've been well pleased with none of the aforementioned rattles, electrical problems or clicks. where we are (north of white mts of NH) we daily live with serious tourist congestion and short (and i mean short) passing opportunities and undulating roads. tho we are happy with the car so far it is seriously underpowered. the sinking feeling one experiences when you step on it and nothing happens is one wicked negative shot of adrenaline. we consider this an entry level car and will move up in wagons in the future. i saw no previous mention of gislavid winter tires, we've used them successfully on this and our last saab900. where do they rank with the blizzak (sp?) tires often mentioned.

nmorvay · January 2002

For all those posting about reliabilty, let me rant about my 1998 V70 AWD 5-Spd stick. Great driving car, handles like it's on rails in corners (Michelin Pilot XGT Z4 205/55-16), the best seats I've ever sat in and plenty of power for my needs. Unfortunately, this is where it ends. I should have clued in to the problems and bought the extended warranty plan when it was offered as the car approached the 80k km warranty limit. But NOOOOOO i said, it's a Volvo, for life. Think again! Under warranty they replaced, stereo system including CD changer, air-conditioning compressor, rear break rotors, light swith, all exterior lights and wiring harness leading to them, installed ground strap for passanger air-bag. Not under warranty (105k km) replaced engine wiring harness, main wiring harness to dash, secondary wiring harness, altimeter sensor, front wheel bearings and hubs, control arms, and others I've lost track of. In the last 4 months it cost me just over $7000CDN!! The worst part is neither the Volvo dealer nor Volvo Canada was sympathetic to my problems. The cause of the harness burn was never found and nobody could expain why the fuse didn't protect the circuit. My house wiring doesn't burn if there is a short or the current capacity of the wire is exceeded. The fuse blows to protect it. Clearly it did not work in my car and I blame Volvo for a design fault. The harness should NEVER have burnt! My other car is a Lexus and I now know why Toyota/Lexus is at the top of the J.D. Power User Satisfaction Surveys and Volvo is nowhere to be seen.

Regards,
Nick

alwaysed · January 2002

I agree with rex_ruthor's post, put if the "click, click" is pronounced, there is a good chance it is the solenoid, or an internally shorted battery.

kkat · January 2002

Thanks for the posts on my '98 V70 that wouldn't start. My update: put in new battery on Sunday (Sears) and was told that the alternator was coming up bad on their testing. Took the car to the dealer today and they replaced alternator, for SIX HUNDRED AND SEVENTY NINE DOLLARS.

Bitched to them a bit about the car being 1 week out of warranty with only 39K miles, so they took 10% off. Whoopeee. Have an ominous feeling that, despite its youth, this is the beginning of the end for this car. Have spent $2K in last six months (Tires at 30K miles, Front rotors/brakes, battery, alternator)

Anyone know a good Toyota/Lexus dealer?

rex_ruthor · January 2002

expensive Alternator! how much did they charge you for the part?

lancerfixer · January 2002

Now that the car is out of warranty, find a good local Volvo mechanic (they're all over; I live in Iowa and there are two within a half hour of me; if you live in New England, swing a dead cat around your head and you'll hit five) and take it there. Not only will repairs be cheaper, but you're more likely to get a straight answer out of them.

kinger3 · January 2002

kkat, I had to have my ignition switch replaced as it just wore out. Slowly you will notice that it doesn't turn as far as it used to.....then it's too late. As you may have read, I think I experienced it all and nmorvay had similar experiences. Scroll further back through history and the real story starts to unfold as to Volvo's reputation amongst buyers ( we're not owners, as Volvo doesn't treat us that way and most of us feel either we shouldn't have bought the car or wish we could get rid of it sooner. It reveals its real self after a short time). Volvo is very unsympathetic of its buyers problems and dangles small discounts or trinkets to try to appease us. I know I'll never be back after this extremely negative experience. My 'ReVolvolution' is that Volvo is not 'for life' and their product has to be better than a catchy saying. R.I.P. 1998 Volvo V70 2.4 Sport Wagon. Even John Edward shouldn't bring this car back from the dead. Let it rest in piece(s).

robr2 · January 2002

$679 for a freakin alternator????

I don't own a Volvo but have been considering a wagon. My boss has a older 940 Turbo wagon with well over 200K on it. I picked it up at the dealer for him recently and was astounded at the over $2,000 in service he had done. I told the service writer that seemed outrageous but he just looked at me dumbfounded and said people come in with old 240's with 300K + on them and drop that kind of coin every 6 months.

I was hoping the newer models might be a little more reasonable but based on this perhaps I should keep looking.

kkat · January 2002

Split on the alternator was $339 parts and $340 labor. (5 hrs X $68/hour, I assume) Seems like a lot of work to replace an alternator.

rex_ruthor · January 2002

Dont feel too bad. You are in the club. The exclusive club of people who own European cars and thus are forced to spend thousands a year on maintenance. Im sure there are more expensive cars than ours running around.

I have a 1995 525 which I am selling (in part due to the $3000 I have spent in the last 12 months on it) Every time the car goes to the shop, its $1000. Doesnt matter what the ailment is;

went in for a 60K service. Needed an additional 550 of work on top of the service. $1000.

went in for brake pads. Came out with all 4 new rotors and pads, plus master cylinder. $1000.

Went in because car overheated: came out with new radiator, new water pump, new front struts, new flex disc on tranny. $1000

I could go on, but the point is, Euro cars are expensive to maintain. I tried to get some sympathy at work, but everyone I talked to just laughed and told me worse stories about their own cars (I worked for a Silicon Valley software company where a lot of the employees had expensive Euro cars.)

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