C70: New-to-me 2.3 T5 GT convertible

[Aveton Gifford]

20230624_185511.jpg

Here's mine

[Baffler]

Originally Posted by HTP

Finally got it off, and hunting high and low can only assume the leak has come from the power steering reservoir. The level looks low (not registering on the dip stick lid thingy) and the hose clamps were very loose. Given them a good tighten and will top up the fluid tomorrow 🤞🤞

There was a batch of reservoirs that have been known to fail. Perhaps new tank time?

Make sure the cam/auxiliary belt haven't been contaminated with ATF as this will lead to premature failure.

[HTP]

Originally Posted by Aveton Gifford

Attachment 154483

Here's mine

Had a few German and Japanese cars, and never encountered rivets on wheel liners. Go Volvo and safety first.

That's a stunner. Mine looks like it's was Stevie Wonder's learner. Bought some touch up from ChipEx. Fantastic product, but clearly the blue has faded in 20years and the touch up is a lot darker - only noticeable if you're looking for it - but best colour by far and with tan interior it looks even better.

Originally Posted by Baffler

There was a batch of reservoirs that have been known to fail. Perhaps new tank time?

Make sure the cam/auxiliary belt haven't been contaminated with ATF as this will lead to premature failure.

I think you and AG are right. The belt looks dry fortunately but will keep an eye and clean out as best I can.

[Tannaton]

Welcome....

I'm on my fourth C70 T5 GT (over approx 12 years).

I've also been to Le Mans four times - once flying, three times driving, once in my Spitfire - but that was in the 1990's. It's a very genuine and precious experience, and a must for the serious petrol head. One year I was lucky enough to bump into an acquaintance who went with his old TVR and a TVR club - got driven around in a Chimera for a while :-).

The Volvo will be a fabulous car for that, as long as you don't want to go looning around.

On these cars (and V70/S70 etc) the power steering reservoirs do seem to "sweat". My current car doesn't do it but my previous one did, I just used to power wash it off every so often. It never used to drip, just sweat. I'm not sure if a new one would cure it, but i'm also cautious of cheap pattern parts... There is a breather in the cap so you could try a new cap first.

With regard to the radio, the dealer should give you the code if you show them the V5 and some ID. If still not working check all wiring - they're relatively cheap and not too difficult to get. I've also got the Yatour unit and it works well, if you site the microphone carefully behind the mirror you can have a phone conversation at 70mph. I also needed a CD unit, I bought a broken SC901 for £30 on facebook and dismantled it to get the CD cartridge out (as well as 3 Barry Manilow CD's...)

Personally I would also change the transmission fluid, it's not done a lot of miles but its 20 years old, you will notice improvements. I think that car will have the 5 speed AW55 box.

The wheel arches should not be riveted, they should use the plastic pop rivets which you can re-use by pushing through the centre pin - like these : https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/225708832499

I'd also wrap it before driving it to Le Mans

Enjoy!

[Tannaton]

…….and for the parts you need, if you join the “Volvo c70 mark one roof problems and fixes” group on Facebook, there are a couple of chaps who regularly break these cars, Karl Sabin (also a member on here) being the most prolific.

[Clan]

Originally Posted by HTP

Hello folks - proud new owner of a 2004 Volvo C70 2.3 T5 GT convertible.

Currently, I know very little about the car as I've purchased sight unseen from Copart as a running project to get me and a mate down to Le Mans in June - if anyone else is going, please say Ooh la la!

Very little background on her, but she can't be run in yet on 58k miles, 2 former keepers for 11 and 9 years, has the upgraded dolby surround stereo, and a vintage AA grille badge that sold her to me.

I've noticed in the pics that the roof wasn't completely down or up - I'm hoping this is time pressured staff and not sensor or mechanical faults but once I've taken possession and given her a ruddy good clean and paint touch up, I'll no doubt be on here posting more pics and searching for advice on a jobs list as long as the car.

Cheers,
Ben

check the 2 bass speakers behind the rear seat backrest they can blow if the previous owner has had them on full all the time .. so can the door speakers actually with the 4 x 100w rms amplifiers !

[Tannaton]

Originally Posted by Clan

check the 2 bass speakers behind the rear seat backrest they can blow if the previous owner has had them on full all the time .. so can the door speakers actually with the 4 x 100w rms amplifiers !

The GT package comes with the SC-901, Dolby Pro-Logic and Dynaudio speakers. The Dynaudio was a very expensive option on non-specced cars, including Mk2 C70. The sound quality is superb but they are fragile and prone to failing if over powered for long periods.

There is a bass a mid unit in each front door, tweeters on the dash. Two large bass units behind the back seat (with kill switch in the centre console) and mid /tweeter in the rear panels, plus centre speaker in the dash. All are susceptible to blowing if the system is run too loud, its rare to find a car of this age with all speakers working.

But when they do.... wow.

[Aveton Gifford]

Originally Posted by Clan

.. so can the door speakers actually with the 4 x 100w rms amplifiers !

Yep, sorted mine today, the drivers side bass speaker was blown, didn't take long to find out why!!

Turns our mine is missing the speaker shield shown in the second image, it's there on the passenger side and that speaker is fine, looks like some humpty has taken it off!!

I have put a V70 speaker in it for now, I'm not ruining the replacement Dynaudio speaker I have bought!

Something else for me to try and find

[Aveton Gifford]

Originally Posted by Tannaton

The wheel arches should not be riveted, they should use the plastic pop rivets which you can re-use by pushing through the centre pin

Well I'll be blown, I just thought it was the same as the later cars, turns out on my 05 C70 the liner is held in with Torx head bolts.

Every day is a school day

[ITSv40]

Originally Posted by Aveton Gifford

Well I'll be blown, I just thought it was the same as the later cars, turns out on my 05 C70 the liner is held in with Torx head bolts.

Every day is a school day

The liners on mine are held in with a mixture of torx screws - on the mudflaps -and blind rivets. When I removed my liners for cleaning I had to drill out the blind rivets, replaced with new Volvo rivets, part number 979878. They are aluminium rivets with a plastic sleeve over the head and first half of the stem. Once installed the exposed head is black to match the liner.