C70 Convertible

[AJ56BUT]

Hi. I am new here. Two weeks ago I bought a 2002 C70 Convertible. 32000 miles - yes 32000! I must admit to being a bit sceptical but everything points to the mileage being genuine - seat condition, MOTs etc. I have no idea about the cambelt but I am avoiding using the car too much until I can book it in for a replacement. In the short time have driven it with the roof down the shaking scares me! The whole front end seems to want to leave the road - and if it doesn't it feels as if the shaking will do some serious damage! I have read old posts about scuttle shake. I have experienced very small shakes when I owned a CLK Convertible but nothing like this with the C70. Any advice please?

[Lancee]

tyre pressures.

[ITSv40]

Welcome to the forum.

Yes, they do shake and can be quite alarming if you are not used to it - particularly on our local roads. A front strutbrace will make a difference - going from alarming shake to 'just having character '. As above: check the tracking, suspension bushes etc. Also the car may be low mileage, but how old are the tyres, make etc - they could be perished through age and standing.

[BarryK]

I would suggest old tyres that have not been used for ages are the problem. We have had our C70 for ~20years and when it has been left standing for a few months it does vibrate when first taken out onto the road but stabilises after a couple of miles.

[Baffler]

Originally Posted by AJ56BUT

Hi. I am new here. Two weeks ago I bought a 2002 C70 Convertible. 32000 miles - yes 32000!

Hello and welcome! Only 32,000 miles

Plus one for tyres...they could be the originals

[Tannaton]

They do shake, as does any convertible that was originally designed as a hardtop and latterly modified. You get used to it, and once you do you realise they're a great car, and superb GT convertible.

As has been said for that and other reasons get the tyres checked. I personally don't think strut braces make much difference. They're never going to be a taught, tight handling car - but a lovely soft comfortable cruiser - yes.

[Derek UK]

I think the convertible has the braces but not the coupe which seems reasonable. Perhaps a good idea to get underneath and check that all of the brace bolts are tight/torqued correctly.
+1 for bad tyres. A new set should transform the car. Low mileage is often a negative so everything needs to be checked and serviced as necessary.

[AJ56BUT]

Thanks. I must say that I haven't driven it enough so far to get used to it. It seems better with the roof up. It was MOTed and serviced in August by a Ford franchise garage (not back street)! Pirelli tyres all round having done about 4000 miles. I will take it to a Volvo specialist for a once over.

[ASt85]

Originally Posted by AJ56BUT

I have read old posts about scuttle shake. I have experienced very small shakes when I owned a CLK Convertible but nothing like this with the C70. Any advice please?

Easiest ways to reduce the skuttle shake
1) Check the wheel alignment
2) Make sure all 4 tyres are the same make/type and don't have flat spots due to standing unused etc and do check the wheel balance.
3) Invest in a front cross brace and make sure that the lower front brace bushes are not worn or perished. (a wishbone like arrangement that runs forward from the gearbox/auto housing)
4) Check the rear supspension spring do not have the top coil broken off - 2002 to 2004 manufactured models were fitted with a poor quality steel springs which often failed @ round 40 to 45K miles, but also prone to age related metal fatigue. Check the return rate/softness of the rear shock absorbers and the front suspension legs.
5) Fit a rear to bar bracket which acts as rear cros brace and really does stiffen the whole body up.
6) Check that the tyre to wheel arch clearances are both equal on the rear, the front clearance should also be equal - less cleance at the front than the rear - if either is different start looking for "tired springs". They do compress over time due to the dodgy steel used in the afore mentioned factory fitted batch.

[AJ56BUT]

OK...update! I decided to hand the car over to Avalon Cars of Northampton - Independent Volvo specialists. They have had the car for 3 weeks now. They have been brilliant! However, a word of warning....we all know the attraction of an older low mileage car. Remember mine is 2002 and has done 32000 miles. So Avalon have been all over it! They even found that the fuel cap strap was broken! So far.....Cambelt/water pump change (what I originally asked to be done). New brake discs all round + callipers + pads+ hand brake overhaul. Gearbox mounting. Engine mounting. New alternator. Apparently the current alternator has the wrong bolts (not sure what difference this makes - but they must know what they are doing). ROPS warning light bulb removed (the dealer who sold me the car had solved the ROPS warning light problem - ha, ha)!. Historic fault codes on the roof. I have owned the car for just over a month and it has been in the repair shop for nearly 3 weeks now! Avalon assure me it will be good when all the jobs are done - oh yes....I forgot - inner wing under the battery needs welding/replacing - but I knew this already! Ho hum - happy days!