XC70 Advice wanted.

coaster22 · Jul 1st, 2016, 11:31

I am about to buy my neighbours 2011 XC70 , D3 drive , auto. At the point of buying now but my neighbours says the car clunks or thuds into drive from park. It has app 56,000 on the clock. Because he wants the car to be right before selling it to me he has booked it into the Local Volvo dealers who have said that a firmware update , driving the car is what's needed. Having read other posts , I am not sure this will be a permanent fix, and I know from experience with my S60 they said the gearbox was sealed for life , and the Jws oil doesn't need replacing!!!. Any thoughts out there , lovely car but should I walk away ?
Thanks in anticipation.

Sasha94 · Jul 1st, 2016, 12:46

Have the gearbox oil changed, it's better when it's not sealed for life. Have the TCM codes read and reset and the gearbox software updated and see where it goes from there

Software could well be the cause at this point, don't rule it out yet!!

TTR · Jul 1st, 2016, 19:32

Coaster22

For what it's worth I echo Sasha94 comments

volvoid · Jul 1st, 2016, 20:10

This "sealed for life" fib destroys a lot of gearboxes. At this age and mileage it should be good still, an oil flush is a great idea.

Wont hurt to get 4wd gubbins oils changed as well. Prevention better than cure, especially for your holiday fund.

Simon Jones · Jul 1st, 2016, 22:33

I believe the D3 drive model is 2WD so only half as much to go wrong.

coaster22 · Jul 2nd, 2016, 05:59

Yes it's a 2 wheel drive car, the update is being done by the Volvo garage where I bought my current S60 2.0turbo which is still a fantastic car. However had similar problems with the auto box on this car when I first bought it and they gave me the sealed for life story. I took the car to Voltech in Hull, they flushed the oil properly and downloaded an update and the car drove fantastic, silky smooth for the last 3 years. Don't know why Volvo are so adamant on not changing the oil it's bonkers. Thanks for your replies.

volvoid · Jul 2nd, 2016, 09:58

ticks boxes for lease companies - big fleets - sales rep mileages - reduced maintenece. Scrap the car a few years later, so what, sell another.
Lies like that should be illegal

RM955I · Jul 2nd, 2016, 11:30

Fleet cars are well maintained. A fleet manager will normally keep track of his fleet's mileage and the "reps" as you put it, will rarely neglect servicing. If a "rep" fails to keep to the service schedule it's normally a disciplinary or they can potentially foot the bill for any resulting damage. Lease companies do not just expect to run a car for a couple of years and scrap it - they need an element of residual value as the return on the lease would never cover the full cost of the car.

"sealed for life" is misquoted Chinese whispers - I believe the actually wording is along the lines of "should not need replacing during the normal life of the vehicle unless used as a taxi or for towing"

Getting back to the vehicle in question: I wouldn't touch it unless the work was done and the problem solved. Even then I'd be thinking about purchasing a warranty ( having checked the small print for exclusions and pre-existing conditions). It's one thing to start remedying harsh shifts with sump dumps and solenoid changes if it starts during ownership - it's another to take it on before purchase unless you like a gamble.

When these 'boxes are good - they're good: when they are bad they are horrid. A seemingly endless tale of woe.

coaster22 · Jul 2nd, 2016, 22:08

Thanks for your replies, in my conversation with the service manager at the dealership he did actually use the words , sealed for life, I did buy an extended warranty which wasn't worth the paper it was written on, and having read the small print, obviously not well enough. My S60 auto box has run perfectly since being flushed and a download update 3 years ago by Voltech in Hull. The oil was almost black. The XC70 is going into the Volvo main dealers on Tuesday, they will do the update , I doubt they will be willing to flush the oil, and I will only buy the car if it is right.

RM955I · Jul 3rd, 2016, 00:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by coaster22

Thanks for your replies, in my conversation with the service manager at the dealership he did actually use the words , sealed for life,

Then he was wrong, plain and simple.

Jul 1st, 2016, 11:31	#1
coaster22 Senior Member Last Online: May 19th, 2017 23:09 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Beverley, East Yorks	XC70 Advice wanted. I am about to buy my neighbours 2011 XC70 , D3 drive , auto. At the point of buying now but my neighbours says the car clunks or thuds into drive from park. It has app 56,000 on the clock. Because he wants the car to be right before selling it to me he has booked it into the Local Volvo dealers who have said that a firmware update , driving the car is what's needed. Having read other posts , I am not sure this will be a permanent fix, and I know from experience with my S60 they said the gearbox was sealed for life , and the Jws oil doesn't need replacing!!!. Any thoughts out there , lovely car but should I walk away ? Thanks in anticipation.

Jul 1st, 2016, 12:46	#2
Sasha94 The Dumb Blonde Last Online: Mar 17th, 2019 10:58 Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Bangor, Gwynedd	Have the gearbox oil changed, it's better when it's not sealed for life. Have the TCM codes read and reset and the gearbox software updated and see where it goes from there Software could well be the cause at this point, don't rule it out yet!! __________________ 2014 Skoda Octavia vRS with loads of toys! ex 2012 V50 1.6D DRIVe SE Lux, 2008 XC70 D5 AWD SE Geartronic, 2004 S40 2.0D SE, 2008 C30 1.6 S & 2000 C70 2.0T

Jul 1st, 2016, 19:32	#3
TTR Member Last Online: Oct 12th, 2017 08:38 Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Keighley	Coaster22 For what it's worth I echo Sasha94 comments __________________ 2008 XC70 SE Sport Auto

Jul 1st, 2016, 20:10	#4
volvoid Monster Raving Loony Last Online: Nov 12th, 2018 20:03 Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: hitchin	This "sealed for life" fib destroys a lot of gearboxes. At this age and mileage it should be good still, an oil flush is a great idea. Wont hurt to get 4wd gubbins oils changed as well. Prevention better than cure, especially for your holiday fund. __________________ 1994 850 2.0 bought at 32,000 miles used daily now 45,000. Still like a nearly-new car 2004 filthy polluting diesel VW

Jul 2nd, 2016, 09:58	#7
volvoid Monster Raving Loony Last Online: Nov 12th, 2018 20:03 Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: hitchin	ticks boxes for lease companies - big fleets - sales rep mileages - reduced maintenece. Scrap the car a few years later, so what, sell another. Lies like that should be illegal __________________ 1994 850 2.0 bought at 32,000 miles used daily now 45,000. Still like a nearly-new car 2004 filthy polluting diesel VW

Jul 1st, 2016, 22:33	#5
Simon Jones Premier Member Last Online: Jan 15th, 2022 11:23 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Salisbury (ish)	I believe the D3 drive model is 2WD so only half as much to go wrong.

Jul 2nd, 2016, 05:59	#6
coaster22 Senior Member Last Online: May 19th, 2017 23:09 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Beverley, East Yorks	Yes it's a 2 wheel drive car, the update is being done by the Volvo garage where I bought my current S60 2.0turbo which is still a fantastic car. However had similar problems with the auto box on this car when I first bought it and they gave me the sealed for life story. I took the car to Voltech in Hull, they flushed the oil properly and downloaded an update and the car drove fantastic, silky smooth for the last 3 years. Don't know why Volvo are so adamant on not changing the oil it's bonkers. Thanks for your replies.

Jul 2nd, 2016, 11:30	#8
RM955I Premier Member Last Online: Jun 26th, 2022 23:42 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Midlands	Fleet cars are well maintained. A fleet manager will normally keep track of his fleet's mileage and the "reps" as you put it, will rarely neglect servicing. If a "rep" fails to keep to the service schedule it's normally a disciplinary or they can potentially foot the bill for any resulting damage. Lease companies do not just expect to run a car for a couple of years and scrap it - they need an element of residual value as the return on the lease would never cover the full cost of the car. "sealed for life" is misquoted Chinese whispers - I believe the actually wording is along the lines of "should not need replacing during the normal life of the vehicle unless used as a taxi or for towing" Getting back to the vehicle in question: I wouldn't touch it unless the work was done and the problem solved. Even then I'd be thinking about purchasing a warranty ( having checked the small print for exclusions and pre-existing conditions). It's one thing to start remedying harsh shifts with sump dumps and solenoid changes if it starts during ownership - it's another to take it on before purchase unless you like a gamble. When these 'boxes are good - they're good: when they are bad they are horrid. A seemingly endless tale of woe. __________________ D5, 205 Phase 3 V70...love the grunt. Previous: 2004 (2005 facelift) 2.4 170 Last edited by RM955I; Jul 2nd, 2016 at 11:33.

Jul 2nd, 2016, 22:08	#9
coaster22 Senior Member Last Online: May 19th, 2017 23:09 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Beverley, East Yorks	Thanks for your replies, in my conversation with the service manager at the dealership he did actually use the words , sealed for life, I did buy an extended warranty which wasn't worth the paper it was written on, and having read the small print, obviously not well enough. My S60 auto box has run perfectly since being flushed and a download update 3 years ago by Voltech in Hull. The oil was almost black. The XC70 is going into the Volvo main dealers on Tuesday, they will do the update , I doubt they will be willing to flush the oil, and I will only buy the car if it is right. Last edited by coaster22; Jul 2nd, 2016 at 22:10.

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