General: A service and some TLC for our new 2002, 171k mile V70 D5 SE

[V11ope]

Hi,

We’ve just bought a V70 D5 SE manual, 2002 model and 171,000 miles. We’re thrilled and can’t believe the value for money it represents – we got 60mpg on the 100 miles back from the seller!

It’s got full Volvo history to 120k, then independent to 160k (June 2011) and nothing since. As there’s no record of when the car last had its cambelt done we thought we’d get it serviced by our local independent and get the cambelt done at the same time. We want to know what else you’d recommend? It doesn’t smoke at all and seems to start from cold without issue, if that helps?

My husband thought maybe the water-pump should be done at the same time as the cambelt – if we’re doing that, is it worth doing any of the drive belts, and what about gearbox oil change, fuel filter, pollen filter etc? We just want to give the car some decent TLC and take good preventative maintenance steps.

Hubbie is away with work and I didn’t want to waste any time – I did have a search but there was so much info it was all a bit over-whelming! Any advice at all, or if you can point us to anything here or elsewhere on the internet, it would be hugely appreciated!

He says if I can sort some of this out, he’ll let me choose the name of the car!!

With best wishes,

Victoria :-)

[RobbieH]

Cambelt should be changed at 96k or 8 years iirc. If it's got dealer history that should be in the handbbok/service records. Alternatively when it's changed there should be a sticker on the cambelt cover with date or change. If no records and at the mileage shown I'd look at getting it changed asap.
Different advice on changing waterpump - I didn't (although mine's a baby at just past 98k) on the basis of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it). General advice though is to change aux belt and idle pulley/tensioner at the same time.

Despite "history" if it's not easy to confirm what has been done then I might consider getting all the filters changed (oil, fuel, pollen, air) for peace of mind. Oil change as well (I actually change mine every 6k).

Manual gearbox should be fine, it's autoboxes that have issues with so called "sealed for life" oil which gives problems in the long run.

Check all the hoses from to the turbo. The big one that feeds the turbo from the airbox can go soft with age and collapse when you boot it, causing the engine to go into "limp mode" (generally easy to tell, EML lights up on the dash, the engine won't rev past 3,500 and speed limited to 50mph).

Change the brake fluid if no records. That can give better brake feel and performance.

Check for any oil deposits on the tray under the "rad-pack" at the front of the car. The front most "radiator" you can see is for the air-con. Behind that is the intercooler and at the very back is the water radiator. The EUIII D5 you (and I) have is known for eating the i/c, with it leaking and give give a variety of symptoms.

Learn how to do an "italian tune up" (http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=140586) which keeps the VNT turbo free of soot and carbon build ups. This can be another relatively common cause of limp mode cases. I've found that this engine thrives on using the full rev range of the engine, more so when remapped and grumbles when used to simply trundle round town.

Overall
- find yourself a good local indy who you can trust (maybe even a main dealer!) (http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=15009 might help)
- give the car and good service as above
- use the forum search function if you want to learn, there's loads of info available
- make friends on the forum, there's loads of help available
- get to a local meet if there is one, most people are friendly and willing to help, show you what and how to do things
- try to find a local member who has diagnostics in case of need (http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=136759 might help)

The sit back and enjoy the car

Oh and the car is probably female so choose your name wisely. I called mine "The Barge" and there are times she responds in a positively female way

Ps: don't want to burst your bubble but be wary of believing what the dash says about mpg. It can lie like a cheap watch

[fogster]

Hi RobbieH,

I've V's other half - thanks for such a helpful response. I've ordered four new tyres for the old girl (car, not wife) today - Dunlop Sp Sport FastResponse and will get the cambelt done this week or early next.

We've a couple of other issues - V has already posted one (a rather weird window switch issue - do take a look if you get chance!) and I'll add the others in separate threads elsewhere, as per forum etiquette.

We're delighted with the car - our first foray into Volvo ownership - and thanks for such a warm welcome!

With best wishes,

Steve

[fogster]

All,

Sorry to resurrect this post but, as the OP, I wanted to post a quick follow up to the service point above.

Our local independent quoted around £700 inc parts for a full service and cambelt. The Volvo dealership in Reading were pathetic - took two days to call me back when I enquired as to a price, said it would be "a thousand to fifteen hundred but we'd need to see it" (for a service and cambelt change) - and even asked "D5? Is that petrol or diesel". AWFUL!

Then, on a whim, I rang Jonhsons of Swindon (we're from South Wales originally and when driving back often come of at Swindon for fuel - the garage is virtually on the motorway junction). They quoted around £700 for a full service INCLUDING the cambelt! We also had a problem with turbo inlet collapsing under pressure - they did the lot and the total bill came to around £850 (I'll need to dig the receipt out to confirm exact costings).

So now I've a Volvo dealer stamp in the service book, the cambelt and work done by Volvo, and 12 months Volvo assist for less than my local independent and around half what Reading Volvo wanted to charge me. Shows it pays to ring around the dealers!

[snow]

Fogster - did you investigate Fawcetts of Newbury when Reading Volvo let you down? I'm on my second S80 D5 and I've used Fawcetts for over 5 years now - customer service is outstanding - always call you back - 1st to remind you about car booked in for tomorrow; 2nd - when car is ready; 3rd - on follow-up after a day or so. I can't comment on cost of service etc, from what I've seen elsewhere on the forum they are certainly reasonable and seem to be able to identify and fix first time...I would recommend if considering main dealer servicing.

[fogster]

Hi Snow,

Many thanks - they'd be quite a bit nearer to me than Johnsons in Swindon, I will most certainly give them a ring when it next needs a service! I'm thinking of getting Volvo to do the rear handbrake shoes (stories of self-imploding shoes taking out the rear hub have unnverved me a little, considering my handbrake is very poor) - I'l give them a call when I ring round!