V70XC AWD noise etc

[Inver]

Hi all,

I have a 51 plate V70XC. I thought there was problem with the AWD system so I jacked up the car, all wheels off, and idled the engine. The front wheels turn as expected but nothing from the back. If I slow one front, the other speeds up as expected and visa versa.

If I turn one rear wheel (now with the engine off!) I can see the prop shaft rotates and the same with the other rear wheel. If I turn both rear wheels in opposite direction I can make the prop shaft stop moving. To my mind that would put the problem at the front of the car?

Also, possibly related, recently when I slow down there is occasionally a rumble grumble noise that sounds like its coming from the rear left?! I have recently done a complete rear brake (including hand brake shoes) change.

Can the AWD system be deactivated?!

Any ideas on what to look for would be great.

Than you

Inver

[TiredGeek]

From your diagnosis it does sound like either the splined coupling inside the gearbox or the angle gear
When you turn the front wheels does the prop shaft to the rear axle turn at all?
If not then it definitely is one of the above.

About the only way to disable the AWD is to take of the prop shaft to the rear...

Good luck

[Inver]

Thank you for your reply.

Moving the front wheels the prop shaft stays still :-( so I guess its fairly bad!

Thinking of the disabling I was only wondering if someone before me had disabled it, obviously not!!

I guess once its broken, there is no more damage that con be done running it?

Now just to narrow down the strange noise!!

[TiredGeek]

Originally Posted by Inver

I guess once its broken, there is no more damage that con be done running it?

Well, possibly.
At the gearbox side of the angle gear is a splined coupling. the gearbox output shaft and the angle gear input shaft both have splines cut into them, over this fits a bush that couples the two together.
To save the angle gear from damage in extreme conditions this bush is designed to fail, so it's deliberately made weak. Unfortunately over time the splines in the bush wear, this in turn causes damage to the input and output shafts.
The bush is less than a hundred quid, the angle gear is over a grand, gearbox - well you get the idea......

If your bush is worn it's possibly causing more damage. TBH though it sounds like this is terminal if the angle gear isn't turning the prop shaft at all.
You could be incredibly lucky and just have a stripped bush but I'm betting the angle gear is shot.

Does it make any noise from the gearbox end if you turn the prop by hand?

[V70 Brad]

Originally Posted by Inver

Hi all,

I have a 51 plate V70XC. I thought there was problem with the AWD system so I jacked up the car, all wheels off, and idled the engine. The front wheels turn as expected but nothing from the back. If I slow one front, the other speeds up as expected and visa versa.

If I turn one rear wheel (now with the engine off!) I can see the prop shaft rotates and the same with the other rear wheel. If I turn both rear wheels in opposite direction I can make the prop shaft stop moving. To my mind that would put the problem at the front of the car?

Also, possibly related, recently when I slow down there is occasionally a rumble grumble noise that sounds like its coming from the rear left?! I have recently done a complete rear brake (including hand brake shoes) change.

Can the AWD system be deactivated?!

Any ideas on what to look for would be great.

Than you

Inver

I agree with the other posters. The term "angle gear" is used as a curse among Volvo people Stateside.

[Inver]

No noise when turning the prop shaft, so guessing the angle gear is shot.

For that price I can live with a 2 wheel drive car!!!!

On another note, found the noise, exhaust bracket failure just forward of the rear axle!! Happy man!!

[TiredGeek]

Originally Posted by Inver

No noise when turning the prop shaft, so guessing the angle gear is shot.

Actually that could be good news
The prop shaft is connected directly to the angle gear, when you turn it and there's no noise that could indicate the angle gear is OK and it is in fact just the coupling. I'd expect some grumbling or worse from the angle gear......