XC70: General New to me XC70

[Rich1e2001]

Originally Posted by eternal optimist

I’d have agreed with you before I bought my current XC70. It’s still on the original battery from 2004.

Likewise, I replaced the original battery in my car last year. Suffered about 12 months of 'low battery' warnings then finally gave in and swapped it out.

[Tatsfield]

Returning to your spare wheel problem.

Volvo never supplied a spare wheel with the 2012 XC70. You are supposed to rely on a can of tyre repair gloop and the electric tyre pump/gloop injector. That is not a great idea as once you use the gloop in the tyre it writes of the tyre so as a get-you-home device it is very expensive. Now we come to the second lunatic point, there is a spare wheel well in the rear compartment but you cannot fit a full size spare wheel into it! You have to either carry the skinny get-you-home spare in the wheel well or carry the spare in the luggage compartment but that does take up a lot of space that you might want to use for luggage. One forum member made his own replacement luggage compartment floor to replace the original one so that a full size spare can sit in the wheel well and project higher than the original floor allows. There is a thread on this.

I've ranted about this strange design policy from Volvo elsewhere but it's worth saying that if you intend to use the car in remote areas where there are not convenient tyre shops and the terrain is too punishing for a skinny temporary spare wheel, then you might have to consider carrying a full size spare despite the problems with the room it takes up. Otherwise buy a temporary spare. There are usually some available on ebay for little money. I paid Volvo full price for one which was another pain! Don't use the electric pump for anything other than inflating the tyres and put the can of gloop away for real emergencies involving more than one flat tyre!

Last point, all spare wheels tend to have time expired tyres on them because they sit unused in the boot for ever. This can be avoided on sensible cars by rotating the tyre positions to use all 5 wheels but with the temporary spare it will just sit there, may never get used, and the tyre will slowly perish!

Enough of this downbeat stuff! Otherwise the 2012 XC70 is a really great car and you will enjoy it. I really love mine and try not to dwell on the mad spare wheel concept!

[sam1]

Thanks for all your replies - sorry for delay in response.. young baby and work commitments

Originally Posted by zapcity1

Hi Sam. Nice car.

Bear in mind the haldex filter/fluid change will probably require the propshaft to be dropped (assume its Haldex 4 not 5). Its not as easy as the VolvoSweden video, as he has a petrol model with a much smaller mounting bracket.

My XC60 is same year/gearbox and uses the AW-1 spec. fluid so the AISIN fluid looks good value at £40/5 litres. I've used Westway and Mannol on both my TF80's and all good so far.

thanks for the info! i went to the volvo dealers to get the oil, gave them the reg and they told me it doesnt have a filter.

so removed the pump to drain the oil, cleaned the filter on the pump, it was very clogged with soft sediment (...?) and refilled the 500ml until coming out of filler hole.

Originally Posted by Olaf Els

I've recently used the Aisin Premium ATF 6 on my 2010 D5. I've done less than 1k miles since, but no problem so far. It's to the correct JWS3309 specification.

Autodoc also sell the filter and fluid for the Haldex. I haven't done the service on the unit yet, so I can't give you any tips. I will wait until the spring comes before doing mine now.

If you're changing fluids, be aware that the bevel gear drain/fill (on my 2010 at least) isn't located where Volvosweden's YouTube shows it. I've found it, but need to work out how to access it.

cheers for the info - yes ive already found variations in online diy videos!! the haldex service was easy - no filter for me.
have not got around to the trans service yet - i have got the oil though.

Originally Posted by Tatsfield

Returning to your spare wheel problem.

Volvo never supplied a spare wheel with the 2012 XC70. You are supposed to rely on a can of tyre repair gloop and the electric tyre pump/gloop injector. That is not a great idea as once you use the gloop in the tyre it writes of the tyre so as a get-you-home device it is very expensive. Now we come to the second lunatic point, there is a spare wheel well in the rear compartment but you cannot fit a full size spare wheel into it! You have to either carry the skinny get-you-home spare in the wheel well or carry the spare in the luggage compartment but that does take up a lot of space that you might want to use for luggage. One forum member made his own replacement luggage compartment floor to replace the original one so that a full size spare can sit in the wheel well and project higher than the original floor allows. There is a thread on this.

I've ranted about this strange design policy from Volvo elsewhere but it's worth saying that if you intend to use the car in remote areas where there are not convenient tyre shops and the terrain is too punishing for a skinny temporary spare wheel, then you might have to consider carrying a full size spare despite the problems with the room it takes up. Otherwise buy a temporary spare. There are usually some available on ebay for little money. I paid Volvo full price for one which was another pain! Don't use the electric pump for anything other than inflating the tyres and put the can of gloop away for real emergencies involving more than one flat tyre!

Last point, all spare wheels tend to have time expired tyres on them because they sit unused in the boot for ever. This can be avoided on sensible cars by rotating the tyre positions to use all 5 wheels but with the temporary spare it will just sit there, may never get used, and the tyre will slowly perish!

Enough of this downbeat stuff! Otherwise the 2012 XC70 is a really great car and you will enjoy it. I really love mine and try not to dwell on the mad spare wheel concept!

very good points - all taken on board. i dont plan on going miles into the middle of nowhere but it is nice to have a direct replacement. still trying to find a skinny wheel and jack. grr!


in other news, i changed the diff oil believe the spec was 75w-90 and as i had some 75w-90 castrol in the garage, sucked the old stuff out (it was rancid) and refilled. but it appears i have a leak from it somewhere (noticed before i changed the fluid), which has appeared after purchase as it was dry as a bone when i got under it before buying. it looks like its from the drivers side seal, anyone had this?

bevel gear oil and track rod ends next - volvo wanted 98.90 for one! PFS were selling them for 19 made by meyle.

[zapcity1]

Very handy having a haldex 5 instead of 4. Saved you loads of time and frustration. I have Haldex envy!!

[apersson850]

Originally Posted by Tatsfield

Volvo never supplied a spare wheel with the 2012 XC70.

Yes they did, at least in Sweden. I know for sure, since I have one. It has a real wheel, of that temporary spare type.

Haldex 4 is a significantly better AWD clutch than the cost optimized Haldex 5.

[Bonefishblues]

How would one know if one had 4 or 5 - any idea?

[Tatsfield]

Originally Posted by apersson850

Yes they did, at least in Sweden. I know for sure, since I have one. It has a real wheel, of that temporary spare type.

Haldex 4 is a significantly better AWD clutch than the cost optimized Haldex 5.

Sorry I should have said "in the UK". I'm surprised that the Swedish motoring public let Volvo get away with a temporary spare. There are large areas of Sweden where I wouldn't feel comfortable unless I had a full size spare. In 60 years of car ownership the XC70 is the first car I've had which didn't have a full size spare which surprised me with its "go anywhere" reputation. I just come from an age where cans of tyre gloop and skinny spares were unknown .

[Maurice Mynah]

I can see the point of an emergency skinny spare for a car with very wide wheels and very small boots, but those are not the normal descriptions when talking of Volvos.
I think they've gone wrong on that one.

[filbert]

Originally Posted by Maurice Mynah

I can see the point of an emergency skinny spare for a car with very wide wheels and very small boots, but those are not the normal descriptions when talking of Volvos.
I think they've gone wrong on that one.

Apart from cost saving, is there a ground clearance issue if the well was made deeper, to allow a full size wheel without raising the boot floor?

[filbert]

Originally Posted by Maurice Mynah

I can see the point of an emergency skinny spare for a car with very wide wheels and very small boots, but those are not the normal descriptions when talking of Volvos.
I think they've gone wrong on that one.

In many decades of motoring, I’ve only had to use a spare wheel a handful of times (maybe lucky), so I’m reasonably content with the compromise of a space saver. Would not want a can of gloop, though.