XC90 2nd Hand Buy/ Query

[XC90Mk1]

Originally Posted by eternal optimist

What worries me about that one is that the dealer happily tells us the cam belt AND WATER PUMP have just been changed. The water pump rarely needs changing and pattern water pumps don’t last as well as original ones do.

To the OP - if a dealer says cam belt and pump have just been changed, double check they’ve used genuine Volvo bits. If the dealer has done it, unless they are an independent specialist they almost certainly won’t have done. If the previous owner had it done they might have in which case that’s evidence of a car that’s been cared for.

Evidence of the auto box having had the fluid flushed and good brand matching tyres give me some confidence as well. Budget tyres are generally a good sign the owner couldn’t have cared less about the car.

to be fair when I did my 90 I changed the water pump. Reliable or not they are 60 or 70 quid all in and take 10 minutes. At 80000 miles I was not too worried about water pump failure but with a 108k service the next can belt change could be at near 200k hence it was not worth not doing in my shoes.

[WrathOfKain]

Originally Posted by eternal optimist

What worries me about that one is that the dealer happily tells us the cam belt AND WATER PUMP have just been changed. The water pump rarely needs changing and pattern water pumps don’t last as well as original ones do.

To the OP - if a dealer says cam belt and pump have just been changed, double check they’ve used genuine Volvo bits. If the dealer has done it, unless they are an independent specialist they almost certainly won’t have done. If the previous owner had it done they might have in which case that’s evidence of a car that’s been cared for.

Evidence of the auto box having had the fluid flushed and good brand matching tyres give me some confidence as well. Budget tyres are generally a good sign the owner couldn’t have cared less about the car.

Strangely enough ...... the dealer advertised that last one i looked at as "timing belt and turbo recently replaced" ..... on the face of it the buyer is thinking goody .... but i did wonder why was there a turbo change ..... anyway the mechanic took the time to check for me and he was of the opinion these has not been recently changed.

Some good advice there too much appreciated.

Mind you what would theevidence be ?

[WrathOfKain]

I have stumbled across this one which might be a potential bargin ?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2005-55-V...53.m1438.l2649

I started looking at the "'Anti-skid service required' message on dash" on the forum but it returned quite a few possibles and it looks like he attempted to fix it with the ABS rings ? or am i reading that wrong ?

I have a 4K budget as we are getting a dormor extension thats all the pocket money the Queen of the Harpies will let me have

[WrathOfKain]

Originally Posted by XC90Mk1

to be fair when I did my 90 I changed the water pump. Reliable or not they are 60 or 70 quid all in and take 10 minutes. At 80000 miles I was not too worried about water pump failure but with a 108k service the next can belt change could be at near 200k hence it was not worth not doing in my shoes.

TBH I always thought it was standard practise to change both out on any vehicle. Didnt occur to me about the OEM Vs Pattern .... but given the labour involved i think most would get both done at the same time ?

[S60D5-185]

Originally Posted by WrathOfKain

TBH I always thought it was standard practise to change both out on any vehicle. Didnt occur to me about the OEM Vs Pattern .... but given the labour involved i think most would get both done at the same time ?

I would agree that this is correct with many vehicles however the Volvo water pumps have an enviable reputation for reliability so the general concensus is that when doing a cambelt change, check the waterpump for play and wear. If none is present and it is a genuine Volvo pump, then it's ok to leave the pump alone.

We are definitely not talking about saving money here, simply preventing a perfectly good high quality part being exchanged for an inferior new one. This is a good price for a Genuine Pump. Cheaper alternatives are available but I wouldn't fit one .https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/190660671522

If you want to change the pump at the same time that's fine, just don't fit a cheap aftermarket one as it could well fail before the old Volvo pump ever did and it will almost certainly take out the cambelt at the same time.

[WrathOfKain]

Originally Posted by WrathOfKain

I have stumbled across this one which might be a potential bargin ?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2005-55-V...53.m1438.l2649

I started looking at the "'Anti-skid service required' message on dash" on the forum but it returned quite a few possibles and it looks like he attempted to fix it with the ABS rings ? or am i reading that wrong ?

I have a 4K budget as we are getting a dormor extension thats all the pocket money the Queen of the Harpies will let me have

Looking at the mot history confirms my thoughts .... looks like he has had that anti-skid thing for a while .... he says it doesnt affect his day to day running ....surely these go into limp mode ?

[S60D5-185]

MOT history seems ok with this one.

Nice spec and in Yorkshire so a bit closer.


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Volvo-XC9....c100033.m2042

[WrathOfKain]

Originally Posted by WrathOfKain

Looking at the mot history confirms my thoughts .... looks like he has had that anti-skid thing for a while .... he says it doesnt affect his day to day running ....surely these go into limp mode ?

How do you identify which one has the swirl flaps vs core plug issues ..... noted some have a D5 symbol on the tailgate and some dont .... does that help identify anything ?

[WrathOfKain]

Originally Posted by WrathOfKain

How do you identify which one has the swirl flaps vs core plug issues ..... noted some have a D5 symbol on the tailgate and some dont .... does that help identify anything ?

Also a nice chap gave me Quick reference:
Euro 3 has a black engine cover, 163BHP.
Euro 4 has grey engine cover, 185BHP, fitted in the facelift models from ~2006 but there are some exceptions

So if i was looking at a 2005 model with a black engine cover then its the one thats susceptible to the core plug failures ?

And if its a 2007 with a grey engine cover then its the swirl flap issues ?

[S60D5-185]

Originally Posted by WrathOfKain

Also a nice chap gave me Quick reference:
Euro 3 has a black engine cover, 163BHP.
Euro 4 has grey engine cover, 185BHP, fitted in the facelift models from ~2006 but there are some exceptions

So if i was looking at a 2005 model with a black engine cover then its the one thats susceptible to the core plug failures ?

And if its a 2007 with a grey engine cover then its the swirl flap issues ?

Yes, I stand to be corrected, but I'm not aware of any exceptions with the Euro 4 in an XC90, they are all 185bhp .

Volvo also fitted a Euro 4 163 bhp (Grey engine cover as well ) in the S60 and V70 but not the XC90

The Euro 3 was the engine with core plug issue but even then it is not a very common occurrence.

Originally Posted by WrathOfKain

How do you identify which one has the swirl flaps vs core plug issues ..... noted some have a D5 symbol on the tailgate and some dont .... does that help identify anything ?

The Euro 3 163 bhp which ran up to about 55plate and has a black engine cover has no swirl flaps or DPF so is a really good engine.

The later Euro 4 engine is 185 bhp , has a grey engine cover , has swirl flaps and a DPF.

They should all have D5 on the boot unless someone has removed it