T5 reliability

Do T5's become unreliable after 100K, I remember Simon Linton saying something along those lines.

My '94 T5 turbo est. auto (105K) broke down on me last Thursday with a coolant problem. The engine was over-revving in neutral and then almost stalling when in drive. In addition, there was no reading on the temp. guage. Eventually it stalled and leaked half its coolant.

Anyway, I think the thermostat's gone or the coolant temp. sensor and not a gasket, head or engine seizure because it still runs. Trouble is, this is the latest in a long line of problems; air leaks, oil leaks, new hoses, need new knock sensors.

Will a V70 T5 or V70R be better?

Thanks

Steve

The Thermostats fail at around 100k..

I've had 2 T5's now and they've never given grief after 100k..

Stick with her and you should should expect to see upto 180 without major problems..

G

I dont know if this will be of any help but ive had my T5 for 9 months now and 2 months after buying it the radiator gave up the ghost and started pumping oil into the water some how? This was covered under the 12 month warranty and has been the only sign of trouble with the Ex police S70 T5 clocking up 111,000 miles sortly. I wouldnt think twice about buying a high miler again.

Ex Plod
S70 T5

Thanks for the reassurance, guys. It's just sometimes I wonder whether I should go back to Japanese cars and an easy life, but life would be no fun then.

Steve

I've had an ex-plod 850 T5 Estate for just under 18 months now (started with just under 203k on the clock and is now heading for 214k. Overall reliability has been very good. Other than routine servicing the only unexpected failures have been a flywheel sensor, distributor cap/rotor arm (poor pull when under load at low speed) and the thermostat deciding to seize close, resulting in a scary plume of steam from under the bonnet. Yes, I would definatly consider getting another high miler again (relativly cheap family transport with a bit of poke when the family isn't onboard)

Overall a lot easier to work on than I'd thought too, though getting at a lot of things round the engine seem to inolve taking the top turbo duct off...

My 1995 T5 is just under 98K on the clock and apart from some warranty work on the AC system it has been great. OK they eat discs and pads but overall it is great. Just replaced the rear shock (100K is about it on these) and it transformed the car. The high mileage listing on the web site has several very high mileage T5's and the owners have had very few problems. But yes, I have heard of some cars that have been nightmares. Don't know why, maybe the way the cars are driven or looked after in early life??

Bob Isaac
bob@volvoclub.org.uk