New 2003 V70 Owner - Service Advise please

[kebab]

Just bought a 2003 (53) V70 S 2.4 (170) Auto.

It has a full dealer service history to September 2012 & 97,000 miles.

Currently 105,000 miles on the clock so roughly due another service.

timing belt was changed @ 86k // 2011

Can anyone advise what should be done for the 10 year / 100k service. I want to do most of the work myself so any guides that are available would be useful.

I have never owned an auto before so have no experiance of service requirements. How do i check the ATF level and condition? Can it be replaced without any specialist suction/vacuum tool?

Thanks for any advise you can give.

[mpt]

Not sure if there's anything special for the 100k/10 year as timing belt has been done.
Worth changing plugs, oil/air/cabin filter if they've not been done in a while.

ATF is easy to check and easy enough to change. Assuming its still a 5 speed box like my 2001 S60, the dipstick is towards the front passenger side under the bonnet fairly low down and yellow. Fluid should be cherry red, if not change.

I used the attached to change rather than flushing method, mainly in case something gets dislodged and stuck somewhere else and the car's been smoother since its been done so

I needed a 24mm socket, new sump plug, got 10l of millers ATF SPiii, some ptfe tape, some clear tubing from ebay, long thin funnel to pour fluid into diptick hole and a cheapo measuring jug

[nickbw898]

Originally Posted by kebab

Just bought a 2003 (53) V70 S 2.4 (170) Auto.

It has a full dealer service history to September 2012 & 97,000 miles.

Currently 105,000 miles on the clock so roughly due another service.

timing belt was changed @ 86k // 2011

Can anyone advise what should be done for the 10 year / 100k service. I want to do most of the work myself so any guides that are available would be useful.

I have never owned an auto before so have no experiance of service requirements. How do i check the ATF level and condition? Can it be replaced without any specialist suction/vacuum tool?

Thanks for any advise you can give.

Despite the service history you should bear in mind that most private owners will expect to keep their engine and gear box fluids as long as the advised time/miles. From the point of view of an owner wishing to keep their pride and joy for as long as possible in trouble free condition this is not wise. Though not cheap engine oil and filters (you should also change the air box filter) are a quick and easy measure and should be seen as a necessity along with tyres and brakes for keeping performance and reliability optimised. What is often misunderstood is that most engine wear takes place at startup (cold) and oil viscosity is critical at cold start. All oils are designed to have the same viscosity at working temperature but have radically different properties at cold start. In practical terms, at startup, the oil will not get pumped through the block etc but return to the sump via the bypass valve. So I recommend 1/ Use a fully synthetic oil and use either 0W-30 or 5W-40.2/ Volvo now recommends 7500 mile changes but I would not go over 5,000 miles. Finally, the Positive Crankcase breather system and oil separation box is a separate service and it is due at around 100,000 miles. For practical purposes it should be done around cam belt auxiliary belt / pulley changes. IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN A FULL SERVICE. Volvo may just remove the banjo bolt on the induction manifold and blow compressed air though it, just as they may also clean the ETM, but I am willing to bet that most dealers will not bother.
You can do the job yourself if you have a covered place to work and a clear week end. It will not only keep your engine running properly, at idle and boost (if you have a turbo) but will prevent the oil seals suddenly failing, significant oil loss and a much more costly engine overhaul!
On the gearbox fluid change it for new 3309 fuid every 50,000 miles by either the Gibbons method, or dumping the sum and refill x times.

[oragex]

Check air filter, change it if it looks the slightest dirty. If you city mpg is not good, change it.

Very important: was the PCV replaced? It should be done every 80K miles. It clogs and ruins the engine. If it wasn't done, do it right away. I would also inspect spark plugs if originals, and steering fluid level.

Be very careful with the ATF level. It's generally tricky to check and people have been overfilling it because of this. A safe bet is to have the car at level, outside or garage temp close to 20C, engine cold and running in P, dipstick is below the intake air tube, it's yellow. Pull it only once and read the cold level. Don't put it back and read again. This is the cold read, there is also the warm read but it's more difficult because you need to measure with transmission temp at sharp 80C.