XC70: General New to Volvo

[colenso]

Hi all, this is by way of introduction to the Volvo clan.

Like you I guess, I've owned many different marques in my advancing years, old and new and my very recent migration to Volvo has been from a Mercedes I owned for 8 years; a lovely car in many ways but belying a reputation for reliability. Mechanically fine, build quality ok but electrical issues galore, the worst of which was a completely unannounced tendency to refuse to start, after having lulled us into thinking all troubles were a thing of the past. The other big issue was a tendency to bottom out over the ever increasing number of grand canyon potholes we're having to get used to.

Anyhow, I've always had a high regard for the Volvo reputation and know several owners who seemed to be smitten! I decided to go for a tank of an XC70 D5 2009, with the hope that I didn't need to worry about the assault course road situation anymore.

As it happens I paid too much for a lovely example whose only downside was the high mileage of 166k. I'm never concerned about mileage providing the service history is there, since I enjoy working on cars in general and as long as it's of a solid build quality. So far so good!

I had the 17inch alloys reconditioned since they had been curbed a little and bought four new Goodyear Vector AllSeason tyres - looks and handling improved. I then noticed that I was getting the shudders, the gearbox not me thankfully, of which much has been written on the forum. I was somewhat concerned that the service records noted that a transmission flush had been carried out only 8k or so previously by a specialist, together with a friction modifier additive. Oh please, not a new auto box/torque converter I thought!

Getting over initial feelings of depression, I decided to carry out a 4-stage flush with 20 litres of JWS3309 fluid bought from Westways, which arrived the morning after ordering. It was going to work, or not thought I which could be the difference between £100 or so and a couple of grand minimum. Imagine my delight to find that the box is behaving like new again, with absolutely no shuddering and a smoother gearchange, Wunderbar!!

Next on the list is a dipstick. How I miss a dipstick, you can't beat seeing the oil and remedying this Volvo retrograde step. Then an engine service since I don't trust that servicing was entirely accurately recorded, oh, and an upper torque arm engine mount renewal.

When all's said and done I'm beginning to love the XC70 and hope to have many years of fun under and within her! Thanks for reading my monologue, if you have of course!

Ciao 'til next time

Peter

[Simmy]

hello and welcome it seems you are well on your way with making your xc the car you need 166 miles is not high for a volvo engine . mine has 249k and going strong keep posting with any more progress .

[Dippydog]

Hello and welcome to the forum.

[colenso]

Thanks Dippydog, I'll be posting more soon, just as fast as I learn to do things Volvo style!

[keith240]

Hi colenso. Hey better late than never to join the Volvo clan. I've been with the marque for nearly fifty years pretty much continuously and am now with an S80 2.4 petrol 181,000 miles and XC90 2.5t petrol 145,000 miles so mileage really isn't an issue if well maintained.

They're not perfect and things will go wrong but they do their job better than most and if you have a DIY approach or use a good local indie which I'm fortunate to have then those repairs are generally manageable at reasonable cost.

Enjoy your new found Volvo

[colenso]

Hey that's good to hear Keith, although I kind of expected the way things were going to be when I bought this one. Must say I'm amazed at the solidity of build, it kind of gives a reassuring feeling when driving, especially over the rough and ill maintained roads we have in the Derbyshire Dales.

Think I'll be doing most of the regular servicing myself, spurred on by what I read here. I'm familiar with working on TRs, a Daimler SP250 which I wished I'd kept and in my very early life a Mini which was great fun at the time!

I'm aiming to get to the point where my wife and I can motor abroad with confidence that nothing untoward is likely to happen.

Good to be in touch with you and so many owners which I haven't experienced since my days with the TR Register many years ago.

[Chris1Roll]

Welcome

Ah yes, 'specialists'...
Such a similar story.

We had our 2001 V70XC's gearbox rebuilt by a specialist.
They had it back and redid it twice due to shuddering. Then they tried to say it was the viscous coupling.
In the end I fixed it myself by replacing the fluid they had used with Smith and Allen's JWS3309. After I had done the second drain and fill the shuddering went, never to return, I carried on and put the full 20 litres through to be sure.
Should have done the whole damn job myself.

For the fairly minimal cost of the fluid, a simple drain and fill every service isn't a bad idea.

[Mook]

Originally Posted by colenso

Hi all, this is by way of introduction to the Volvo clan.

Like you I guess, I've owned many different marques in my advancing years, old and new and my very recent migration to Volvo has been from a Mercedes I owned for 8 years; a lovely car in many ways but belying a reputation for reliability. Mechanically fine, build quality ok but electrical issues galore, the worst of which was a completely unannounced tendency to refuse to start, after having lulled us into thinking all troubles were a thing of the past. The other big issue was a tendency to bottom out over the ever increasing number of grand canyon potholes we're having to get used to.

Anyhow, I've always had a high regard for the Volvo reputation and know several owners who seemed to be smitten! I decided to go for a tank of an XC70 D5 2009, with the hope that I didn't need to worry about the assault course road situation anymore.

As it happens I paid too much for a lovely example whose only downside was the high mileage of 166k. I'm never concerned about mileage providing the service history is there, since I enjoy working on cars in general and as long as it's of a solid build quality. So far so good!

I had the 17inch alloys reconditioned since they had been curbed a little and bought four new Goodyear Vector AllSeason tyres - looks and handling improved. I then noticed that I was getting the shudders, the gearbox not me thankfully, of which much has been written on the forum. I was somewhat concerned that the service records noted that a transmission flush had been carried out only 8k or so previously by a specialist, together with a friction modifier additive. Oh please, not a new auto box/torque converter I thought!

Getting over initial feelings of depression, I decided to carry out a 4-stage flush with 20 litres of JWS3309 fluid bought from Westways, which arrived the morning after ordering. It was going to work, or not thought I which could be the difference between £100 or so and a couple of grand minimum. Imagine my delight to find that the box is behaving like new again, with absolutely no shuddering and a smoother gearchange, Wunderbar!!

Next on the list is a dipstick. How I miss a dipstick, you can't beat seeing the oil and remedying this Volvo retrograde step. Then an engine service since I don't trust that servicing was entirely accurately recorded, oh, and an upper torque arm engine mount renewal.

When all's said and done I'm beginning to love the XC70 and hope to have many years of fun under and within her! Thanks for reading my monologue, if you have of course!

Ciao 'til next time

Peter

I'm new to Volvo and I have to say after so many years of Ford, VW, Seat, Skoda my lovely V70 is gorgeous! It's soooo comfy, right, responsive .. I love it! So well made!! Great car!