Netwreck94 Posted November 28, 2010 Report Share Posted November 28, 2010 Hey folks long time Volvo fan, just now looking to purchase my first one. I currently own a 2005 Subaru Legacy GT with a blown turbo and motor, ouch! Looking for a good AWD sedan with the luxury aspect and good styling, and the s70 AWD turbo seems to be the perfect fit. I found one at a dealership about 5 hours from me, a 99 s70 awd, heated leather, sunroof, 120k, great overall condition. The dealer sells these cars as traded, but has great reviews on a bunch of "as traded" inexpensive cars he's sold in the past. There are no check engine lights on. I've done some reasearch on them and found that the main issue has to do with an Electronic throttle control system? I've seen varied reports on this, but would like to know both the average cost to fix it, and if there is a way to tell if its already been done. Also, if the timing belt hasn't yet been changed, what kind of maintence expense am I looking at right off the bat? And since I'll be driving 5 hours to check it out before I know whether to buy it or not, what kind of things can I look for and ask the dealer on the phone before buying it. Seems to be a pretty good deal at $2,500 and is in great condition overall. Any input would be much appreciated Thanks Evan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Migilla Posted November 28, 2010 Report Share Posted November 28, 2010 There should be a sticker under the hood on the left side shich shows the timing belt change date and mileage. Did you ask the dealer if it has the maintenance records? I once found the complete set in the glove box of a car in a dealer's lot. $2500 is a good price depending on condition. Good luck and maybe welcome to the family. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan A Posted November 29, 2010 Report Share Posted November 29, 2010 Look up xemodex.com for current etm pricing. Around $500 for the part and you can replace yourself if you work on your own car. It's fairly straightforward. If the sticker on the current ETM is white, then it's original. If yellow, then it's been replaced. If it happens to say xemodex then your golden . Even if it is the yellow sticker it will fail again, just a matter of time since the one from Volvo is flawed in design. Also look up common issues with the AWD systen. People bad mouth it around here but I love it in the winter. But it is expensive to replace parts. Drive shaft bearings go bad and rear bevel gear and viscous couplers as well. Look for any vibration in the driveline, clunking in the rear on turns, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firepuma Posted November 29, 2010 Report Share Posted November 29, 2010 you need the history of the awd components, angle gear, driveshaft and rear diff. These parts tend to need replacement about 140K I've been noticing. Big bucks even doing the work yourself with sourcing honest prices. Also make sure the car is wearing matching tires, if not- don't even bother with it. T-BElt is not horrible by any means, PCV system is gonna be another thing that comes up about now for you too. The awd systems on these cars are fragile, nothing like your subabru. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest cw4 dug Posted November 29, 2010 Report Share Posted November 29, 2010 I have. 99 C70 and havedone the electronic throttle thing. $1000.00. The car would slightly Buck or hesitate occasionally then the. ETS light illuminated. The dealer also had to do a download once it was installed. Next was the timing belt, which they estimated at around $600. I am fortunate to have a mechanical friend that did that one for me. $250 for parts kit belt, 2 tentioners and a water pump. Instructions on the internet at volvo speed. Com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Two Turtles Posted November 29, 2010 Report Share Posted November 29, 2010 Unless the ETM and timing belt have been done, and you have full service records on the AWD system and tranny - I'd run. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Will Posted November 29, 2010 Report Share Posted November 29, 2010 I don't know why everyone is concentrating so hard on the ETM and the timing belt. If it has documentation and has been done great. If not, change the timing belt when you buy the car - it's supposed to be done at 105K miles on that year/model so if it wasn't done, it's due. Do the serpentine belt at the same time. The ETM could be a problem, but you can inspect it to see if Volvo replaced it - should be a yellow sticker on it IIRC and if not, then don't worry about it unless the car has the signs of needing it replaced. Once it fails, replace it with the option talked about above. I would be way way more concerned about the AWD system. The rear diffs are usually strong on these...maybe once in a while you get a leak in them if the previous owner never changed the fluid etc. but there's way more worry about the viscous coupling, prop shaft and angle gear. I always tell people that at this point, after 10-13 years of wear and tear on these cars with a lot of misinformed 1st and 2nd owners, the chances that the AWD system functions to spec is slim. The angle gear can have leaks out of any of its seals or the casing itself. Both things are fixable. It can also be making noises in which case it can be rebuilt by CJ out West (in the best case) or it might require a new one. Check for backlash/play on the output flange. There really shouldn't be any. There is also a chance that noise from the angle gear area is caused by a worn sleeve between the transmission and the angle gear. This sleeve costs about 75 dollars and should be replaced when replacing the angle gear, but once in a while you are lucky and that's all that needs replacing. It has teeth that get stripped because they are softer than the rest of the metal around it. The prop shaft has become less of an issue now that a couple of reputable driveshaft shops offer rebuilt units for more reasonable costs, but a good local driveshaft shop can get all of the u-joints and properly re-balance it anyway. All of the parts, even the center bearing are available, just not from Volvo. The Viscous coupling is tougher to test out in the field, but the most common problem is when it heats up and the freewheel mechanism will make a big clunk when starting in reverse or while on a high speed curve or just before coming to a stop. Listen for a big thunk from the rear of the car in these situations. The only solution for a bad viscous coupling is to replace it. That should help. Also check over the car for oil leaks from the rear main seal and turbo return line and ask if the PCV (breather box) system has been overhauled because at this mileage it will probably need it. About 150 dollars in parts and a couple hours of labor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keaton85 Posted November 29, 2010 Report Share Posted November 29, 2010 Just keep in mind that even if the AWD does go out you can run it as FWD... So a 120K mile car as FWD for 2,500 still is not that bad. Even if you have to do the TB and the ETM, not a big deal in the long run... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jschaefer7406 Posted November 30, 2010 Report Share Posted November 30, 2010 Hello, As Will and binglax have mentioned, I'd say go for it. Some here tend to blow possible problems out of proportion . Since the 155 campaign, the number of ETM related problems has dropped dramatically. As long as its clean and has the latest software, I would worry too much about it. Not saying they don't fail, but its not the end of the world if it needs replaced down the road either. If it has no symptoms now, don't fret over it. Heck, bought the Wife's '00 XC in the spring with a bad transmission. ETM is still an original white sticker unit @112k miles. No symptoms yet ... As for the AWD system, the information Will has posted above is what you want to look for. He is a wealth of knowledge here, and I have much respect for him. Anyway, replaced the propeller shaft in my '00 S70 in the spring of '08 due to a worn center u-joint (not serviceable). As he mentioned, purchased a remanufactured shaft from Colorado Drive Shaft. New joints at both ends, new center joint, and computer balanced. Cost roughly $500 shipped. Angle gear coupler splines then failed in January '09. When the coupler failed, it also wore away the angle gear input splines. Had to replace the entire gear, as its not serviceable either. $1500 later and I was back on the road . My point is this. If I had known when I bought this car (August '05) that I'd have these AWD problems, I'd still buy it again in a heartbeat. I absolutely love the car and its worth it to me to risk a few problems. Fast in the summer, goes ANYWHERE in the winter, and still gets 30 MPG on long trips . What more could you ask for? I'd say go for it. Even if it does need anything, $2500 is a great deal for a lower mileage AWD. Hope this helps, Joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost Shadow Posted November 30, 2010 Report Share Posted November 30, 2010 I have read over everyone's comments. I disagree with Big Will about blowing ETM problems out of proportion. ETM's and AWD are the weakest link on these cars. I would buy the car only if there is a repair budget of $1500 set aside. EXPECT to replace the ETM and service the AWD. This way there are no surprises. The only surprise will be the extra loot you will have if it does not need to be replaced. Mechanical stuff will wear out sooner or later, that is expected. Is there rest of the car up to snuff? If you can do your own work the Volo would be a great buy. If you had to pay someone to do it, your pockets need to be really deep.2000 and older X70's are easy to take care of, parts are relativly cheap, and used parts are plenty. I would still keep the scooby and do a STI swap in it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Two Turtles Posted November 30, 2010 Report Share Posted November 30, 2010 I would still keep the scooby and do a STI swap in it! Agreed. I drove a Legacy GT with a six speed and it was twice the car my "modern" Volvo is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keaton85 Posted November 30, 2010 Report Share Posted November 30, 2010 Subaru I would take a 99-00 over a Subaru any day of the week. Sorry but if I wanted a 4cyl motor I wouldn't go with their design. They are just a PITA! Sorry but subarus just annoy the crap out of me... I have no desire to replace HGs every 50k :P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Will Posted November 30, 2010 Report Share Posted November 30, 2010 I have read over everyone's comments. I disagree with Big Will about blowing ETM problems out of proportion. ETM's and AWD are the weakest link on these cars. I would buy the car only if there is a repair budget of $1500 set aside. EXPECT to replace the ETM and service the AWD. This way there are no surprises. The only surprise will be the extra loot you will have if it does not need to be replaced. Mechanical stuff will wear out sooner or later, that is expected. Is there rest of the car up to snuff? If you can do your own work the Volo would be a great buy. If you had to pay someone to do it, your pockets need to be really deep.2000 and older X70's are easy to take care of, parts are relativly cheap, and used parts are plenty. I would still keep the scooby and do a STI swap in it! What I said was to only worry about the ETM if the car has an ETM issue. You can also check to see if it was replaced under the recall. They usually don't go bad that quickly. Plus, I think 2500 bucks is a good price for a '99 AWD with 120K as long as it isn't riddled with AWD issues and a failing ETM. If there isn't a throttle issue currently, and you only have to replace one aspect of the AWD system then it's a good deal. I completely agree that one should budget 1500 for repairs right off the bat on these cars, but that's still a fair price for this car. P.S. Ghostshadow and Mr. Schaeffer and Bing are also invaluable for their advice - they have many times the experience I have on far more Volvos...I just have some specialized knowledge about our AWD system. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jschaefer7406 Posted November 30, 2010 Report Share Posted November 30, 2010 Subaru I would take a 99-00 over a Subaru any day of the week. Sorry but if I wanted a 4cyl motor I wouldn't go with their design. They are just a PITA! Sorry but subarus just annoy the crap out of me... I have no desire to replace HGs every 50k Amen . Don't see the fascination with Subaru's either. Not only do they rust to pieces (have seen cars that are only 5 years old start rusting at the rear quarters), but their AWD system isn't exactly as reliable as everyone here makes it out to be either. One of the only Subaru's I have ever been cursed to work on ended up needing both a rear differential assembly AND transmission to fix the dead AWD. Transmission had the AWD permanently locked, causing the puny and pathetic little differential to fail . Keep in mind, this car only came in for a used car check... Also have a good friend that swears by them. He's had to replace viscous clutches in several he's owned (failed AFTER he had owned them for years, so it wasn't the PO running different sized tires). They will wipe out a viscous clutch with even a slightly different tread design (but same circumference and overall tread depth). Very finicky system IMO... Anyway, just what I've seen. 5 years as a Master tech AND a failure on my own S70 and I'd still buy another AWD Volvo tomorrow. One Subaru though and I've had enough of them for life. Shouldn't that speak volumes? Joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Two Turtles Posted November 30, 2010 Report Share Posted November 30, 2010 Okay, so the professional mechanics think the Volvo is a better car. The weekend hacks and "basic" car enthusiats don't. Which one are you, NetWreck94? Furthermore, where do you live that you think you need AWD? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.