So, my friend has a 2000 Volvo V70 wagon, XC AWD SE trim with 180k miles that she doesn't drive and hasn't driven regularly for ages. 5 cylinder turbo with an automatic. It runs and drives fine every time she needs to and has offered it to me for a cheap price. AC still works, all of the power accessories work. She says the only thing she has noticed is that a previous owner "cut the rear driveshaft" so it's only a FWD car now vs the AWD and that transmission shifter indicator on the dash is lit. She says regarding the transmission it goes into all gears without issue but occasionally is sluggish on takeoff (sounds like it isn't returning to 1st and starting in 2nd). Question is, anyone familiar with these wagons? Hearing that someone disabled the AWD seems suspicious but at the same time I know Euro cars tend to be somewhat more complicated and a cheap person may not have wanted to repair a failed\failing transfer case. I am perfectly mechanically competent in fixing things but if it's a case of "basket case that'll constantly make you hate life" then that's an easy pass decision. My main limitation is just not being overly familiar with them like I am with the American and Japanese cars from the era. I still see these cars running around out here on the road all the time so they can't be too hard to keep running...
A surprising number of these are still around. I'm certainly no Volvo expert, but from what I heard, they're pretty reliable, and hard to kill. I would think that in your area it wouldn't be too hard to find an independent Volvo shop for some help with it, if needed. For reference, there were 2 versions of that 5-cylinder turbo engine - the 'low pressure' engine that yours has, which provides 'modest' boost, and the 'high pressure' engine found in the V70R. The 2000 was also the last year for that generation. New body in '2001.
So I managed to test drive it last night. Starts up ok, has a slight miss at idle. Also has a check engine light on which I wasn't aware of. Transmission light still blinks. It seems to shift just fine, couldn't tell if it was staying in 2nd vs. 1st. Has a pretty hefty exhaust leak up front too that I can smell and feel in the accelerator pedal. It definitely looks like it was either some shop's greasewagon or a tweaker's car as so much interior plastic is broken from manhandling it and it's quite filthy inside (probably gumming up the shifter and causing that flashing light). I of course forgot my code scanner so I couldn't read what it was, but it's definitely missing slightly at idle. Could be the exhaust leak too. Brakes pulse lightly when stopping so it likely needs rotors up front eventually. Seller couldn't find the title and didn't discuss price beyond "well I paid $1500 for it 2 years ago." That seems high for a check engine light\fails smog car in my personal opinion. I did really like how it drove and how I fit in it, it was a smaller car than I'm used to but I fit perfectly fine in it and the seats were still super supportive despite looking ratty. It also has heated seats that still work and I'm a sucker for that stuff.
Volvo interiors are known for their 'gingerbread' pieces, they're just not made sturdy enough. Their thinking is that owners will pay to replace, unlike here in the States. As for the trans code, it can be a lazy solenoid or bad temp sensor; remember that the computer can only see what directly affects the electronics, so having a competent and trustworthy trans shop look at it is recommended. As for the miss, is the CEL itself flashing? That would indicate the computer is seeing the miss, and saying it can/will damage the cat converter. The body looks great on the driver side, and I like that dark green.
The body is actually really nice, no rust or dents anywhere. It's been sitting for the better part of a year because she got another car that doesn't have the CEL on and passed smog. Nope! No flashing at all. The seller's brother works for a Volvo specialty shop and "fixed" it and told her to drive it 50 miles and the light came back right at 48 miles. Considering the minor misfire I hear and the exhaust leak I can smell, it's pretty straightforward to determine what it is. I remember her telling me it needed plugs and wires last year but I have no idea if her husband or brother did the job or not. Everything I've read about the transmission for this car indicates that as long as it shifts just fine without bad noises and the fluid is clean, it's likely just a sensor or solenoid that is bad or needs cleaning. Most folks go straight for "debris in the gear shifter causing the problem" which considering how dirty it is inside wouldn't surprise me one bit. The door lock solenoids will lock the doors but will not unlock the doors. Apparently a previous owner drove the car with the rear differential out of fluid and it burned it up, which is why it's just FWD. When you consider Volvo's use of a fluid-coupled rear drive assembly (in this day and age??) it means parts for it are crazy hard to find or expensive - apparently they used like 4 or 6 different rear planetary assemblies and you have to make sure it all matches what the car came with or it won't work. I like it, just need to make sure it's not the world's worst expensive money pit if the tranny is on its last legs or the engine is going to grenade. And considering it's got a CEL on and won't pass smog, it'll obviously need some negotiations on pricing.
With all the issues this one has, I'm not sure I would pay that amount of money for it. Check your local area and see what others are going for.
I think I'd find a better specimen. I don't know newer Volvos but the transmission always frightened me away from the v70. Liked the styling though. The regulars on Turbobricks.com or Swedespeed is where you can find the best info.
