Volvo USA has added a valuable new free service available to all Volvo owners. It's called Tow For Life. Volvo will pay for towing of any breakdown car, so long as the towing destination is an authorized Volvo Service Center. All model years are eligible. The car must incapable of driving, or show a...

We've got two P3 XC70s (2013, 2015.5), both bought used from dealer just coming off warranty. These cars have been generally problem free. The 2013 developed an engine screech, which is the sound the PCV Oil Trap makes when the diaphragm breaks. We had the Oil Trap replaced, but since then, I found ...

The general approach: When multiple brake calipers are fed from a common outpipe at the Master Cylinder, bleed them in order of longest fluid path to shortest. On modern Volvos, the Left wheels and Right wheels have their own dedicated circuits at the Master Cylinder -- this gives redundancy should ...

P - We keep a spreadsheet on all our used Volvos to evaluate maintenance expense. We bought a CPO 2007 S60 2.5T (Arizona car) in 2010, with 38K miles. We got 8 years out of it. The yearly maintenance average was $750. I saved big by replacing the disintegrating PCV upper "J hose" ($1700 de...

Re: Passing CA Smog Test with an EVAP leak If you're coming due for Smog, and are dealing with an EVAP leak code, just knowing that the Volvo engine software only runs the EVAP System Test when the fuel tank is >15% and <85% full offers you an easy "PASS". You need an OBD-II scanner that c...

Paul - Here's what I have in terms of a maintenance log for my wife's 2013 XC70 T6. It looks like the same engine as your S80.

I would open the glove box and watch the light in there as I'm turning the start key. If the light dims way down in response to turning the key to start, you need a new battery. If the light stays bright while you turn the key to start (and no starter motor action), you need a new ignition switch.

DIPSTICK TEST (Engine running vs. 3-min. off) For these Ford-Volvo engines with the oil filter accessed from up top, you can tell whether the oil filter housing's anti-drain-back valve is working by comparing the dipstick level 3 minutes apart: Park on a level surface with engine running. Observe th...