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S70 QUIRKS

Help, Advice and DIY Tutorials on Volvo's P80 platform cars -- Volvo's 1990s "bread and butter" cars -- powered by the ubiquitous and durable Volvo inline 5-cylinder engine.

1992 - 1997 850, including 850 R, 850 T-5R, 850 T-5, 850 GLT
1997 - 2000 S70, S70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70, V70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70-XC
1997 - 2004 C70

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cwm921
Posts: 11
Joined: 17 March 2010
Year and Model: 850 1997
Location: Illinois, USA

S70 QUIRKS

Post by cwm921 »

Purchased used '98 S70 GLT w/119K miles. Runs great, does not leak oil. It does however have these little indescrepencies that are more of an annoyance than anything.

1) TRAC comes on intermittently
2) trunk unlocks intermittently
3) SRS light has been on since I bought it
4) seat heaters come on (L&R) intermittently
5) service indicator (lower right instrument panel) comes on for 2-3 min. after start-up, then goes off.

Any ideas or suggestions are appreciated. Thx.

Ozark Lee
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Post by Ozark Lee »

The TRACs light could be a dirty wheel sensor but more likely it is an ABS module that is on its way out. There are two kinds of late 90's Volvo ABS modules, those that have gone bad and those that are going to go bad. If you know how to solder you can fix it yourself or you can send it out to a re-builder. If you want to take a stab at it yourself I did a writeup here:

https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... 6827#46827

The intermittent electrical problems are tough to trace down but real easy to fix one you find the problem.

The SRS system will need to be scanned with a Volvo specific scan tool to find out what is wrong with it, it is possible that it simply needs to be reset. While the light is on the system is inoperative.

The service light is just an annoyance - it is basically an oil change reminder light but it cannot be reset without a Volvo specific scan tool or a Draper Reset tool. If you get the SRS scanned the shop can reset the service light at the same time with the same tool.

...Lee
'94 850 N/A 5 speed
'96 Platinum Edition Turbo
Previous:
1999 V70XC - Nautic Blue - Totaled while parked.
1999 V70XC - RIP - Wrecked Parts Car.
1998 S70 T5
1996 850 N/A
1989 740 GLT
1986 740 GLT
1972 142 Grand Luxe

JRL
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Post by JRL »

You will need to go to a Volvo dealer to have them scan with the Volvo computer to find out what's up with the SRS light, it can be one of 3-4 different things
Mod note. Jim passed away in early 2022, his contributions to this forum are immortal, and he is missed. RIP

2000 V70R Black, 144,000 miles Wife's R.
2007 V70 2.5T White/Oak 111,000 MILES. Polestar tune, IPD bars, rear spoiler, dark grey Thors, DWS 06, HU850, sub.

jblackburn
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Post by jblackburn »

My remote often opens my trunk by accident.

The seat heaters will NOT come on unless you push the buttons - it's a click on, click off button. I often find I turn them on by accident when I put my phone/iPod down in the little pocket there.

Does the "TRACS off" light display in conjecture with the ABS light?
'98 S70 T5
2016 Chevy Cruze Premier


A learning experience is one of those things that says, "You know that thing you just did? Don't do that."

mercuic: Long live the tractor motor!

JRL
Posts: 9350
Joined: 22 November 2005
Year and Model: Several
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Post by JRL »

The ONLY way a heated seat could be on all the time (and this is just a theory) is the switch broke when in the on position.
I suppose this is possble.....but highly improbable
Mod note. Jim passed away in early 2022, his contributions to this forum are immortal, and he is missed. RIP

2000 V70R Black, 144,000 miles Wife's R.
2007 V70 2.5T White/Oak 111,000 MILES. Polestar tune, IPD bars, rear spoiler, dark grey Thors, DWS 06, HU850, sub.

cwm921
Posts: 11
Joined: 17 March 2010
Year and Model: 850 1997
Location: Illinois, USA

Post by cwm921 »

Hey all - 1st, no ABS light ever comes on. 2nd, thx for all your replies.

Ozark Lee
MVS Moderator
Posts: 14798
Joined: 7 September 2006
Year and Model: Many Volvos
Location: USA Midwest
Has thanked: 4 times
Been thanked: 75 times

Post by Ozark Lee »

Does the ABS light come on wiht the key in position II? If not it has etiher been removed or it has burned out.

...Lee
'94 850 N/A 5 speed
'96 Platinum Edition Turbo
Previous:
1999 V70XC - Nautic Blue - Totaled while parked.
1999 V70XC - RIP - Wrecked Parts Car.
1998 S70 T5
1996 850 N/A
1989 740 GLT
1986 740 GLT
1972 142 Grand Luxe

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