Should I buy a '99 V70?

jremi · Post by **jremi** » 03 Dec 2006, 08:11

Hi All,
I'm considering buying a 99 V70 with 106k miles on it for around $3400. The car has some body damage which is all in the passenger's side quarter panel. That's why the price is so low but it's otherwise in good shape. I'm going to budget in some extra money to have some body work done inexpensively (the car is for my wife so I'd like it to look decent) and maybe having the panel replaced if I can find one cheap.
The title is clean but I can't get any service records since the guy who's selling it bought it a month ago and then figured out he couldn't bring the car to med school with him.
Anyway, since I'm not a volvo owner I'm curious to hear what kind of issues people have had with 99 V70s and if it will be reliable enough for my wife to drive around with our baby.
I'm a reasonably cabaple DIY guy so there are plenty of things I can fix on my own. We currently have a 98 Maxima and a 95 escort which I've worked on quite a bit.

Thanks, sorry for the long post.

JR

White850Turbo · Post by **White850Turbo** » 03 Dec 2006, 08:54

If you like doing your own work on the car, wait for a '98 to show up. Even though the problematic ETM on the '99 and '00 is being taken care of, there are lots of other things on that car that make it not very friendly for the DIY'er.

Post by **JRL** » 03 Dec 2006, 17:36

If you can email me some pictures (all around and interior) I can give you a rough idea what's involved, bodywise.
If you can't scrounge up any (service) records (ask the buyer who the first owner is and get his phone number) have IT THROUGHLY CHECKED OUT as that attractive selling price may be gone in 60 seconds if it needs $3000 of mechanical work (and it could)!
[email protected]

Post by **robert213** » 03 Dec 2006, 20:15

White850Turbo wrote:If you like doing your own work on the car, wait for a '98 to show up. Even though the problematic ETM on the '99 and '00 is being taken care of, there are lots of other things on that car that make it not very friendly for the DIY'er.

The Electronic Throttle Module (ETM) on Volvo was first introduced for 1999 model year. Since you already own a Nissan Maxima, stop by your Nissan dealership and look at the Window Sticker of one of the new vehicles -- you will see the phrase "Drive-by-wire". This means that your accellerator pedal is connected to a sensor which tells your Electronic Computer Unit (ECU) to electronically open your throttle body to go faster -- providing that you are within max rpm and max speed specs. Whether Volvo or whether Nissan, whenever the ECU doesn't understand control and feedback sensors, the ECU will go into "limp home" mode -- setting engine rpm to steady 2500 rpms. This is not much fun whenever you are driving 75 mph with a semi-tractor trailer on your tail and your ECU loses connection with one of its throttle-position sensors -- causing your vehicle to suddenly drop to 25-30 mph.

Because of ETM and other factors, many Volvo owners prefer the 1995-97 850 and 1998 S70 and V70.

Post by **JRL** » 03 Dec 2006, 21:10

Why do you guys go on and on?
The new software(among other things) deletes the limp mode, no more stranding on the side of the road.
99s and 2000s run SO much better it ain't funny

jremi · Post by **jremi** » 04 Dec 2006, 13:32

ok, other than the ETM, what other issues come up with V70s at this mileage?
steering pump? water pump? sensors? struts/shocks? ball joints? ....transmission?

I know every car is different but some models are prone to having the same issues across the board.

Also, how can you tell if the ETM has been reprogrammed?

Thanks.

Post by **JRL** » 04 Dec 2006, 15:52

jremi wrote:ok, other than the ETM, what other issues come up with V70s at this mileage?
steering pump? water pump? sensors? struts/shocks? ball joints? ....transmission?

Most of the above (not necessarily the steering)

Post by **mom** » 04 Dec 2006, 16:23

JRL wrote:Why do you guys go on and on?
The new software(among other things) deletes the limp mode, no more stranding on the side of the road.
99s and 2000s run SO much better it ain't funny

I should agree with you right now because I had sometimes a rough idle a while ago and now it runs great and maybe a little bit quicker as you said earlier. As a electrotech,I'm sure it won't last more then 10 years. But anyway it is covered by Volvo. The question is how is it going bad if no more limp home mode? Sudden stall? Uncontrollable speed? Who knows?

Post by **JRL** » 04 Dec 2006, 17:38

mom wrote:
JRL wrote: The question is how is it going bad if no more limp home mode? Sudden stall? Uncontrollable speed? Who knows?

Not a clue.
I would think it would just start to run a bit rough and have a bad idle.
More bad idle than anything else
It won't stall, that was the whole idea

Post by **mom** » 04 Dec 2006, 18:12

Hope you're right JRL, but why Volvo don't mention it clearly like you do?
They tell us that this 155 recall will improve performance. What improvements ?