'98-'02 xc70 Problem clues, buying soon from craigslist

Klausc · Post by **Klausc** » 15 Feb 2014, 14:55

If you find something that looks good, post the link on here. We will not steal it!

As the others said, NO to 2001 and early 2002. Remember, if you see a 2003 with 119K miles, it probably doesn't have the timing belt swapped.

Post by **precopster** » 15 Feb 2014, 15:15

Afew weeks ago I drove 1.5 hours to see an '02 advertised as an '03. It had 180k miles (all country miles). When I got there I hooked it up to Vida which revealed it was an '02.

Visibly there's no real clues however the build sticker should be checked on any car and that will reveal the correct year. The '01/'02s have the heart shaped remote and the true '03s have the flip style key with the remote in one unit (and of course the better Haldex AWD system)

Many advertisers will simply list the year it was registered when the build sticker shows the prior year's model.

I purchased the '02 with work needed to the valve body (I know the symptoms well) and needing a timing belt and water pump for half the market price. I think I got a good deal, however I have the skills to rectify the faults quickly.

Denton · Post by **Denton** » 16 Feb 2014, 04:39

precopster wrote: The '01/'02s have the heart shaped remote and the true '03s have the flip style key with the remote in one unit

Flip key started with 2004, my 2003 V70 T5 had the separate remote and key

Post by **JRL** » 16 Feb 2014, 04:58

Correct

Post by **precopster** » 16 Feb 2014, 05:22

Not totally true. I had an '04 registered XC70 in for throttle repair which Vida recognised as an '03. It depends on build date.

Post by **JRL** » 16 Feb 2014, 10:57

2004 cars started to be built in March 2003. 03 was a very short model year but these cars are all 2004s
Like right now
Volvo is ending production of 2014s in March, 2014 and all Volvos from then on will be considered 2015s!

Post by **osman** » 16 Feb 2014, 11:36

Most cars with build dates in the later months of the year (8-12) are registered as next year models. This is common throughout the car industry. I have even seen cars built in June that had year dates from the next year ahead. i.e 06/94 being really a 95 on paperwork. This is especially relevant for years that have a production split (like my 98 BMW 740IL) I had a 98 but it was an early 98, later 98's had different grill, headlights, and fascia.

Post by **precopster** » 16 Feb 2014, 12:33

That's really odd that Vida recognises them as earlier cars then. This doesn't add up as that customer had a genuine flip style key arrangement...just saying. Don't know about the '03s but it will make a significant difference to the OP if he buys an '01 thinking it's an '02, then needs to spend a further $4, 000 upgrading the throttle and the transmission.

Here in Oz we received the P2 in 2000. P80s and P2s were sold here side by side in 2000 just to further complicate things.

Post by **JRL** » 16 Feb 2014, 13:42

That particular car is an 04, deal with it regardless of what VIDA says

Post by **precopster** » 17 Feb 2014, 15:58

The OP may find it useful that a Haldex car ALSO has a different motor designation beginning '03 which is B5254T with 2521cc. Older XCs beginning '01 through '02 are B5244T with 2435cc

Just to confuse matters a 98-00 car will have a B5254T with 2435cc