1998 V-70-XC Is this the AWD troublesome year?

Post by **Ben850** » 08 Oct 2014, 05:59

I may add #4 to my family of unwanted Volvos.

A 1998 cross country, 210,000 miles, not running but I can take care of the cause of that issue.

My question, I have not dealt with the AWD issues yet, was the 1998 a troublesome year for the transfer case? Am I asking for headaches? (at this mileage, or any?)

The engine is identical in appearance and parts to my '96 wagon other than maybe the LPT so I am comfortable with everything there. The prop shaft is still installed.
The car has only been sitting for a month due to a fuel starve, or similar issue, which I can figure out.

Post by **rmmagow** » 08 Oct 2014, 06:25

The propshafts do tend to fail, $450.00 to get another. The angle gear can act up. I would recommend changing the fluid in it right away. The VC in the back is pretty robust. I have a 98 AWD, propshaft out for the past couple of years but all the other parts of the AWD system are OK and a propshaft would bring back AWD. They are also very sensitive to tires, need to match and rotate frequently. The only reason I haven't fixed my AWD is that I have four sets of Volvo wheels and tires that I want to burn through before buying a new set of stock 16" tires and the new propshaft.

Post by **850 LPT** » 08 Oct 2014, 07:16

All the early AWD's are troublesome. And the VC is by no means robust.

At that mileage you can pretty much expect to replace all 3 components: angle gear, VC and propshaft. If not tomorrow, it's in the near future. I'm facing this at 145k. My VC self destructed a while ago. I already have a new angle gear and a rebuilt propshaft, so now I'm saving money for a VC.

Post by **rmmagow** » 08 Oct 2014, 09:25

Yak, didn't know the VC sucked too. After reading this, I may just let my old propshaft continue to be a garage ornament. How does the VC fail? Any obvious symptoms? I took out my propshaft due to very heavy pronounced vibration that went away after removing the shaft, could it actually have been due to the VC acting up?

Post by **850 LPT** » 08 Oct 2014, 11:36

I don't want to distract from this thread, but it failed in a spectacular way the day after a 3 week period when the car was not moved.
Backing out of a parking spot "something inside locked up", according to my indie mechanic. It made a terrible rhythmic clunking noise. This freightend me a lot and I had the car towed to their shop. First they suspected that my new angle gear was bad and they took it out. It would have been covered under warranty but it was fine.
Then they discovered that the safety bushing between the tranny and the angle gear was completely destroyed (indicating the lock up, I guess). All the splines were sheared off.
They replaced that of course but then I told them to not do a VC at the moment, because they are rather pricey.

Post by **Ben850** » 08 Oct 2014, 16:37

All good information so far.
I see no distraction from the original idea of the thread. I haven't pulled the trigger on a deal for this one yet, so all and any input is appreciated.

Post by **scot850** » 08 Oct 2014, 20:52

I had a 1998 Volvo V70XC with 165k miles on it and sold it recently. I had problems with the AWD system when I first bought it, but picked up parts used. I bought a good used prop-shaft and VC unit from a blown up 1997 850 AWD for $300. Fitted the shaft as I thought the original was the cause of a thumping from under the car. Turned out to be a bad bearing in the front of the VC unit had failed, and also the bush at the front of the VC was worn. Took the unit to local dealer and had them replace both for me. Angle gear has been ok, and in my (limited) experience, I think a lot of the issues with that are poor maintenance, either not watching tire wear and pressures (cars are very sensitive to varying wear on tires) or not catching the prop-shaft failing and it then takes out the rear bearing and seal of the angle gear. You do get oil leaks from the rear angle gear seal.

So check the rear of the angle gear for oil leaks, especially if the car has been sitting. Sitting is also bad for the VC as it has a silicon fluid in it and if it sits too long it can cause lube issues with the VC clutch plates and fry them. This has happened to brand new units that have been left lying flat on a shelf for a long time!

Check the prop-shaft front UJ for movement, the center bearing particularly the rubber bearing mount condition, and the rear UJ (less problematic).

Check the VC for leaks. If it is leaking it is not long for the world.

Otherwise the only way to tell if it is ok is to do tight turns and if the VC is failing it will cause the rear wheels to shudder.

Having said that, and hearing all the horror stories, I then ran the car for about 25k miles with no AWD issues before selling the car. Had way more issues with nearly everything else on that car though. Virtually rebuilt it before someone had to buy it. Best winter car I've ever owned after the 2001 Suburban I used to have.

There were 3 different prop-shafts fitted to the V70 awd models, and 2 in the 98 year. I think mine was a 95mm flange, and the later is a 92mm.

I have a fully re-built 95mm prop-shaft (my cars' original) that I had re-manufactured and balanced by Colorado Drive-shafts. Still in box and no longer needed. Also have the VC unit also in the casing sitting on the end. Probably too expensive to ship to US from Canada!

Good luck!

Neil.

Vlvspd · Post by **Vlvspd** » 11 Oct 2014, 16:04

My '98 ran original DS, Angle gear, VC and differential for 232,000 hard miles. I eventually took it all out because the DS failed and I don't have money to maintain it. I pretty much wasted money on another angle gear, expected to replace mine, never had to. I might go AWD again this winter though. Snow isn't very kind to me.