2000 S40 Possible Purchase

volvooh · Post by **volvooh** » 09 Apr 2015, 08:55

I am looking at a 2000 S40 as a possible purchase. I currently own 3 70 series (S,V, and C). Does anyone know how these differ from the 70 series? What should I be looking for- any pit falls, common fail points, etc.

Does the 40 series use the same engine and tranny? I work on my other Volvos and very familiar with their common issues- my attraction to another Volvo is my familiarity with it.

I am also going to check when the last time the timing belt/water pump was changed.

volvooh · Post by **volvooh** » 09 Apr 2015, 08:55

PS- has 180,000 on the clock.

Livens · Post by **Livens** » 10 Apr 2015, 14:39

I'm not sure about the 70 series, but I do have a 2003 S40.

For one the 2000 is very early for the S40 and they did correct a few things in later years. A couple that I have heard of are the power steering pump lines leaking and a few weak points in the wiring harness causing shorts.

For S40's in general the worst for me was the CVVT Exhaust cam gear. They leak. Besides checking about the timing belt and water pump, ask about the CVVT gear also. If they don't know make them let you open the upper timing belt cover and make sure there is no oil on the belt or any of the gears. If there is you are looking at a very costly repair. My local dealer wanted $2000+ to replace the gears and do the timing belt job. I did it myself and spent around $500 for the parts and special tool needed. Not a job for the faint of heart.

Also there are the oil seals that can leak. 3 cam seals up top and a crankshaft seal + one on the transmission side. I replaced all of mine (except for the trans side) when I did the timing belt/VVT gear. If these are leaking they usually run down the side of the engine. You can easily check this by taking the lower crankshaft/timing belt cover off. Easy to get to under the car, held on by one 10 or 12 mm bolt. Any oil leaking down from a seal will collect in that cover. And the cam seals are just as hard to replace as the VVT, because of course the VVT has to come off to replace the seals

Other than that I would check the transmission fluid, if it looks really black or smells burnt. Sitting still with engine running does the power steering pump whine if you turn the wheel back and forth. These go for any used car.

Just me, but I wouldn't pay anything over $1200 for a 15 yr old car with 180k miles on it regaurdless of the condition.

Post by **Vovo_merz** » 14 Apr 2015, 07:52

check out the list of how many volvos I owned plus most of my family member own Volvos right now and let me tell you I would never purchase another s40 years 2000-2004