buying a 2001 V70 NA Automatic - what to look for

[Clemens]

Hi!

Since my wife wants to replace her 854 with a newer model wagon, I was thinking about P2 V70s.
In Austria there are very few second gen V70s with a non-Turbo gas engine (most are diesel, but I don´t want a diesesl because of tax reasons)

The questionable car is a 2001 V70 with 170 hp, automatic and nivomatic, tan leather, Hu603 Stereo. NIcely equipped, Looks clean.
front left fender is rusted through, spare part is included.

All motor mounts are new, so are the suspension components (don´t know which).

Now, honestly the car sounds too nice for 2100 Euro asking price (nice 850 wagons go for that price, V70 ii are usually pricier).
The seller sounds youngish on the phone, claims everything is okay. I´m just wondering if he found something not worth fixing and is trying to get rid of it. It´s not that I don´t trust People, but we´ve all learned our lessons that not everybody always says the truth.

What except for the ETM (a faulty ETM should be identifyable by a check engine light, I guess) could be wrong with it, what is there to be careful about on a P2 car? I have 3 850ies, but P2 is new to me.

[JRL]

Transmission
Transmission
Transmission

Did I mention the transmission?
Do your homework, study up on the very bad 2001 transmissions!

Start here but also look for the many other articles and issues:
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=75828

[Clemens]

Fascinating. So the 2001-2002 have 2 swords of Damocles; The ETM and the tranny.
Almost sounds like passing on them.

As I understand all 2001-02 V70ies had one of the bad trannies. Correct?
Would you notice the harsh starts during a regulatr test drive or would you have to hit stop and go traffic or extenden highway speedruns to make it behave erratic?

[Clemens]

Bump. Please.

[oragex]

some had luck fixing the etm but sometimes it's too late
as fort the transmission, if it hasn't been bad for too long, a new/refurbished valve body can be a fix. still, perhaps not a car to keep for ages because of this issue.
as for the shocks nivomatic, these are very expensive - no alternatives - and need replaced at some point.

[Clemens]

so the nivomats on P2 cars cannot be replaced with standard shocks and springs as on the p80 cars? Thanks for the input, guys.

[vtl]

You can replace nivomats with a regular set.

Besides bad year for throttle and transmission, all rubber hoses under the hood need to be replaced, as well as VVT hub may go, alternator needs a rebuild, new clutch/bearing for A/C compressor, may need steering pump, may need new radiators, heater core may be leaking, PCV on an N/A engine lives longer, but who knows... Few electronics modules may need a repair (google tin pest), evap canister/hoses needs replacement, wheel hubs, t-belt/tensioner/roller/water pump, serpentine belt/tensioner.

[Clemens]

Sounds not very tempting to me. Are the later V70-2s any better or is that the shape od things to come?

[jbeebo]

newer P2 are definitely more reliable. Transmission and ETM much improved.

But any older P2 will need TLC. Go into it eyes wide open and realize you'll need to R&R some parts, potentially quite a few. 2 deal breakers on this car: transmission and electrical gremlins. Make sure the tranny shifts PERFECT, and check every electrical function before putting cash on the hood. If the current owner doesn't have recent service records for the PCV system and timing belt, use that to negotiate lower price. Parts alone on each of those repairs is ~ $300 USD (check regional prices).

I bought a 2005 S60 2.4L B5244S6 for $6000 with 120K miles a couple years ago, my first Volvo. Now has 165K miles. Bought this particular one because body and interior were in great shape, engine was strong and smooth and tranny shifted perfectly. I test drove a few, and the tranny is not a given - beware. Thus far I've had to replace both half-shafts ($140, OEM junkyard parts), HVAC blower motor ($80), battery ($120), PS pump ($120 reman), PS reservoir ($35 junkyard), 2 new key fobs ($700) serpentine belt, complete PCV system ($300), radiator ($140), tranny flush (twice, once the right way), coolant flush, PS system flush (dude topped it with ATF), all filters, ignition coil ($60), spark plugs and almost every exterior light bulb.

Still lots to repair...Timing belt up next. Suspension bushings and ball joint boots starting to crack. Mine is pre chassis 430013, and the PS reservoir was leaking at the seam (common failure in pre-2005 P2's) so I replaced it with a reservoir from a 2007 430013+. Have tweaked the PS suction hose to fit, need to update that to 30740267. 2005 was the year they changed the PS system (http://www.volvopartswebstore.com/showA ... evel=24650)

[Canadian Moose]

While we are on the subject how involved is it to swap to a manual tranny on early P2? Is ECU retune required or not?