Coworker with a cheap Volvo I could possibly bring to life...

Post by **RyanGLT** » 19 Jul 2017, 18:00

So, I've got a coworker with a '99 S70 he's offered to me a couple of times. He says it hasn't driven in a while...has some electrical issues he's never spent a lot of time investigating and says the heater doesn't work right. My 64 Corvair is giving me headaches...currently the powerpack is out and my wife and I are sharing her Camry...again. So I'm wondering if it might be worthwhile to see what this S70 needs.

These are essentially the same as the 96 850 I had a few years ago, right? Do they have basically the same issues like the Battery positive corroding etc? What's the deal with the heater? is there something common that dies there?

If the car is solid I'm tempted to see if I can get it going. if so maybe I'll buy it from him and have a slightly newer car in my life...

First post in a few years...

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 19 Jul 2017, 18:29

The S70 and an 850 are pretty much the same......Up to '99. The '99 got a ME-7 ECU, an electronic throttle module, and a distributor-less ignition with coil packs. While most of the mechanical things are the same the controls are not what you would be used to. That said, if you had luck fixing up an 850 then you will likely have similar luck fixing up a 99+ S70.

There are some things that are quite maddening about the new S70s and at the top of that list are the keys and remote keyfobs. The key is chipped and the keyfob works off of a pin code that comes in the package. Both have to be programmed by the dealer or they will not work. The dealers, of course, rape you to do the programming. Make sure you get all the keys and the remotes if you buy it.

...Lee

Post by **abscate** » 19 Jul 2017, 18:42

The owners of 99s are superior people and sneer at those with spark plug wires, idle air control valves, and vacuum controlled cruise controls....their Italian throttle bodies exuding panache....and the warm glow of the ETS light comforting them as the idle home at 20 mph....

Electrics are better

Heater cores leak after 20 years but are easily and cheaply fixed

The electronic throttle body is a $500 nut grab if it goes bad. Find out if it's been serviced or if the ETS light is on, and budget for fix.

Post by **RyanGLT** » 19 Jul 2017, 19:16

abscate wrote: ↑19 Jul 2017, 18:42 The owners of 99s are superior people and sneer at those with spark plug wires, idle air control valves, and vacuum controlled cruise controls....their Italian throttle bodies exuding panache....and the warm glow of the ETS light comforting them as the idle home at 20 mph....

Electrics are better

Heater cores leak after 20 years but are easily and cheaply fixed

The electronic throttle body is a $500 nut grab if it goes bad. Find out if it's been serviced or if the ETS light is on, and budget for fix.

LMFAO best reply ever. haha

I'll check it out sometime and see what I can see. If it runs and drives I'll probably bring it home. It's going to be CHEAP.

Post by **scot850** » 19 Jul 2017, 21:36

No such thing as a cheap old Volvo unless you are very lucky. I never am!

Neil.

Post by **precopster** » 20 Jul 2017, 04:40

Mine are all cheap yet after I upgrade all the worn stuff something major seems to happen. If I leave the car alone and let it run into the ground (apart from oil changes) they seem to go forever.

The latter was what I experienced with a 2000 V70 (in most ways just like a 1999 model).

Kind of the inverse of what you'd expect.......

Post by **abscate** » 20 Jul 2017, 05:10

Ryan, we have a thread called " the bastards" which outlines the differences special to the 1999-2000 MY cars

You can buy a ETM from FCP now for $400+100 programming so that's the bad news if the ETS light is on. Many of the originals will have been replaced , which usually shows up with a yellow sticker on the body, but the replacements have the same failure mode as the originals. They last 100k miles as a rough SWAG

Post by **850 LPT** » 20 Jul 2017, 06:19

Maintenance is key with these cars. If you find a hint that it has been neglected over a period of time, walk away. These cars can eat up your wallet in no time, as scot850 and others (incl. myself) have experienced.
Can you find out if oil changes have been performed when they should? If not, you might look at a plugged PCV system which can wreak havoc on these cars.

Post by **tryingbe** » 20 Jul 2017, 06:49

RyanGLT wrote: ↑19 Jul 2017, 19:16 It's going to be CHEAP.

Cheap / free to buy.

Expensive to repair/own, especially if you don't do the work yourself.

viewtopic.php?t=76509

Post by **abscate** » 20 Jul 2017, 06:59

He's a Corsair guy, with prior rap sheet of Volvo ownership. He's got this, all together.