Going to look at these on Saturday

[callahanoffroad]

Any thoughts?

https://stlouis.craigslist.org/cto/d/20 ... 36025.html

Still talking to this guy. Haven't gotten much details yet.

https://stlouis.craigslist.org/cto/d/19 ... 65333.html

98 has a cylinder 1 misfire, which could just be a bad plug. He sent me a complete carfax which was nice to see. It's been professionally and correctly maintained according to the Carfax.

[erikv11]

I'd pass on the 98 and give the 04 a look.

I'm leery of 98 AWD vehicles unless they are enthusiast-maintained. Which it could be if you bought it, of course! The AWD has almost invariably failed by now which is OK because you can drive them FWD, but in that case there is still a bunch of extra baggage (angle gear in the way for any turbo repair, fuel pumps inaccessible, rear suspension overly complicated with some parts now obsolete). Plus the misfire could easily be a burnt valve given the description. Or just plug wires!

The 04 sure is cheap, could be some easy things to fix. Sounds like a non-turbo which simplifies the maintenance. You'll want to also pick up a DICE reader and a laptop with VIDA and if you get that one. Give it a good look over though, at that price. It's been up for a month so others have walked away from it for some reason.

[callahanoffroad]

I was thinking the same thing about the 98. I'm just generally wary over the 1st Gen awd.

And the 04, if you look in my area Volvo's just don't move. Almost everyone for sale has been up for at least a month. But yes, it's pretty cheap so it makes me wonder.

[WhatAmIDoing]

If the AWD turns out to be in good shape and there are service records showing it was well maintained, I would grab the V70XC.

I would be leery of the 04 due to lack of information, and being near the 200k mi mark, it is probably in need of lots of high mileage services. On Craigslist, high mileage cars for cheap with lacking information almost always equates to labor intensive services needed.

[erikv11]

To clarify: I wouldn't touch the 98 without a confident judgement for the misfiring cylinder. It is a prime burnt valve candidate. Some compression test info would be best but you could also listen to the idle, if the idle is a little rough then try pulling the plug wire from the bad cylinder and listen if this changes the idle. If it doesn't then likely no compression, no firing, burnt valve.

[xHeart]

To clarify: I wouldn't touch the 98 without a confident judgement for the misfiring cylinder. It is a prime burnt valve candidate. Some compression test info would be best but you could also listen to the idle, if the idle is a little rough then try pulling the plug wire from the bad cylinder and listen if this changes the idle. If it doesn't then likely no compression, no firing, burnt valve.

CONCUR!
If you can DIY, a non-turbo and factory FWD '04 is a better option with 200K miles. Be prepared to take care of everything fluid upon possession.

[WhatAmIDoing]

... you could also listen to the idle, if the idle is a little rough then try pulling the plug wire from the bad cylinder and listen if this changes the idle. If it doesn't then likely no compression, no firing, burnt valve.

If the plug, wire, point in the cap are completely toast (the spark plug isn't firing at all), then this test would not prove anything.

The owner states they were going to fix it, so press them on this as they likely already had a good idea for what was wrong. They do say it runs and drives fine, so check that as well. If there is a dead cylinder, it certainly will not run/drive "fine". Bring tools with you, a compression tester, and jumper cables and you can check compression on site. Inspect the sparkplugs, and swap the #1 plug to see if the miss changes. If they do not let you perform a compression test, walk away. I'm thinking it may be a true random misfire due to worn ignition components. Smell and listen to the exhaust, you will be able to tell a random missfire from a constant missfire (exhaust will smell very rich).

[erikv11]

... If there is a dead cylinder, it certainly will not run/drive "fine". ...

It may surprise you until you have seen it but, with a dead cylinder it runs pretty well at rpms above idle, so that it is barely noticeable when driving. Counter-intuitive but proven many times. People have driven these cars with a burnt valve for months, or driven them home 300 miles etc, by just unplugging the injector to the bad cylinder. I've had a couple P80 cars with burnt valves have seen the same thing, a little rough at idle but just fine to drive, you can hardly detect it on the highway.

From the ad the seller seems not very savvy, could easily not notice a dead cylinder.

... Bring tools with you, a compression tester, and jumper cables and you can check compression on site. Inspect the sparkplugs, and swap the #1 plug to see if the miss changes. If they do not let you perform a compression test, walk away. I'm thinking it may be a true random misfire due to worn ignition components. Smell and listen to the exhaust, you will be able to tell a random missfire from a constant missfire (exhaust will smell very rich).

Great advice, as stated the compression test info is the way to go.

[callahanoffroad]

Well, how about everyone comes with me and we can find out together. Everyone like left hand milk stout?

[June]

Run and hide from that 98! I owned a silver one brand new same year and it was the only Volvo I needed the factory warranty. It broke down a lot as a new car and that one being 20 years old will be a money pit from hell. June