1999 S70 "AWD" Rescue Thread

[WhatAmIDoing]

Yeah I'm not really looking forward to it. Fortunately there's a fair bit of gap around the hood. And one turn signal is busted, so I don't feel too bad about ripping it out. What's the angle I need to go for on this one?

For the turn signal, you'll just need to push down that tab and pull straight out. Then for the hood latch, use a flashlight and peek into that hole in the fender behind the turn signal, and see if you can see the tab on the hood latch where the cable from the cabin connects. Get something on there and pull.
I have an emergency cable on my '98 that I made with some garden wire. That way I can just pull the turn signal, grab on to the cable and pop the hood. Definitely a good idea to make a backup!

The emergency release was on my to do list, but the hood release felt so smooth it wasn't really a priority. What gauge wire should be used? I have some bailing wire, but worried that might be too thick.

Also for boost. Boost is limited to 6psi, but during kick down from 4 to 3, boost will hit 12psi for a second or 2.

[WhatAmIDoing]

More bad news... popped out the turn signal and grabbed hold of the release cable. Gave it a gentle tug, heard a pop, hood still not open. Cable popped off the latch... I'm done with this for the weekend.

Leave your suggestions, but I'm assuming at this point I'm breaking stuff to get it open.

[bmdubya1198]

12 PSI? That's definitely a spike, or it is actually tuned and you have a boost leak or bad TCV. I'd check over the vacuum hoses and possibly change the TCV.

You'll have to pull that tab on the hood latch. I assume one of the latches released if you heard a pop, was it the passenger side? I hope so... otherwise you might have to get creative.

[WhatAmIDoing]

From a stop, it boosts to and holds 6 psi. Only spikes during kickdown from 4 to 3, weird.

Neither side released. The pop I heard was the cable popping out of the latch. I'm going to practice technique on my T5 to prepare for round 2 next week.

Considering the driver's side headlight was replaced as well as a new turn signal, I wonder if the cable broke before and the PO just bought a cheap aftermarket cable to fix it. Also forgot to mention, I found a wire ziptied inside the fender that I think was suppose to be an emergency hood release, but of course it wasn't connected to anything either.

[Eddystone]

I was sorely tempted to grab this when you first posted about it, but just don't have room for a fourth old Volvo. Hope you enjoy working on it!!! The last 2-3 years have shown that these cars are not that difficult to sort out and work on, and parts can be had at decent prices if you keep your eyes open (most parts...).

So I was finally able to pick up the '99 S70 AWD I saved from the crusher. ...
Let the project begin...

[WhatAmIDoing]

It's been a while, so lots of updates.

1) Got the hood opened and an emergency release cable installed.

2) Installed new struts and all new hardware. Never messed with a spring compressor before, and can't say I ever want to again. Even with all the proper tools for once, it took me about 8 hours spread over 2 evenings. Which I guess is pretty good, but was hoping to get it done in one night.

3) Fixed the ECC issue by installing a new head unit. I love it when the code equals the actual problem. Now all my vents blow cold instead of half blowing full heat.

4) Regapped the A/C clutch and recharged the system. Used the thinest zipties I had. Gap is a bit smaller than I'd like, but it's not dragging when off so I think it's ok. Now I have ice cold A/C to enjoy.

5) Changed the oil. All other fluids still look clean. New wiper blades (old ones were wrong size and ziptied on).

When changing the struts, I found junkyard writing on the components stating they were from a 2000 XC70 with 120k miles. Not sure why you would do that, but okay. Going to give her a well deserved bath today. If she looks good after that, then a fresh coat of wax.

Pressing issues for right now: When heat is on, it wreaks of coolant, but nothing leaking out of the heater core. Also smells like there is a small coolant leak somehwere in the engine bay. Trans just started abrubtly leaking ATF on my driveway. Not a bad leak, but appears to be coming from the bottom somwhere (No ATF above the bottom of the trans). Still have no cruise control after 600 miles of driving. What is the diagnosis tree for CC on the 99s? And the boost situation has just got weirder. No longer limited to 6 psi. Boost is surging to near 20. From a stop, boost stays above 10 psi now, but wanders quite a bit. How is boost controlled on the 1999s? Had a friend scan it with VIDA, and all that came up was codes for an evap leak and issues in the ECC.

[bmdubya1198]

Nothing in VIDA for cruise control? That's weird. I'd check the brake pedal sensor on the brake booster, that could possible be bad. Usually that'll throw a code as well though.

ATF leak... check the axle seals.

The boost issue could just be the TCV. I actually have a PDF that explains the boost control on ME7... interesting stuff. Basically the ECU pulls readings from the IAT, MAP, MAF, and front O2S and uses the TCV to regulate boost pressure going to the wastegate actuator. You may have a bad/failing TCV.
Also check all of the vacuum hoses and ensure you don't have any leaks.

[WhatAmIDoing]

Another fun filled day. Boost gauge started behaving weird. Then car cut out along with lights, boost gauge, and dash. Fuses were blown for the immobilizer, dash, light switch, and headlights. Popped out the light switch and was greeted by perhaps the worst wiring job I have ever seen. Like seriously... this is horrendous. Who takes the time to break out the soldering iron and then does this, and doesn't even bother to tape up the exposed wires? Spent a good part of my day fixing this hack job, insulating it properly, and uninstalling the boost gauge. Makes me wonder what other wiring projects the PO attempted.

[abscate]

I have to say, that’s pretty impressive,

[bmdubya1198]

Impressive is right! That's worse than the crap I had to fix on my old 740 turbo!

Why did they use vampire clips or something? Those things are basically idiot proof. You don't even have to tape over them!