Rescuing Geronimo the 2000 V70

[FireFox31]

The wheel hub replacement went well on Geronimo. The axle reluctor ring replacement went a lot worse. I found that the axle was aftermarket, its CV has a lot of lateral play, and it binds terribly when pivoting it with a moderate amount of bend. The outer boot will soon split, the reluctor is gone, the body is rusty, the bumper for the sway bar link rod is not there. All reasons to shop for a good used left axle. I found two locally so I'll try to get them.

The O2 sensor replaced easily after all the heating. I took the car out for a quick drive and I swear it felt better. I also replaced the two worn front tires. Now I've got to replace the worn out suspension and get an alignment to not wear these new tires. But first, timing belt, coolant flush, and maybe replace the rusty rear coolant pipe. Geronimo is shaping up rather nicely.

[scot850]

I really admire your resolve to get this car running well again. Sounds like you are nearly getting to the end of the process! Strangely, when I was looking for a RH axle, the LH ones were much easier to find! Sounds like you may have found one which is great news!

Good Luck!

Neil.

[FireFox31]

Geronimo is finally going to start seeing some actual use instead of being limited to puttering around town as it has for the past year. I did everything I could to get it ready though there's still more to do.

To clear the final two codes, I replaced the front O2 sensor and the VVT solenoid with used ones (from my deceased "V70", thanks abscate). I also replaced the oil trap and some PCV lines, getting the intake cleaned and painted in the process. Now when the car starts, idle falls to about 600 rpm, then rises back to the proper 1000 rpm. Seems like a minor problem but still a problem.

I replaced the rear left Centric caliper which was failing after 1.5 years with a Napa Eclipse / Cardone Adaptive One caliper. The Centric outer piston would extend but not retract. I finally forced it back in place using two brake pad spreaders. Would love to autopsy it I may be sending it back for warranty exchange so don't want it too beat up.

I read about front and rear cam seal replacements. I think that's what caused the unnatural quantity of oil to be caked all over the top of the engine. The rear intake seal might be the worst so thankfully they seem easiest. cn90 wrote that the front with VVT was a very difficult job though Robert's video makes it look reasonable. I'll read a little more before ordering the cam locking tool. Because timing belt change time is coming... far overdue.

[abscate]

You only need the cam lock tool to get off the VVT hub torx, it’s big and really tight. I have a spare off brand one I’ll donate if you want, Firefox

[abscate]

Going way back in the memory banks on this one.

Did we determine that a manual transmission Electronic throttle body bolts into aautomatic successfully without software? We matched year , aspiration, but not transmission on this swap.

[scot850]

Nope. That is one option I have never read about. I have doubts due to the TCU being part of the equation. Unfortunately I don't have a NA throttle body except for the one from my buddies NA. It started playing up after 200k miles. He now has a 2nd replacement as the one he pulled from PnP failed as well after about a year. Now he has a 3rd I pulled from PnP and so far so good.

My buddies old one was really dirty so I cleaned it in the faint hope that was all it needed and I keep it on the shelf for him. Now if it was an LPT motor I have a few..........!

Neil.

[abscate]

I think Firefox is running his 2000 m56 NA ETB in his 2000 AT NA , Geromino

[scot850]

Well it certainly would be good to confirm if that is the case and it runs well. We can then maybe see about generating a simple compatibility chart for enthusiasts. I have to say I am genuinely surprised if that is the case. It is nice to break some of the myths out there!

Neil.

[FireFox31]

I think Firefox is running his 2000 m56 NA ETB in his 2000 AT NA , Geromino

I'm pretty sure that this is correct. You gave me the ETM from my 2000 V70 NA FWD M56 and it's now running on a 2000 V70 NA FWD automatic. The only potential mix up is if you gave me an automatic one from your stash. I could try to get its Volvo or manufacturer part number to confirm. I have the old automatic core and another identical automatic ETM I could compare it to.

Geronimo has so much more spunk than my other 2000 V70 automatic and feels as peppy as the old V70 manual did. I have to figure out why the other auto is so sluggish. I think it has compounded problems. That's later on my list to deal with.

[FireFox31]

Geronimo is in active duty for highway commutes to work! In its first two tanks of gas, it got 27.5 and 27.88 mpg! That's # miles driven over # gallons added. Not bad for almost 360k miles.

By contrast, my identical 2000 V70, the "G70", peaked out around 26.5 mpg on similar summer gas highway drives. It's more sluggish than Geronimo and had the vacuum leak and transmission problems.

Now that it's in real use, it's urgent that I:
- Finish getting through inspection - parking brake, axle replacement for reluctor ring to reenable ABS, transmission line replace and fluid flush.
- Replace the timing belt, etc.
- Replace the spring suspension and get the alignment after a sloppy job replacing a tie rod end.