Purchase 01 XC70 AWD?

[SuperHerman]

With those miles that car was traded in for token value, maybe $500. From there it went to auction and each seller/buyer made a few hundred bucks until it hit the lot you are at. That said I would not pay more than $1000.00 for the car. You most likely need at least a timing belt based on the records. I would assume that is a $1000 job at a dealer. Add that to the cost. You have to look at the PCV system and cam seals, depending if and when this was done you may have to do it again. Pull the transmission level dip stick and take a look and smell to determine if it has ever been serviced. As to the timing belt, just pull off the small cover on top, if I recall you need to remove two torx screws, and examine the belt condition for any cracking.

The transmission valve body and B4 servo have issues on the 2001 XC70 as does the ETM. These are known issues. I serviced both on my car, converting the ETM to a pointless system, updating the B4 servo and rebuilding the valve body and solenoids.

The 2001 V70 XC, actual name, is a solid car. It has the three issues I pointed out, which can be addressed. If you want to risk it, adjust the price accordingly.

[Georgeandkira]

I don't know how many TCM reloads Volvo released but at least one had to have been removal of the "Stop-Neutral" feature.
My 9 year ownership of a 2002 base included being charged $60 at a Vermont dealership to install Volvo p/n 30677036.
The invoice said it was a TCM reload.
That service removed "75%" of the balkiness my unit exhibited. To be frank, weird configurations such as slowing down and turning into an extreme downhill when hot made up the vast majority of my woes.

Because Ford's "S-N" feature was so stupid and NOBODY ON ANY BOARD ever mentioned having it in their cars I concluded Volvo summarily removed it as expediently as possible. Ergo, there's enough room in my heart to conclude that filthy, thieving car dealers and servicemen have charged the previous owners of your car for merely plugging it in.

REMEMBER: The battle cry for TCM or ETM (and I assume other) downloads is, "Bring it in because we have to connect it up (to Volvo's system) to see if updates have been done. I believe that to be a lie because I believe buying a download is documented.

Whatever the transmission was doing prompted the original owner to sell it a 69,000 miles after having the fluid changed at a dealer. Because the fluid was spotless and my assumption that I then had Volvo's most modern download I decided to add the prescribed dosage of LubeGard (red bottle) because I heard nothing but rave reviews about the stuff.

That product cured 3/4 of the remaining 25% of my trannie's balkiness.

To keep the fluid clean I performed drain & fills using real Mobil 3309, Amalie Super Universal Synthetic Transmission Fluid, Toyota T-IV and Valvoline MaxLife Dex/Merc LV. The LV is the important part of the products name. It's NOT OLD FASHIONED DEX/MERC.

I sold the car with 198,600 on the odo and bought an '07.

Stand by for more. G&K

[Georgeandkira]

Volvo's early AWD systems required matched tires as essentially all AWD vehicles do.

Somewhere there's a field test you can perform to see if your rear wheels are getting any torque.

Also, on one of these boards are instructions for drilling and tapping drain and fill holes for the bevel gear-which sends power to the rear wheels. I've read that Volvo's bevel gear fluid is the only one to use. I've also read that any quality 75W-90 will do.

Also, on the Brickboard are step-by-step instructions on how to rebuild a fried bevel gear. The incredibly complete post included a parts list. The poster's name is Brian but I cannot remember his online name.

I think I've read the question, "Can I remove the rear driveshaft and just run FWD because my bevel gear is gone?", 30 times.
Once I read that you can.

The 2nd matter is that of rebuilding the ETM. Companies like XeMODeX (sic) and others rebuild your own ETM with contactless parts.
The ETM is coded to your car so it must be rebuilt when the need arises.

There have been posts mentioning inexpensive do-it-yourself kits from China which require a minimum of "machining". Drilling one hole and a bit of filing is involved. Every time I've gone to the product's website it has been down. I am suspicious.

It is said Volvo can replace a bad ETM but they will simply install a new example of the old, weak mylar wiper equipped design for $1,000 to $1,250 depending on how they feel that day. XeMODeX is around $500.

[Georgeandkira]

The DIM has a cold solder joint or two which causes the instruments to fail. There are companies which reflow these connections. Only experienced bench people have done it themselves. The DIM is coded to the car as well so fetching one at a junkyard is a bad idea. There's a rumor that "Every 6th one will work" but there are subsequent warnings that an unmatched DIM will prevent electronic diagnostics.

Go here: www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t ... RX22240553

I sold my car for $2,500.

I agree with SuperHerman's suggestion of offering $1,000 cause it isn't going to be as good as mine was.