1999 S70 GLT winter car aquistion

[454cid]

I mentioned the other day in the "What did you do to your Volvo today?" thread that I've won an auction for an S70. Today, I paid for it. I'll pick it up tomorrow after getting insurance on it.

I looked it over again today.
I noticed the steering column is a little loose. The plastic housing rotates a bit.
I need to take a roll of clear tape with me tomorrow, to secure the broken driver's side headlight lens. The car has been hit in the front, possibly by a deer. I'm hoping the housing itself is ok, and that I can just replace the glass.
The floor mats are factory Volvo, but rubber and worn looking. They're not the nice carpeted mats that my 850 has. I'll probably swap my Rensi mats in place. They're better for snow any way.
The whole car is dirtier than my 850 was. The engine compartment, I'll do myself. I may take the car to a detailer for the interior.
The damage to the front, I mentioned earlier, will not be fixed unless I score a deal on parts from another car. This cars primary purpose to keep my 850 out of the salt, even though it doesn't seem to have been in the salt much itself.

Its a turbo, but I'm reading boost is only .6 (point six) psi???

Tires are Pirelli's with deep tread. I didn't think to look at the dot date code. My original plan for a winter vehicle was to purchase snow tires. Given the deep tread on the existing tires, I may just run them unless they're way to old, or the tread design just can't handle it. Another option would be to simply swap over the Michelin's from the 850. I did look at the spare long enough to determine it's present, and relatively round.

It looks like the battery is newer. It's marked 8/21, in marker. It's an AC Delco that's shaped/sized differently than the battery I have in my 850 and the keeper block doesn't seem to want to fit it well, but it'll probably be fine.

It has a timing belt sticker dated about 10 years ago.... so it's due by age. I'm not sure how I will address that yet. I'll probably inspect the components before I do anything.

One weird thing is that the plastic air pipe to the ECU is brittle and rotted, as is some of the convoluted plastic wiring loom.... just crumbly. The 2001 V70 I looked at had that issue as well.

The factory roof hole seems to work... hope it doesn't leak.

[scot850]

Those air pipes do tend to break up for some reason. Cheap to buy or pick up in a junkyard. Same with the other wiring covers. I have had to replace that on all my P80's over the years as heat destroys them.

I wish you luck with the running repairs. Timing belt is definitely a strongly suggested 'Must Do'! I thought the -98 were on a 6 or 8 year schedule if they have the oil filled tensioner?

Narrow 15" winter tires (with studs if you get a lot of snow/ice) with 185/65/15 tires are perfect for winter as they cut through snow better.

I like the LPT engines as the best version for daily use. Good grunt of the line and fair fuel consumption.

Good Luck!

Neil.

[454cid]

Those air pipes do tend to break up for some reason. Cheap to buy or pick up in a junkyard. Same with the other wiring covers. I have had to replace that on all my P80's over the years as heat destroys them.

Oh wow, my 96 850 is fine. All in great shape.

I wish you luck with the running repairs. Timing belt is definitely a strongly suggested 'Must Do'! I thought the -98 were on a 6 or 8 year schedule if they have the oil filled tensioner?

Is 99 the first year that got the non-hydraulic tensioner? I thought it happened earlier? My 850 looked to be all original, and the parts looked to be in great shape, so I was thinking I may just change the belt itself on the S70 depending on what I see.

Narrow 15" winter tires (with studs if you get a lot of snow/ice) with 185/65/15 tires are perfect for winter as they cut through snow better.

I'm not sure of the legality of studs here. Unless I'm thinking of chains, studs are legal if approved by the manufacturer, but it's not clear on what manufacturer the law is referring to ... tire? car?

I like the LPT engines as the best version for daily use. Good grunt of the line and fair fuel consumption.

That's good to hear.

Good Luck!

Thanks, I was a bit nervous buying it. Hopefully it proves to be a good buy,

[scot850]

Un-like our good friend abscate, I prefer an NA or GLT (LPT) over the 'R' and T5 variants. On the open road the last 2 are great, but the other 2 have better mileage and for today's road are more than adequate. I'm also an auto over a manual as most of our driving is in the city or nearby with a fair amount of traffic. Also a dodgy right hip and lower back means an auto is easier on me!

The plastic I think changed on the snorkle on the 98- cars and is thinner than I recall the 850 being.

The change from hydraulic to manual tensioner happened at some point mid 98 MY. You could end up having either or. Typically the hydraulic tensioner is ok to re-use, but be wary on the unknown water pump age and idler wheels. Sure you could take a chance on just the belt but is it really worth it?

In Calgary, local city by-laws are such that you are not supposed to use studded tires in the city as they destroy the asphalt when the snow melts. It is a good idea in theory, but our roads are terrible anyway, and what do you do if you live outside the city but work here?
The theory was we used to get a lot of 'chinook' warm winds in the winter which often melted the snow on the roads in the city. With the climate change we seem to have snow/ice on the roads much more these years I understand more people using studded tires. My son could have used those the night he came out late at night from work and slide 50 yards on a gentle down hill slope into a stopped car at walking pace. He had snow and ice tires fitted but they did not help.

Just don't do what many of our local idiots do and fit only 2 winter tires to the front wheels!

Neil.

[454cid]

Just picked it up...

I took my little air compressor already filled with air. When I picked up the 850 the gas station compressor was broken, and I wanted to avoid any issues there.

Checked the oil, and it looks newer, and mostly full... I checked it after it had been running.

As I noticed when I initially looked at the car, the S70 seat feels higher than my 850.

The engine has a lot more power, but runs/sounds a little rougher or harsher in some manner. I don't mean it's not running properly, but more of a NVH thing.

I hear some sort of noise when steering at low speed every so often.

Some things feel/sound better but others feel a bit cheaper than my 850.

I seem to get a lot of wind noise from what sounds high up like the sunroof maybe?

It smells like something.... old air freshener? Dog? Cheese? I don't know.

Glove box door works, cup holder is better than the one in the 850, and the washer nozzles are great, too!

[scot850]

Are the seats manual or is the driver's seat powered?

Does your 850 have a sunroof? I prefer cars without them as you get more head room if you are taller!

A/C could be nasty. They can smell funky if left damp for some time. Also check the coolant maintains it's level and you don't have a heater core weeping.

Sounds generally good and positive starting point!

Neil.

[454cid]

Are the seats manual or is the driver's seat powered?

Both cars have powered seats.

Does your 850 have a sunroof? I prefer cars without them as you get more head room if you are taller!

The 850 does not. I was noticing that the sunroof does lower the roof. I feel like I'm sitting higher, but maybe it's just an illusion due to the roof.

Normally, I'd not go out of my way to obtain a factory roof leak, but this one seems to actually work. I don't know if it leaks or not. I had a factory roof leak in my Saturn, and never opened it since it needed "help" to close it up. Often while looking at vehicles to purchase, I've seen evidence of a leak. I was looking at a Saturn Vue that someone had a box of DampRid in... I saw that and could guess why it was there!

A/C could be nasty. They can smell funky if left damp for some time. Also check the coolant maintains it's level and you don't have a heater core weeping.

The coolant is a bit low.... I think it's also the wrong color. It seems to need a thermostat, so I'll be looking into the cooling system sooner than later.

Sounds generally good and positive starting point!

So far, I'm still happy I bought it. I was going to drive it tonight, again. However, while walking up to it, with the key fob, I went to unlock it, heard it unlock, but it was still locked. I had the 850 keys, so I just drove that instead.

[scot850]

And I thought it was only me that did that sort of thing!

Neil.

[454cid]

So on the "new" S70 the fuel door stays open a bit. The lock tab is broken, but it also rests partially open. I can push it closed, but it pops right back out. Is that normal, or is the hinge broken too? My 850 snaps closed. It doesn't depend on the lock tab to stay closed.

I'm trying to put together an IPD order.

[scot850]

Sounds like the hinge may have been forced and the holding clip broken. Does the release motor work?

On the hinge, the aftermarket ones do not have the hook to attach to the rubber/plastic wire that stops the fuel filler cap being left on the roof!

Neil.