08 s60 awd really think this is the car....what to look for

mrscullini · Post by **mrscullini** » 02 Jan 2015, 17:59

found a really clean '08 s60 awd. 95k on the clock. was a lease return. talking with the owner, he says he has all maintenance records, everything performed by the dealer. will check these when i look at the car. t-belt has not yet been done, so that will need to be done immediately. anything particular i should be concerned about with this year and model?

Post by **JRL** » 02 Jan 2015, 20:23

Same as an 05 06 07 and 09 So no, nothing special about it

mrscullini · Post by **mrscullini** » 05 Jan 2015, 07:02

thanks jrl.

a couple of more questions,

1. is model year '08 OBDII compliant?
2. the springs seats are probably ready to replace, is there anyway to visually inspect?

mrscullini · Post by **mrscullini** » 05 Jan 2015, 09:02

...a couple more questions after reviewing the dealer service records, there are a couple of notes that caught my attention,

1. small p/s leak at the front seal of the pump, anybody experience this and how big of an issue could it be?
2. there is a "loud noise" when the a/c comp engages, again, anybody experience this?

according to the seller, these issue have not yet been addressed. i'd simply go look at it, but it is 3 hours away. trying to do as much recon work as possible before making the trip.

Post by **oragex** » 05 Jan 2015, 13:18

the p/s leak is rather common and it doesn't mean the pump is failing soon.
if the a/c compressor is failing, it's an expensive repair, around $1000 at the main dealer. It's an urgent repair because it may affect the serpentine belt. some owners have experienced timing belt failure (and engine damage) when the serpentine belt snapped because of a seized alternator or a/c pulley
look for any electrical repairs in the service papers.
this is the typical one owner car selling right before the 100k miles service, having been serviced by the main dealer. usually it's a good buy

mrscullini · Post by **mrscullini** » 05 Jan 2015, 13:48

oragex wrote:the p/s leak is rather common and it doesn't mean the pump is failing soon.
if the a/c compressor is failing, it's an expensive repair, around $1000 at the main dealer. It's an urgent repair because it may affect the serpentine belt. some owners have experienced timing belt failure (and engine damage) when the serpentine belt snapped because of a seized alternator or a/c pulley
look for any electrical repairs in the service papers.
this is the typical one owner car selling right before the 100k miles service, having been serviced by the
main dealer. usually it's a good buy

thanks oragex. after doing a little more searching on the p/s leak and looking at my other 2 volvos, seems somewhat common. i at least have something to compare it to.

the only electrical repair i see is a recent eta (electronic throttle acuator) replacement and related ecm terminals.

the a/c system was recharged at about 81k (95k on it now).

other than that, everything else is p/m work, oil, brakes, etc.

the car was a lease return. it had 60k on it when purchased by current owner as a cpo. it seems really clean. offered at $9750.

going to see it this weekend.

oragex wrote:usually it's a good buy

just to be clear, was your opinion is that these typically are a good buy?

Post by **oragex** » 06 Jan 2015, 16:04

mrscullini wrote:the a/c system was recharged at about 81k (95k on it now).

This is not usual, could be the system is leaking, possibly not an easy/cheap fix. I feel like there's a leak somewhere in the piping - really not an easy fix, and since the system doesn't run at adequate refrigerant pressure, the compressor has worn out which explains that noise. To replace it and fix the leak - possibly at the condenser, Volvo may ask from $1000 to $2000. If I remember well, a simple a/c compressor replacement runs around $1200

mrscullini wrote: the car was a lease return. it had 60k on it when purchased by current owner as a cpo. it seems really clean. offered at $9750.
just to be clear, was your opinion is that these typically are a good buy?

I thought it was a one owner car.. With two owners it possibly means it started to have issues and the second owner is getting rid of it. Also I don't feel the price is great for a 100k miles car that needs timing belt and a/c service.. $5-6000 would be a better price given the a/c issue

A 100k miles Volvo will start having issues, it is wise to know an independent mechanic because Volvo will be asking premium prices for repairs

mrscullini · Post by **mrscullini** » 06 Jan 2015, 20:42

oragex wrote:
mrscullini wrote:the a/c system was recharged at about 81k (95k on it now).
This is not usual, could be the system is leaking, possibly not an easy/cheap fix. I feel like there's a leak somewhere in the piping - really not an easy fix, and since the system doesn't run at adequate refrigerant pressure, the compressor has worn out which explains that noise. To replace it and fix the leak - possibly at the condenser, Volvo may ask from $1000 to $2000. If I remember well, a simple a/c compressor replacement runs around $1200

mrscullini wrote: the car was a lease return. it had 60k on it when purchased by current owner as a cpo. it seems really clean. offered at $9750.
just to be clear, was your opinion is that these typically are a good buy?
I thought it was a one owner car.. With two owners it possibly means it started to have issues and the second owner is getting rid of it. Also I don't feel the price is great for a 100k miles car that needs timing belt and a/c service.. $5-6000 would be a better price given the a/c issue

A 100k miles Volvo will start having issues, it is wise to know an independent mechanic because Volvo will be asking premium prices for repairs

thanks. the a/c recharge was done by the dealer. when doing a recharge, would a dealer typically look for a leak?

Post by **vtl** » 06 Jan 2015, 23:55

mrscullini wrote:thanks. the a/c recharge was done by the dealer. when doing a recharge, would a dealer typically look for a leak?

No. You can have some refrigerant evacuated at a/c shop and recharged with UV dye-containing refrigerant. Then, if there's a leak, you'll be able to trace it with UV flashlight.

I used "Interdynamics AFK-11CS Arctic Freeze Ultra Synthetic Recharging Kit with UV Dye and UV Light" to trace the leak. Flashlight was remarkably weak, but I had better one in "Spectronics Corp/Tracer TP8621 LeakFinder Air Conditioner and Fluid Leak Detection Kit". Didn't find the leak anywhere in engine bay where it was possible to reach to with the light, and it looks like leak sealer dealt with the problem, as it stopped leaking.