1999 awd driving characteristics

s70dean · Post by **s70dean** » 11 Feb 2017, 08:26

Hey all
Just some thoughts here from a relative noobie to the Volvo not to mention my first AWD car.
So to set the stage I've always been suspect of this 1999 s70 awd system and the other day we get snow here in southern Ontario and the road are a thick mix of melting snow and salt.
I head out and all is good until i hit the first of the many driving circles i'll encounter on my way home from work,,well i enter on the inside lane because i'm basically doing a u turn and heading back in the same direction i came from. But to my horror the s70 basically under steers from the inside lane to the outside lane and there's nothing i can do to prevent or stop it from happening except i do find giving it a shot from accelerator helps pull the front end in the direction the front tires are pointed. It's as if the rear wheel drive pushing me through the corner.
Things get better as the system warms up but still not what i would expect from an all wheel drive system.
Is this normal from a 1999 awd technology point of view?

Post by **BEJinFbk** » 11 Feb 2017, 08:41

What have you got for tires?

Post by **scot850** » 11 Feb 2017, 20:13

+ 1 on the tire question? I have read a few people comment on the system having a little delay in stepping in at the rear, but the AWD only operates when it senses lost grip at the front and it then sends power to the rear. The rear gets an increasing amount of power passed to it the more the front loses grip.

People forget the AWD vehicles lose grip at the front when the roads are bad just like any other vehicle, and especially when icy or wet snow. AWD systems tend to under steer. AWD does not replace the need for good tires suitable for the conditions. Heavy wet snow is particularly difficult to drive in as the tires have nothing to grip to unless the tire can cut through the snow down to the surface or firm snow to get a grip.

Neil.

Post by **abscate** » 12 Feb 2017, 05:40

I was never too big on branding but we went with Coopers on the X3 and they are a definite step down from the Pirelli Scorpions, at twice the price. X drive is still pretty awesome in snow/ice but tires still count

s70dean · Post by **s70dean** » 12 Feb 2017, 09:08

Funny,, even at extremely slow parking lot maneuvers the front end gets pushed sideways when entering a parking space. I know the front drive is working because when i tap the accelerator it's the front tires that loose traction.
But I guess it's the tires then.. because i figured with awd i wouldn't need to purchase the snow tires and left the Goodyear all seasons in service.

Post by **abscate** » 12 Feb 2017, 09:33

Getting four snows onto my 1999 FWD made it a new car in the snow.

Post by **wizechatmgr** » 12 Feb 2017, 13:11

s70dean wrote:Funny,, even at extremely slow parking lot maneuvers the front end gets pushed sideways when entering a parking space. I know the front drive is working because when i tap the accelerator it's the front tires that loose traction.
But I guess it's the tires then.. because i figured with awd i wouldn't need to purchase the snow tires and left the Goodyear all seasons in service.

When was your car last aligned?

Post by **FLXC90** » 12 Feb 2017, 16:30

Tires and the driver make all the difference, when you are out in the snow, who are the first ones in the ditch?...Four-wheel drives, they can go, but they don't stop or steer just because they have 4/all wheel drive.

Like you said, New to AWD, so get out and get some experience with how it responds in the gooey stuff. Get good tires mounted and see how it changes. And until then, slow down!!!

P.S. Washington State and North Dakota, not always been in Florida

s70dean · Post by **s70dean** » 12 Feb 2017, 20:04

I've been driving this car less that 6 months and it had an alignment when it had it's safety inspection. Do these awd vehicles have the same alignment specs as fwd?
But yes it was on a computerized alignment machine.

Post by **wizechatmgr** » 12 Feb 2017, 20:28

I'm running dirt cheap tires without issue but I'm also in the same year V70 XC.

I'm in winter mode & 3 on the worst days. Such as today when we received a foot of snow. Wasn't encountering much beyond a couple inches on the local roads. AWD/Traction control won't prevent a loss of traction - that's a combination of road conditions and tires. If you're in a turn, you have less traction available to maintain a straight line.

Take it slow. Those that race to their death -- will get there first... Let it be them instead of you =)