Volvo c70 t5 turbo help

[welshjohn]

Hi all

After a hunt for a car which i would like to own i have decided that a c70 t5 2 door coupe is the one .We have around 2k to spend so will be looking at 99-2002 models which seem to fall within this range.Now all the ones we have seen all have 80,000 + mls on the clock which from reading does not matter if been looked after.Now for my question what do we need to look for to make sure we get a good one i know service history is a must but is there any common problems these volvos have.

regards john

Edited by welshjohn on Friday 13th July 16:18

[Finlandia]

ETM problems on 99-> models, ABS modules seem to be a common problem on all oh and auto boxes are made of fairy fluff, some can leak by the mirrors too, but apart from that and eating front tyres and washing them down with an excessive amount of unleaded, they are pretty good.

Check that seats fold on electric memory ones.

[Rockatansky]

Might fit the bill...

http://forums.t5d5.org/topic/20155-c70-t5/

[williredale]

I've had mine since last October. It's a 2000 model and has now done 147K; 9K since I bought it.

I've not had any problems since I bought it but the front tyres are now almost worn out and it likes a drink when you put your foot down.

Mine rattles a bit in different places, the sunroof especially. It can also be heavy on the front suspension but touch wood, I've not had issues there.

I have enjoyed mine since I've bought it and it's turned me into a bit of a Volvo fanboy... much to the amusement/annoyance of my wife who says I've turned into an old man!

Mine:

[welshjohn]

Cheers for the replys all.The problems mentioned with the abs and the etm thingy all seem to be able to be be fixed for £50 each if need be so not to bad..

[BlackBeastT5]

Rockatansky said:

Might fit the bill...

http://forums.t5d5.org/topic/20155-c70-t5/

That one is mine

I wrote a buyers guide a while ago for the P1 T5s http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=686... It's a little out of date but most things still stand.

[welshjohn]

BlackBeastT5 said:

That one is mine

I wrote a buyers guide a while ago for the P1 T5s http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=686... It's a little out of date but most things still stand.

Excellent thank you for that will prove very handy

[JumboBeef]

welshjohn said:

Cheers for the replys all.The problems mentioned with the abs and the etm thingy all seem to be able to be be fixed for £50 each if need be so not to bad..

I have a 2001 C70 (convertible).

I had the dreaded ETM problem. £50? Add a zero if you take it to a garage! £500 more like. However, I did get my ETM refurbished by a chap on eBay for £110 and I fitted it myself within a couple of hours so not too painful.

By the way, if a seller states 'ETM has been cleaned' that only confirms there is an issue with it and it needs replacing/refurbishing (maybe this is where you got the £50 from...?)

Do NOT buy an auto box. It will be faulty. If it isn't, it soon will be.

I've had mine now for 18 months and, apart from the ETM issue, it has run very well.

Why a coupé? Why not a convertible? http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3876735.htm (slightly over budget but haggle!)

[rb5er]

I have known of 7 people to have various automatic v70's and c70's of that era and none have ever had a single issue with the auto box. A couple of them went to over 180k miles, so I dont know where you get that rubbish from as they are known to be very reliable boxes unlike the ones used in later shaped cars which do have issues.

[JumboBeef]

rb5er said:

I have known of 7 people to have various automatic v70's and c70's of that era and none have ever had a single issue with the auto box. A couple of them went to over 180k miles, so I dont know where you get that rubbish from as they are known to be very reliable boxes unlike the ones used in later shaped cars which do have issues.

You're the first person I have ever heard say they've not had problems.

Indeed: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[rb5er]

Around the corner from me is a very well known Volvo specialist, I am friends with one of their longest serving mechanics (14years) and have been around Volvos for years. The Automatic boxes rarely give issues on the older cars. This is from experience of being around the marque and him having worked on them for over a decade so I guess counts for little compared to a few PHers that had a couple of problems.

ETA The link you posted is to do with a later shape v70 which as I said do have issues. These are not the same boxes as used in the older shape c70, v70 or s70

Edited by rb5er on Saturday 28th July 13:51

[Rockatansky]

rb5er said:

The link you posted is to do with a later shape v70 which as I said do have issues. These are not the same boxes as used in the older shape c70, v70 or s70

This.

The earlier boxes are a different beast to the more troublesome later auto box.

I can't say I've never heard of problems on the earlier type, but they are rare. My old '97 V70 T5 auto had 150k ish miles when it left me and it's still going strong with no problems to date.

The later boxes are a bit of a time bomb by all accounts.

[JumboBeef]

Later boxes? 2002 to ??

[morgrp]

The later boxes are 5speeders, the early boxes are 4speeders - which is a shame because as reliable as the 4speeder is it is sometimes slow witted and can be caught out wanting another gear.

[JumboBeef]

So, I still say forget the auto and go for the manual.

[rb5er]

JumboBeef said:

So, I still say forget the auto and go for the manual.

The thing is they are not sporty cars to drive and the lazy auto box really suits them, as well as not having a clutch to worry about.

For a drivers car manual is certainly the way to go but for a wafty barge type car like these are the auto is spot on.

Its for the owner to decide which he would rather.

[JumboBeef]

I have a manual. It is sporty!

[morgrp]

rb5er said:

The thing is they are not sporty cars to drive and the lazy auto box really suits them, as well as not having a clutch to worry about.

For a drivers car manual is certainly the way to go but for a wafty barge type car like these are the auto is spot on.

Its for the owner to decide which he would rather.

I'd agree with this - the manuals are good but so are the autos - my c70 is an early 4speeder and other than the lack of that extra cog which would be nice it really suits the car If I ever change it for a different one it would be another auto

[morgrp]

rb5er said:

The thing is they are not sporty cars to drive and the lazy auto box really suits them, as well as not having a clutch to worry about.

For a drivers car manual is certainly the way to go but for a wafty barge type car like these are the auto is spot on.

Its for the owner to decide which he would rather.

I'd agree with this - the manuals are good but so are the autos - my c70 is an early 4speeder and other than the lack of that extra cog which would be nice it really suits the car If I ever change it for a different one it would be another auto

[williredale]

morgrp said:

I'd agree with this - the manuals are good but so are the autos - my c70 is an early 4speeder and other than the lack of that extra cog which would be nice it really suits the car If I ever change it for a different one it would be another auto

Mine's a manual but the car isn't a sports car. I think the manual suits it but then perhaps it suits me rather than the car? I'd go with the manual being more robust than the auto but the rest is down to preference.