TouzinFish
I like my Volvos old and barely running.
- Joined
- Mar 12, 2017
- Location
- Idaho
December 11, 2024
Let's chat about the P2 XC70.
Since Volvo slightly improved the XC70 over the years, I think most people subconsciously split the P2 XC70 into these categories:
2001: RUN AWAY!!!
2002: PTSD from the 2001 cars.
2003-2004: Meh, might be a good car.
2005-2007: Hey, that's an alright car!
A quick Google search pulls up dozens of results for people complaining about early P2 XC70 ownership: suicidal transmissions, oil leaks, AWD problems, electrical problems, etc etc etc.
With poor consumer reviews and most folks favoring Subarus anyway, the early P2 XC70's are presented as a real bargain for idiots like me that are familiar with wrenching on them.
Last week, during my nightly routine of shopping for cars I don't need, I came across this 2003 XC70:
Cosmetically, not bad!
Engine issues could be a variety of things.
It's implied that the front struts are completely blown since new ones are included with the car. That probably means the rest of the suspension is tired, too.
If it needs a new battery, does it actually need a new one, or is there an electrical drain?
Either way, $650 seemed like a good deal.
After chatting with the seller for a few days, he was able to send me a video of the car idling, as well as a video of it accelerating with a cold engine from 0-65. The engine was obviously misfiring, but no knocks. Likewise, the transmission was shifting great and on-time. Perfect!
With that, I was pretty much sold. The car was in Ketchum (~4 hours away), so my wife and I packed the car for an overnight trip and set off to check it out.
Turns out, the car belonged to the Sun Valley Ski Foundation, where it was a loaner car for the Foundation's international coaches when they flew in for local ski resorts. Cosmetically, the car impressed me, and it fired up without needing a jump. I didn't even drive the car before purchasing. One bummer, however, was that the car not a 2003 like the ad said; it was actually a 2001, the year with one of the more questionable transmissions. Felt fine shifting, but I’ll need to keep an eye on it.
With an OBD2 scanner, I was able to determine that cylinder #3 wasn't firing at all, and the voltage regulator was having a seizure that seemed to cause some electrical oddities: flickering brake lights, brake failure warning, airbag failure warning, ABS failure, you name it. We decided it would be a better idea to drive the car one hour to a relative's house versus try and limp it four hours back to Boise, so that's what we did. On the way, we had to stop for a few minutes for some elk to cross:
Once the car was parked and safe, I gave it a quick inspection to determine what all it needed:
-Coil pack.
-Voltage regulator (battery may have been fine after all).
-All suspension.
-If the warning lights weren't associated with weird voltages, I have a rough road ahead of me.
I have some extra parts and tools now, so I'll be headed to Twin Falls to retrieve the car this weekend. Wish me luck!
Let's chat about the P2 XC70.
Since Volvo slightly improved the XC70 over the years, I think most people subconsciously split the P2 XC70 into these categories:
2001: RUN AWAY!!!
2002: PTSD from the 2001 cars.
2003-2004: Meh, might be a good car.
2005-2007: Hey, that's an alright car!
A quick Google search pulls up dozens of results for people complaining about early P2 XC70 ownership: suicidal transmissions, oil leaks, AWD problems, electrical problems, etc etc etc.
With poor consumer reviews and most folks favoring Subarus anyway, the early P2 XC70's are presented as a real bargain for idiots like me that are familiar with wrenching on them.
Last week, during my nightly routine of shopping for cars I don't need, I came across this 2003 XC70:
Cosmetically, not bad!
Engine issues could be a variety of things.
It's implied that the front struts are completely blown since new ones are included with the car. That probably means the rest of the suspension is tired, too.
If it needs a new battery, does it actually need a new one, or is there an electrical drain?
Either way, $650 seemed like a good deal.
After chatting with the seller for a few days, he was able to send me a video of the car idling, as well as a video of it accelerating with a cold engine from 0-65. The engine was obviously misfiring, but no knocks. Likewise, the transmission was shifting great and on-time. Perfect!
With that, I was pretty much sold. The car was in Ketchum (~4 hours away), so my wife and I packed the car for an overnight trip and set off to check it out.
Turns out, the car belonged to the Sun Valley Ski Foundation, where it was a loaner car for the Foundation's international coaches when they flew in for local ski resorts. Cosmetically, the car impressed me, and it fired up without needing a jump. I didn't even drive the car before purchasing. One bummer, however, was that the car not a 2003 like the ad said; it was actually a 2001, the year with one of the more questionable transmissions. Felt fine shifting, but I’ll need to keep an eye on it.
With an OBD2 scanner, I was able to determine that cylinder #3 wasn't firing at all, and the voltage regulator was having a seizure that seemed to cause some electrical oddities: flickering brake lights, brake failure warning, airbag failure warning, ABS failure, you name it. We decided it would be a better idea to drive the car one hour to a relative's house versus try and limp it four hours back to Boise, so that's what we did. On the way, we had to stop for a few minutes for some elk to cross:
Once the car was parked and safe, I gave it a quick inspection to determine what all it needed:
-Coil pack.
-Voltage regulator (battery may have been fine after all).
-All suspension.
-If the warning lights weren't associated with weird voltages, I have a rough road ahead of me.
I have some extra parts and tools now, so I'll be headed to Twin Falls to retrieve the car this weekend. Wish me luck!
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