I figured I'd start a little thread for my Volvo. I've basically inherited it for free from my parents to replace my Octavia.

 

I've actually grown really fond of it and currently intend to keep it until it fails catastrophically.

 

It's got 166k or so on the clock. The five cylinder engine is a truly wonderful thing and when it gets into it's stride at higher RPMs it feels (and sounds!) much more rapid than the modest figures suggest. Apparenatly Volvo had assistance from Porsche in developing that modular engine.

 

My parents sadly drove it for years with ETM and MIL lights lit with it running rough and using even more fuel than it should. So far I've spent £40 on a clutch position sensor which killed the ETM light and am awaiting delivery of a lambda sensor (£69) to hopefully take care of the MIL. I'll stick a new set of plugs, filters and fresh oil in it in the next couple of weeks too.

 

I'd like a T5 but this thing was free and after looking at a few cheap V70s second hand lately, I just figure better the devil you know.

 

These photos have been on the forum before from when I detailed it for them, but they're all I've got of it....

 

I also need to spend a good day cleaning it up inside and out. Since I detailed it in 2009 for them, I think dad washed it once and that was with water and a nylon brush (I'm not kidding). Need to get it looking a bit more like it did:

 

 

I'm going to get hold of some GTechniq C4 for the few grey plastic bits.

Oh and if it fails the MOT on the suspension I promise I'll put it on air.

Always had a soft spot for these. 

 

Please Please Please just put it on Air bags anyway!!! 

Agree, airbags regardless of the MOT result...

I must admit I've got a bit of a soft spot for volvo's, the 5 cylinder engines are brilliant too. Properly engineered.

They are great motors. I had a V70 T5 and then a C70 T5 and they have a super engine.

I found Volvo insurance to be the cheapest if you need to renew soon.

Only thing I did not like was the turning circle its like turning a bus around.lol

Yup, it's £200 to insure. And yes, the turning circle is terrible!

 

I haven't got time to work on it myself so I'm leaving at a local garage this week to fit the the new lambda sensor I got for it and give it a service.

I've always like these Volvo's. Even as a kid I liked them..........which was weird.......probably explains a lot really!

 

My dad had a 740GLT once, such a cool car!!!

My Mum and Dad had a custard yellow 245, a lovely metallic blue 760 and a 940 diesel that had about 350k or something on it when they finally got rid.

Just been reading a bunch of info about fitting air to these. Very, very interesting....

 

Yes

 

you've been watching them Quingo ads during Countdown and Deal or no Deal again, haven't you

That Amazon is lovely. Used to see a dark red saloon from 1970 I think it was around here in the summer months.

Just been reading a bunch of info about fitting air to these. Very, very interesting....

 

reminds me of the way a yeti behaves off road.

Swapped the front lambda sensor, disconnected the battery for a while to reset fuel trims and voila no more codes or warning lights. Quite novel driving this car without them!

 

Just ordered a new dipstick as the original one has broken. I'm going to clean the throttle body and IASV at the weekend. Then just need to get a second hand ABS pump as mine's making a horrific grinding sound.

If you use carb cleaner aerosol be careful because the engine won't run on it, you might get a few random misfires till it clears it all out, or ideally jut remove the throttle body and isv to clean them.

Yeah, I'll be doing it off the car. 

Just did the throttle body in the end. Used Wynn's carb cleaner. Seems a lot better. Do you think Wynn's carb cleaner would be safe to use on the IACV?

Yes it's a good solvent for pretty much all oil and fuel based deposits in an engine, good for egr valves, spark plugs, airflow meters etc.

I sold this for a pittance after nearly two years of happy motoring. I really enjoyed owning it.

 

I've moved on to a 2008 V50 T5 (230bhp) R-Design. I think I'm just addicted to these smooth but characterful 5 cylinder engines now.

Edited 15 February, 201610 yr by Nick P

Never been a massive fan of the N/A 5 pot lumps but the turbo engines are great,

 

Im now on my 4th volvo altho the xc90 has the D5 rather than the T5

Yep, fives have infinitely more character than four pots (I've had two, in both Audi and FIAT guises).

Just a shame the fuel economy didn't quite match up to them.

To be fair, I got 37 mpg from the N/A V70 on a trip down to Devon and I got 34 (indicated) for a trip down to Gloucestershire in the V50 T5. So they're not bad at all on a long run. It's just short journeys around town that are somewhat punishing.