If you are new to these Volvos, here is a quick bullet list of issues specific to this car that can cause some damages.
Hopefully, these few quick items specific to this vehicle help you to avoid damaging your car. Otherwise, have a nice look and see what are some of the other common problems I've encountered.
Its been a few year since we've owned our 2 P2 generation (01-07 V70/XC70, 01-09 S60) Volvo wagons. But I read many people still consult this site. Thus, going to try to go through it to update all contents and make sure no dead links haha.
Our first wagon wagon was a 2001 V70 T5 which was purchased at 46k miles in 2003. We sold it in 4/2012 after 9 years at 133k miles. Our other one is a 2001 XC70 also purchased used at 2005 with 52k miles. It was sold on 4/2014 at 123k miles. We have moved onto higher gas mileage vehicles. Now we no longer own any Volvos. I have helped maintain a friend's daughter's 2002 V70XC for a few years but that is now also sold. Also a friend's 93 850 that is also now sold. And fixed up a 2000 V70XC for a single mom in 2015. Friend's 2002 V70 before moving onto a 2009 XC90 V8.
I have done much of the debugging and maintenance on the 2 wagons I owned. This site is to capture the common problems I've encountered and tips I found from various sources on the internet. So take a look on the topics on the left and see what maybe of interest to you :)
Still very much involved with Volvos these days. Still participate on volvoxc's XC70 (V70XC) forum and seems to find Volvos to checkout on craigslist periodically. Still own my Volvo diagnostic setup (VIDA/DiCE).
Definitely review the "READ THIS FIRST..." section at the top of this page to quickly familiarize yourself with a couple of weak points on this car.
Maybe us Volvo owners end up buying similar cars. Here are my other cars and I'm also doing all maintenance on them (Haven't visited a shop in years other than warranty covered repairs haha) If you have questions on a similar vehicle, please don't hesitate to ask. I'll tell you what I've done, tools to get, and which forums to hang out at.
Cars I own and know most about
Cars I've owned and have lots of experience with
Cars I help others to debug and maintain
Diag Tools
Recently purchased Oetiker crimp style clamps for my steering rack boot. Using typical zip ties didn't feel very secure (especially on the driver side). These clamps aren't very expensive but they are hard to find and online shipping cost is high.
I decided to buy 100 and offer them to other Volvo DIYer for cheap. Just paypal me $8.00 and I'll send them to you. Lower 48 states in continental US only for now. Here is link to the info on the clamps and how to purchase.
PCV rehab on 2000 V70XC. Replaced boost circuit with larger ID host for improved venting. See here for and here info.
Added external ATF cooler. See here for info.
Changed my plugs to Bosch platinum. Plugs
Fixed the front CV on the propeller shaft. See here for info.
Now selling Oetiker crimp clamps for the steering rack boot. They are hard to find and online shipping is expensive. See here for info.
Replaced a leaky Rear Differential Pinion Seal. Link here.
Removed center shaft in search of a metal clinking and clicking noise. Link here.
Changed the style of the website. Black text and white background is probably more friendly for printers :) Wider page width also helps to reduce the length of pages.
Replaced a PS reservoir. Link here.
Installed Oetiker crimp style clamp for power steering rack boots. Link here.
Replaced a right rear door lock. Link here.
Performed transmission adaptation with VIDA/DICE tool and fixed the broken lower transmission torque mount. Car drives and shift like new! Link here and here and here. Note that I didn't have significant transmission problems to begin with.
Replaced a fuel door hinge. Link here.
Stopped a leaky CV boot clamp. Link here.
Fix a pull towards the right. Link here.
Adjusted the hand brake. Link here.
Replaced the rear brake rotors. Link here.
Replaced the rear differential fluid on the 01 V70XC. Link here.
Replaced the rear shocks on the 01 V70XC. Link here.
Did my PCV recently. Link here.
Replaced a Driver Door Module. Link here.
Found an engine temperature problem. Link here.
Much of the information in here resides in the various Volvo forums I've frequented in the course of maintaining my cars. Certainly, a big thanks to the collective community that provided the information. A list of forums are listed in the REPAIR PROCEDURES AND FORUMS link on the top.
I guess I have to put this in here since we all live in this society.
Since I make no money from this website and it isn't a business. I obvious can't warranty any information in here. I hope you find the information useful but at the end of the day, you have to take your own risk on following them.
With this said, good luck and happy reading :)