Well folks ,
after about a 12 month search I bought a 1998 S70 with 104000 miles with a new timing belt, seems to run fine, so far!

Things to be done: Fix the AM/FM antenna. I don't know it it's going to take just the antenna, or something more like relays or the motor. Time will tell.

Whats the consensus of the factory radio/CD/tape player as far as "good sound" is concerned? In my 740T I had an inexpensive Alpine head the 4 door speakers with tweeters and a base speaker in the trunk with it's own amp. Nothing real loud but good sounds to my ear. I did not test the C/D side of the system as I forgot to bring a disk. the radio was pretty scratchy due to only having 10 inches of antenna sticking out!

If I decide to pull the factory radio, what will I need to look out for. Are the speakers wired the same way in the S70 as they were with the factory set up in the 740?

How does it drive? Smooth shifts, plenty of get up and go, more than my 740T, also better than the low boost GLT versions.

I did notice that the engine had had Mobile 1 in it back at the 80 thousand mile service. Don't know if it has it now or not. Should I consider going back to it at this stage?

Has any body tried the IPD Seat covers for this car? The drivers seat is starting to show some shallow cracking of the seat bottom surface. Or, would I be better off to use some lanolin or saddle soap on it to try to prolong the life?

Now I have to pull all the junk out of my 740 and try to only put the essentials back in the trunk of the S70. I actually have overload springs on the 740 to help with the tools and tool box that I used to have to carry.

Best regards

Woody

I am surprised it has a "new" T belt. They are good for 70K miles.
Keep using Mobile 1 10W30 and Mann filters.
If it is an automatic, time to change the tranny fluid.

As to the radio, same "good" sound as the 740. The antenna probably just needs a new mast. Pull out the old, put in the new one. When you turn the radio on, without volume, listen for the antenna motor to verify it is working. The motor is behind the cover on the left hand side.

If the trunk closes with authority, you might need new trunk struts :)

Klaus
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Just driving a 1998 V70R :)

Hi

The car has 104,000 miles, it was something like 83K when they changed it.I would like to know if the changed the Idler pulley at the same time.

Thanks for the info about the Mobile 1 and the Man filters. Any problems with going back to Mobile 1 if the car was switched back to regular oil.

Trunk seems alright.

I drove my 740 from the NC coast to Raleigh, looked at the car, drove it, made the deal and then climbed back in my 740 to go back home. My wife and I will make the same trip next Wednesday and I'll drive the S70 back.

Regards

Woody

Save the pulleys for the 140K change. No problem switching over to synthetic so long as the current oil looks clean. The age old problem was sludge deposits covering up the engine seals, the seals drying out, and the synthetic removing the sludge.

Bring a couple of CDs with you. And don't leave your wife in the dust :)

Klaus
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Just driving a 1998 V70R :)

Klaus,

Thanks again for the info. I did not want to worry about the pulley!

My 740 has 201200 miles and when I put it up for sale I'm going to change the belt and pulley on it. I bought the car with 140K on it, blew a belt shortly after and changed it. Put a water pump on it too. ( love those non interference engines!) In less than a year I blew another belt. but that was probably at less than 150K. So I'm going to send the 740T out with a fresh belt and idler pulley.

I had already thought about taking my CD wallet with me!

On another subject It doesn't seem like there is as much traffic on this segment of the board, as compared to the 850's and RWD cars. Do you suppose it is dure to the relatively short span on the S70 Models . Or have the just not fallen into the hands of very many of us Volvo car tinkerers?

Regards

Woody

Most of the 850 problems are the same as your 1998. If you come on the board with the "all" specified, you will find more than you ever want to learn. That is how I find all of the posts.

Take care of the T5, be sure to rev it up to 5K once on a while, but not in 1st gear. The shock of the tranny shifting from 1 to 2 at full throttle is a bit hard on the tranny.

You will find that after the car is in 2nd or greater gear, you will be able to mive the shift lever to L and it will stay in 2nd gear until you come to a stop. BTW, the E,S,W switch needs to be in S to do that. In E, it will shift to 1st when you get below 25mph. Never use W unless you are stuck.

You will need to buy some torx screwdrivers. I use a folding set from Sears which cost me $5 and can be stored in the center console.

Klaus
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Just driving a 1998 V70R :)

Klaus,
I think I already have a set of torx bits from my 740, but a dedicated set from Sears of the fold ups is a good idea.

When I drove the car the other day I noticed the ESW switches and wondered what they were I made a mental note to look in the glove box for an owners manual, if there is one there. So if I don't find a book I'll get back to you for a tutorial, if you'd be so kind.

Have a good week

regards

Woody

The owners manual is available online at the Volvo website.

The "Volvospeed" and "Swedespeed" websites attract a lot (most?) of the FWD/AWD fans. Volvospeed has an extensive DIY section.

Don't know about the IPD seat covers, the cars have side impact airbags. You can replace the leather, but as to the price, you really don't want to know. Maybe start looking for a decent set of used seats from Erie Vovo or on fleabay.

The T5 wagon is really the best car I ever had, although the dealer and Volvo NA support have really sucked over the years. I've since purchased a BMW station wagon -- the BMW dealer is fantastic but the car hurts my back -- my butt fits the Volvo seats better than the BMW seats. You can't ever have it all, can you?


-BTC

'98 V70 T5 178K mii, 5-speed manual, original (noisy) clutch, heated velour cloth comfy chairs, factory HD suspension (1998 only), Bilstein HD, front IPD stabilizer bar, Volvo strut tower brace and skidplate, XC grill, C70 jewel E-Codes, V-1, Lidatek, IPD stuff, JB Weld, Original Duck Tape, zip-ties, two Honda license plate nut impressions in back bumper (gift from daughter), Mobil-1 since new.

"The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at or repair." - Douglas Noel Adams (1952 - 2001)

Seats are one of the main reasons I bought my '98 S70 T5, after having sold my '95 850 T5 months earlier. The seats are to die for.

On another note, my indy Volvo wrencher (who also does BMW's) tells me I should switch to a BMW. But I'm not convinced yet...

To the OP - enjoy the car. You'll come to love the power.

Don
'98 S70 T5 56.8K
'05 V70 2.5T 46.8K

E = economy S = sport W = winter

Those are for the tranny. S allows for higher shift points and earlier down shifts. Use E for highway driving and S around town. Never use W.

A call to Volvo's 800 number will get you an owner's manual delivered in the mail for about $25. Dealer is about the same price, plus sales tax.

Klaus
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Just driving a 1998 V70R :)