I looked at a 99 V70XC turbo today. Not in the greatest shape. Brakes and bad battery I can deal with in my sleep, but the engine I am not sure about.

When I tried to start it it felt like it was running a cylinder short. Also, black smoke from the exhaust, smells like burnt oil. The coolant bottle is dry. I'm wondering if this points to a bad head gasket.

I have never worked on an I5 or on a turbo engine. I don't think I5 is that different from an I4, though.

What says the collective wisdom here? Worth fixing or too much trouble? What pitfalls could I be in for? What else can I check without actually doing work on the car?

I would like to add, the ETM can make the car feel as if it's running a few cylinders less, and also- it can make the car run rich(black smoke)
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Jake

You never see all the problems on the first look
access to cheap used parts is essential.
good Luck

If it were me, I'd run. Partly because the '99 and '01 are the worst cars Volvo has made in probably 30 years. The electric throttle had issues in '99 and the transmission (assuming auto, which I think in '99 was all the XC came in, but I could be wrong..) tends to crap out early. Now, a great deal is a great deal, so I understand what you're saying...

Now as to the problem. Not sure if its head gasket, could be a problem in the turbo letting some oil into the combustion chamber, some burning some fouling. The black smoke is from it running too rich. For some reason I tend to expect sweet smelling exhaust (color varies depending on what else is burning of course..) from a blown head gasket. Could also be a bad ring, hence the feeling of one cylinder down (bad seal allows oil up, and can't hold enough pressure to get a good stroke..)

If I had to guess the coolant bottle being empty isn't a huge deal. I'd guess its a small hole in the plastic of the radiator that the PO hasn't maintained. Given the overall shape of the car I'd expect maintaining isn't a priority. You could check the oil for milkshake.
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If you're not driving it "like its stolen," are you really driving?

Looked at the oil - no milkshake there. Not exactly fresh, but clear. There is also some evidence of the upper rad hose leaking where it is attached to the water neck.

As to the cylinder, I've been wondering if that's no gas/no spark thing, but I suppose there is no way to tell what it really is without pulling a spark plug and/or throwing a compression gauge on the cylinder.

Iwanna is still fighting common sense here.

I probably was a bit harsh. It could be a lot less (rad hose, bad plugs, bad oil filler gasket, fixing would cost under $50 and an hours labor.) but some say I'm a pessimist. I disagree, of course, thinking that if I prepare for the worst case, I can always be pleasantly surprised when its not the case.

The ETM has a huge fail rate, sending it to xemodex is about $500 (last I checked) and they fix it forever. Trannies are crapshoots, but proper maintenance should help it live long.


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If you're not driving it "like its stolen," are you really driving?

Not all good deals are good. The I5 is totally different than the red block I4 when you try to pull it apart to replace a gasket.

The overflow bottle being empty is a sign that the engine probably overheated, and the aluminum blocks don't like that.

Sure, you could get lucky and only have to replace the radiator and a bad coil. But, you will probably have no compression in one cyl, need a new ETM, a new radiator and hoses, a questionable tranny, bevel gear problems, ...

If you really need a car, spend $1,000 more and get one that has been maintained. If you don't NEED awd, find a V70 for fewer headachs and a lower cost.

Klaus
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Always willing to listen, just not able to take direction.

I dithered long enough for someone else to buy it.

I don't need AWD. Would have been nice to have. And the car was pretty. And who doesn't want a pretty Volvo wagon? And it was only $750.

I have a car to drive right now. 740 is up on blocks pending transmission filter and timing belt. Once I get that done it's going to my mother in law, her 240 just got wrecked.

Hey, that means I have a perfectly good red block with another half a million miles to go. I can stick that into a V70, can't I? :D

All I really want is a slightly newer wagon. Bells and whistles, and fewer scratches.

You didn't loose it, the $750 is parts car price and that is what it was worth. If you just want a newer wagon, look for a 1994-1998. Without an overheated engine! The XC up to 2003 isn't worth its weight in straw.

Klaus
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Always willing to listen, just not able to take direction.