I bought this 01 v70xc the end of last summer and it's been a good little car that I enjoyed till the water pump locked up and made the engine jump time. It bent the valves in in number one cylinder. So I've had the head removed at a local shop that I like to use for larger repairs. They got everything back together in good shape but it doesn't quite run like it did before head removal. Little harder to start and there is a slight hesitation upon excelleration. Has even died on me a couple of times at stop signs but not always. Runs smooth at idle in neutral but if the transmition is engaged it starts the rough idle. All advise will be appreciated. Thanks Bruce

I did get the car back to them along with the messages from you all on Monday morning. They kept it for the rest of the week and then checked the timing and everything looked good to them. For some reason they replaced the cam re-set valve, that's what they called it. I don't know how they came up with the idea that needed to be changed out but it did seem to make the rough idle problem better so I paid them some more and drove it off and have put three hundred miles or so on it since then. About half the time it starts nice and runs good but the other half the time it doesn't. At idle, in gear it will run rough and on those occations it misses when the motor is not accelorating. When it gets caught up with itself. You can feel it miss just a little. When it's running rough I've also noticed the lights pulsating just a little. It's better but not just right yet. I would like to make sure this small problem will not do more damage if I drive it or if it's just an inconvenance to me. I need to drive it this weekend on a long trip if it's okay. Thanks very much

You need to check the timing marks. People not used to VVT may get the timing off.
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My back feels better when I sit in a Volvo seat

Alright Klaus, They're not familiar at all and I'll pass this information on, thanks so much!

Standard DIY procedure is to align the 3 marks, turn clockwise for 90 degrees and then back to the marks. This takes the pressure off the VVT.

You had the head removed, so I wonder if they hooked up the VVT solenoid correctly - assuming they did not remove the front sprockets from the cams.

If the VVT cams were removed, then there is a set procedure to re-install them with the correct tension.
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My back feels better when I sit in a Volvo seat

I haven't gotten the car back over to the shop yet. I am writin all this information down to give to the guy that did the work. I'll do that Monday morning. I do appriceate the feedback though! He is a good mechanic and person so I do have hopes of a good running car again. Your replys are going to help him.

Keep in mind that the timing marks may be spot on, but if they didn't get the sprockets back onto the cams exactly right they will be lost until they go back to square one and utilize an alignment tool to get it all synch'd up properly.

My first question to them would be "Did you detach the sprockets from the cams?" If they say "Yes" I would then ask them by what method did they re-align them.