Hey everyone,
I recently bought a 1998 S70 base model with 58k miles. Ive noticed when I first start driving it in the morning there is a faint rattling noise coming from what sounds like the front bumper area. But after driving a couple miles the noise will disappear as if it never existed. It doesnt sound like a suspension problem. More like a loose body part or maybe a heavy gauge wire or some type of line slapping against something. I know im sort of taking a shot in the dark here but I was hoping someone else might have experience with something like this. Its the wierdest thing. I can hear it plain as day one minute, then a mile down the road theres no noise whatsoever. Any ideas? Thanks in advance y'all.

Matt

I have the same noise on my 1998 S70 T5. I have been chasing it down for some time and I can usually find the source of almost any noise on this car.

My current hypothesis is that the noise is coming from the front left hood latch mechanism. I have noticed that there is some play on the corners of hood...it's not held down completely fast to the corner latches. Equally there is no rubber adjustment under the hood with which to raise the hood so as to catch the latch more firmly. At low speeds on a slightly rough blacktop is when I have heard the rattle that you described (so well).

When closed the hood is resting on the plastic cowling, locked in the center and latched at the corners. I reckon the corners are flexing up and down in their respective latches and creating the noise we are writing about here.

I plan to secure the latches and remove all of the motion between the hood and the front of the car and listen to find out if the noise is eliminated.

Under normal driving I imagine that the hood is pressed down onto the cowling by the pressure of the air-mass moving over the hood.

Back to you...

Clive
San Diego

I have had the same noise for over 3 years (not the air pump), but rather a rattle that comes and goes and differs day to day. Had Volvo dealer look at it three times. No joy. Many people here have the same noises from the front-end. Seems to be an S70 gremlin....
Good luck, and PLEASE post if you find the solution.

Yeah, it really is the craziest thing. Its just a rattle that sounds like its coming from the front of the car on the drivers side, and its either there or its not. Ive never heard a noise come and go like this, its very frustrating as you probably know.

There is a pump under the battery that runs while the engine
is cold. They can be a bit noisy (and somewhat problematic).
See:

http://www.volvospeed.com/Repair/airpump1.htm