how to assess 4wd on prospective purchase
 

Im viewing a 2004 xc70 soon, d5 geartronic
how do I tell if the 4wd kit is working properly

?

Private or dealer purchase?
Dealer - have them put it up on a lift, start it, put it in gear and see if they all turn. CAREFULLY try to stop the rear wheels with your hands, one person each side, you shouldn't be able to. Then do the same test as below.

Private - turn off traction control. Ideally you want gravel / wet grass / snow for the next bit: put it in D and floor it from standstill. If you get lots of wheelspin and sit there it's not working, a bit of spin and then you rocket off and it is. Similar results if you can find a low speed greasy roundabout, TC off, and give it full throttle as you exit, you shouldn't get massive understeer, it should dig in and go.
Be a bit careful though, you might be buying this car, you don't want to wreck it ;)

FSH is no guarantee, it's not something that's checked on service even by the stealers.
2004 is a Haldex car so not quite as fussy about it's tyres, but beware if they're different makes front to rear, and they really should all be the same model and wear for best reliability.
The most common part to go is the splined coupling between the gear box and the angle gear, about a hundred quid part, but five hundred quid in labour to change it. these wear out with miles no matter how the car is looked after.
Next it's the angle gear itself (which is the bit that dies if the tyres are too different front to rear) and will cost over a grand in parts....

Don't forget to check the auto box for oil colour and see if it's ever been changed. Not an XC specific thing, but the auto's don't like dirty oil.

Have a search on the general P2 forum for what to look for, plenty of threads on the subject, a 2004 XC 70 is basically a V70 with added bits so all buying tips apply :)

Good luck ;)

On a XC90 which I think has the same drive arrangement as XC70 see if you can get underneath and if the propshaft can be turned the drive sleeve has gone and if it has been left for a while possibility of the angle box having stripped as well and needs replacement approx. £1500 all in cost

thanks chaps, will be seeing it tomorrow, wish me luck :)

how do you do this?
ive got a v70x on an 00 plate.

Press the DTSC/STC button to the left of the cigarette lighter socket. See p19 in the manual: http://esd.volvocars.com/site/owners..._EN_tp6726.pdf

I dont have this button. infact I only have one which is the internal alarm sensor thing

Up to about 2005 the button was down there, on my '07 it's now an option from the stalk like MPG etc.
If you haven't got the button then I have no idea! ;)

Since I had my AWD repaired, I haven't persuaded my XC to wheelspin once. Before it used to spin them for fun