Thinking of getting a 2004 V70

[mark2410]

what things should i bee looking out for, any known things that can be issues, engine is a d5 the 163bhp version

thoughts?

[Bashy]

If its auto, make them aware you need to drive it for at least 20 mins or 10 mins giving it some stick through the semi auto gears, i.e hold it in the gear longer, this is so that it gets up to temp quicker, NOT engine temp, gearbox temp, only then will you know if the auto box is ok, if it jolts in any of the gears inc reverse, thats a major check too, if it does, walk away...

[Brendan W]

Check for fluid leaks from the bottom of the bellhousing, if manual could be the clutch slave.
See that all of the displays on the DIM are present and clear. Restart the motor after leaving it stand for five minutes hot. Cracked solder sometimes rears it head when the temperature behind the dash rises.
If the clutch is original it's probably on it's last legs. Accelerate hard from 40mph in fourth or fifth. Setting cruise control to 60mph and then disengaging and resume from 40mph will do the same.
Check the exhaust hanger at the back box. They corrode.
Check that the aux belt tensioner pulley is quite still at idle. If you can see movement here without having to peer at it there is something wrong like an alternator pulley.

[Bernard333]

I have had a 2003 V70 D5 manual from new, its had dogs abuse and somehow its still going strong over 200,000 miles with cheapest oil changed infrequently cheap filters etc, the things that have gone wrong like fuel pump and rotting steel coolant pipe caused lots of hassle but have cost very little to fix. I would buy another Euro 3 V70 D5 in preference to anything more recent if I could find one with low mileage but there are not many available, they are simple and easy to work on compared to everything that came afterwards.

[Kev0607]

D5's are brilliant engines, but like anything, they need to be maintained. Check the service history to see what has been done & what hasn't.

Items to check:

1. Ensure that the timing belt has been replaced (Check paperwork). If not, get it replaced as soon as.

2. Check that the auxilliary belt & tensioner have been replaced (Check paperwork). As above, replace them if not.

3. If its an auto, as mentioned earlier, check that there's no hard shifting. If you do purchase the car & there's no record of the transmission fluid being changed, then its probably best to replace it anyway.

4. Vaccuum leaks - A common issue on the euro 3 engines. When the car is running, take the oil filler cap off & listen for a loud popping sound (This indicates a vacuum leak that will need to be investigated). The euro 3 engine uses a vacuum pump, which supplies vacuum to various parts via hoses such as the turbo control valve, engine mounts, the boost solenoid, turbo actuator & brake booster. Vacuum leaks can cause all sorts of issues like turbo overboosting etc, so check for that popping sound I mentioned. If you do hear a popping noise, there's some kind of vacuum leak somewhere in the system. It could be anything from the vacuum engine mounts themselves leaking, or any of the pipework leading to the parts mentioned above may be perished in the hot engine bay over the years & as a result could be losing vacuum.

[mark2410]

thanks for all the input, but i think im not going to buy it, mostly because getting a v70 is only marginally more spacious over the v50 i have and having 2 old estates seems stupid. Even if the extra space would be very handy every now and then.

That said, i still kinda want it.