Start of my V70 journey - advice appreciated!

[mattyt1991]

I guess you could say I have slightly peculiar taste in cars for a 32 year old. My previous favourite car was a 2008 Lexus IS250 and now this is pretty much my dream car, a big old Volvo estate, doesn't get any better in my eyes!

I started a thread last week when I was looking at buying one. I have bought it and I bloody love it, it is a 2005 D5 Manual 163 "black top" engine. It is in very decent condition for the age and mileage (156k), I paid £2k. Maybe I over paid but the used car market is nuts at the moment.

I am sure I will be starting a number of threads like this one as I really want to look after this tank, I would like to drive it for as long as you are allowed to drive lovely diesels like this in this country!

There are a few possible possible issues with it at the moment. First there is a whining noise when I rev it over 1500rpm, it doesn't seem to affect how it pulls or anything but it is there. Here is a video, would really appreciate it if anyone could tell me what that might be:

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ym1MWBsBb88

The next one is that when I am turning the car I can sometimes feel the steering wheel twitch in the opposite direction, so if I am turning left occasionally the steering will pull ever so slightly to the right, it doesn't make me change course at all but it happens. Doesn't seem to be any strange noises when turning on full lock.

The driver's side electric mirror doesn't move at all, luckily I have a good view where it is stuck, any ideas where/how to start with that?

I have to pull the handbrake very tight to engage and then it rolls about half a foot before engaging if I park on a hill (I am leaving it in gear when I park up!). Just need an adjustment or could be more than that?

Other than that it drives beautifully. It has a stage 1 remap by Celtic Tuning to take the bhp to 204. Should I be concerned about that? I will get it serviced every 10k miles/year.

There are a few tatty bits on the interior which I would like to smarten up. I have ordered what looks like the right seat belt keeper from eBay for a fiver.

Any advice on tidying up that centre console, and where to get that interior door handle from?

I am taking it to a Volvo independent specialist next week for a service and inspection, I am prepared for a big bill, praying it is below £2k.

The timing belt, water pump and drive belt have been done recently (parts supplied by Gates), as have the clutch and DMF (Genuine Volvo parts). I am going to specifically as the mechanic to inspect and probably just replace the rear handbrake shoes as have read they can delaminate and lock up (I will occasionally have my child in this car). Any idea how much that should cost at a specialist?

Anything else you would have them inspect?

I am keen to learn to do some bits on this car myself but don't have a drive or anywhere to store tools at the moment so I am at the mercy of mechanics.

I really want to make this a lovely example so will keep posting progress pics and trying to learn from you guys on here.

Here are some more photos (I hope they don't come out massive like last time!).

[Simmy]

hi matt list of things to do or check. handbrake shoes genuine volvo only anyting else willjust be a waste of your money and may make your handbrake worse. 2 new fuel filter 3 dont replace the water pump with any thing other than genuine volvo make sure your battery is good . you wont push a v70 far. iv had mine 8yrs and have done all the things on this list car is now at 246k and is running well and still on the original gearbox preventative maintainance is the key ps your photos need resizeing it makes it difficult to view the post good luck with your new car

[mattyt1991]

Thanks Simmy

Fuel filter was replaced less than a year ago. Timing belt and water pump done in 2021 with a Gates timing belt kit (have the receipt in the history), does a Gates kit get forum approval? Battery is quite new. It is a manual so no need for auto box fluid change. Not sure when the manual fluid was changed though.

How do I change the size of the photos!?

Originally Posted by Simmy

hi matt list of things to do or check. handbrake shoes genuine volvo only anyting else willjust be a waste of your money and may make your handbrake worse. 2 new fuel filter 3 dont replace the water pump with any thing other than genuine volvo make sure your battery is good . you wont push a v70 far. iv had mine 8yrs and have done all the things on this list car is now at 246k and is running well and still on the original gearbox preventative maintainance is the key

[stuart bowes]

Originally Posted by mattyt1991

How do I change the size of the photos!?

Open in Microsoft paint, click resize, change percentages to about 30, save, reupload

Other options are available but if you're on a pc that's probably the easiest

[stuart bowes]

The handbrake roll is totally normal, they allowed excessive amounts of tolerance on the brake back plate between stopper and handbrake shoe, so yes the whole assembly twists left and right before it hits the stoppers. There was probably some reason behind their thinking but the end result is that slightly unnerving rollback before stopping

You get used to it

99% of parts can be found on ebay if you use vida or scandix to get the part number then just be patient and search regularly you'll probably find one

you might end up having to buy a whole door card to get that one part I'm afraid but who knows you might get lucky there

[mattyt1991]

Originally Posted by stuart bowes

Open in Microsoft paint, click resize, change percentages to about 30, save, reupload

Other options are available but if you're on a pc that's probably the easiest

I think I have found a way to do it now!? are they now an acceptable size?

Also - just seen the timing belt kit was a Gates one, not a Volvo OEM one, this is a good quality component though I think right?

[stuart bowes]

Originally Posted by mattyt1991

I think I have found a way to do it now!? are they now an acceptable size?

Also - just seen the timing belt kit was a Gates one, not a Volvo OEM one, this is a good quality component though I think right?

Yeah size looks good now

[stuart bowes]

I'd say the handbrake is a sort of medium difficulty job somewhere between changing normal brake pads and discs and changing the wishbones which on these cars is a surprisingly difficult / time consuming job

The worst thing really is fiddling with all the little springs and getting things all fitted correctly, if you do it definitely worth doing it all at the same time, I did all round new discs and pads (Brembo) complete fluid change, new handbrake shoes and all new springs (oem), new cables (random aftermarket ones), new expanders and I added the adjusters as well, I didn't do the short piece by the handbrake lever but all things considered to be honest you might as well because it's cheap and could be slightly stretched

I think the main thing is, with your handbrake on Does it need more than 3 or 4 clicks and is the adjuster up front nearly all the way tightened up if so then really it's time to do the replacement

On nearly flat 1 click should be enough to stop a slow roll at the lights, 2 clicks for general use and 3 or 4 clicks on a hill (although having an auto I do also use P as well obviously)

[Simmy]

Originally Posted by stuart bowes

The handbrake roll is totally normal, they allowed excessive amounts of tolerance on the brake back plate between stopper and handbrake shoe, so yes the whole assembly twists left and right before it hits the stoppers. There was probably some reason behind their thinking but the end result is that slightly unnerving rollback before stopping

You get used to it

99% of parts can be found on ebay if you use vida or scandix to get the part number then just be patient and search regularly you'll probably find one

you might end up using to buy a whole door card to get that one part I'm afraid but who knows you might get lucky there

roll back with hand brake can be minimised by fitting the optional adjusters . some say and argue the point that they are not needed but its up to the owner if they want to fit them. make your own choice. the older the car is means it will have more wear on the block on the back plate of the hub these can become quite worn.

[stuart bowes]

Steering issues I guess start by looking at the alignment (any unusual tyre wear?) and maybe the wishbone bushes? I wouldn't say that sounds like normal behaviour so there may be some minor issue to deal with there

I also took mine in for a proper specialist check / timing belt / oil change and full service, it was about 800 quid in the end but it felt like it was worth doing at least once

Your price sounds decent mine was over 4k but to be fair it was pretty much mint and only on about 50k I just sat in it and got a good gut feeling about it so I bought it