V70XC Engine Question

[Ewiskow]

Hello, I am considering buying a 1999 V70XC with the 2.5 litre turbo. I was wondering if the engine is an interference type, where the valves will hit the piston in the event of a broken timing belt. Also, what is the average cost of a timing belt replacement. Any info will be greatly appreciated, Thanks

[cossie1600]

$312 for a timing belt replacement at the dealer.

yes, valves will go if it snaps

[Edmonds17]

The timing belt isn't your biggest problem.

The '99-01 XC's have defective throttle bodies. These devices, called "ETM's," wear out sometime after 50,000 mi. and must be replaced by a dealer for about $1,000+ each time. They are so bad that Volvo has recently extended the warranty on the ETM's to 10 yr./200,000 mi. Volvo puts in a new defective ETM and you wait for the defect to happen again.

The ETM defect causes the engine to die with little, if any, advance warning. Sometimes it can be restarted, sometimes not. You have to be hauled or "limp-in" to a Volvo dealership, even if it is hundreds of miles away. I can tell you from personal experience that limping-in even 20 miles with a mis-firing engine going about 30 mph. is no fun.

The '98's and earlier use different technology. They are not defective. My suggestion is that you look for a '98 or earlier Volvo.

You can read all about the defective ETM's at this web-site or any other web-site that discusses '99-'01 Volvos.

Edmonds17

[Tyrant11429]

If I was going to buy another first generation XC I'd buy a 2000 again besides the etm and abs problem, I'm still happy with my car, I was thinking of getting the dual exhaust kit and ecu upgrade,has anyone here changed there factory downpipe on there 98-00 XC with the aftermarket performance one ? wonder if they are any side effects ?

[cossie1600]

Get the 222hp model, the XC is not fast enough. To make matters worse, the lack of power in the 2.4L turbo makes the tranny feel even more stupid.

[Tyrant11429]

I wanted to step up my XC so I can get some power with a ecu upgrade, iridum plugs, better air filter purhaps cone, better exhaust than the one I did, and purhaps a down pipe, would give my car is little more balls, but a friend of mine said ecu upgrade will mess up the transmission, so I don't know what I wanna do. Plus my car has 144,500 miles

[2000 XCR'r]

Don't worry about the transmission, unless you go for the down pipe option.
I installed the ECU upgrade, and soon to install the dual exhaust.
At about 240+/- hp, when I'm done with all the modifications, the transmission is fine. BSR, where I bought the ECU upgrade doesn't recommend installing the downpipe because the viscous coupler on the transmission is not built to handle that sort of addl. horsepower.
They offer the downpipe, along with the other mod's on the V70R only, I
guess because the guts of the transmission are capable of handling the increase in power.

[Tyrant11429]

Lol thanks man I feel a whole lot better about my whip :(

[Rabbit]

Don't worry about the transmission, unless you go for the down pipe option.
I installed the ECU upgrade, and soon to install the dual exhaust.
At about 240+/- hp, when I'm done with all the modifications, the transmission is fine. BSR, where I bought the ECU upgrade doesn't recommend installing the downpipe because the viscous coupler or the transmission is not built to handle that sort of addl. horsepower.
They offer the downpipe, along with the other mod's on the V70R only, I
guess because the guts of the transmission are capable of handling the increase in power.

:confused: The V70R has a much more powerful engine that can be built up to even higher HP - It has the same Viscous Coupler that the 1999-2000 XC's have.
Something doesn't sound quite right here. How is it the V70R Viscous Coupler can handle the additional HP, but the V70XC can't? :confused: I think you meant to say the transmission was the weak link - not necessarily the VC. Correct me if I am mistaken - which does happen occasionally..... :D

[Tyrant11429]

DOn't the 98-00 v70r's have the 5 spd stick or auto stick ? Be nice if they offered a 5 spd auto instead of the 4 spd on the 98-00 XC

[cossie1600]

V70R comes with standard

[Tyrant11429]

Yeah I know they come in stick, but they also come in 5sp automatic too. They should have offered a better tranny in the XC