Volvo C70 2.0Diesel Convertible,auto

[3cav3]

Heres one Ive been meaning to upload for a while, and since i'm laid up with Covid I thought now would be as good a time as any.

Its a 2011 Volvo, ex demo plus one owner from new with Full Volvo Service History. Loaded with every posible option and only 63k on the clock. Always missed the mk1 that I had before apart from its horendous thirst for fuel(18mpg compard to this ones 40+mpg).
Lovely car that has only needed an engine mount and and o-ring on the oil filter housing since purchase. I also treated it to a cambelt and waterpump.
After winter is out the way i would ideally like to get the wheels refurbed as although in very good condition, a couple do have very light kerbing.
It is scary as to how much electronics are fitted as there isnt even a dipstick, just a guage which is read off one of the menus on the dashboard!

best free image uploading site

[Robsey]

40 mpg is still quite low for a diesel, but then you are carrying round half of a Volvo spares "toys and gadgets" department.
Volvos have always been big, heavy, thirsty beasts, so not bad in the grander scheme of things.

I presume you get all the humour about a Convertible in the UK climate. Although climate change will improve things for you in that score.

[3cav3]

40 mpg is still quite low for a diesel, but then you are carrying round half of a Volvo spares "toys and gadgets" department.
Volvos have always been big, heavy, thirsty beasts, so not bad in the grander scheme of things.

I presume you get all the humour about a Convertible in the UK climate. Although climate change will improve things for you in that score.

To be honest for a big,heavy automatic thats pushing out 150bhp I thought 40mpg was quite good. On the same roads the Jag used to do low 30's but towards the end I think the dpf might of been failing.
My 2 mark 5 astra vans on the same work used to do 42 and48,the lower mpg being caused by all the emission strangling on the euro 5 compared to the older euro4
On a long run Im guessing the fuel consumption in the Volvo will be much better.
I've had a few comments about a convertible in Britain's climate, however I like to feel the wind in my bald patch as I drive along. I spend a lot of my working day outside so guess I've got used to the fresh air.
I've already had a group of teenagers asking what make it really was as Volvo only makes old farts cars. I personally like Volvos as until a couple of years ago I tended to drive a lot miles every year and have found they withstand it better than most, plus Volvo seats are amongst the comfiest that I've ever sat in. Plus even a low spec one,tends to have lots of toys.
Next job on this car will be to change the gearbox oil. Volvo states its sealed for life, however reading on the forums that life can be grately increased by changing, only problem is I really need to get hold of Volvo Vida software to do it properly or pay a specialist to do it.

[3cav3]

After already owning this car for nearly 12months im pleased to say that it passed its Mot yesterday with no prep work or any advisories.
However the frosty weather has turned up one major design flaw with this car. When the door closes the windows automatically slot up into the roof and when you pull the door handle they drop about an inch to alow the door to open. When it drops below freezing the window freezes into place so you can't get into the car. Not good if you don't own a heated garage!

[Robsey]

I would have thought that our Swedish friends would have more frost than us...
But then we have a damper climate.

Have you tried a silicone spray or vaseline perhaps on the sealing strips to minimise moisture retention.

They used to sell tent moisture guard protection to stop tent fabric absorbing rain water... I wonder if that would help.

Congratulations on the pass.
12 months of happy motoring ahead .

[3cav3]

I'm wondering if anyone has any suggestions. On Friday I took this car out and had a message flash up on the dashboard stating Headlight failure service required, but all the headlights appear to be coming on. Looking on forums there's been lots of suggestions, but nothing concrete. One suggested changing the battery, - which i have had suspicions about for a couple of months. Changing it this morning( a mammoth task in itself, which included removing the stut brace and other things). Has improved the keyless start and gear change, so probably was a bit down, but the warning keeps returning, abeit a bit longer than before.
No fault codes are stored in the ecu. I can't even see the back of the headlights to lubricate with wd40.

[Robsey]

It is possible that one of the bulbs is "on the way out".
Not very common, but I have previously had intermittent warnings on our Vectra, until the bulb failed completely a few weeks later.

The CAN based bulb warnings are very sensitive to variation from an expected operating voltage or resistance range.

As suggested, a weak battery can allow test voltages to drop too low, inferring an open circuit.

But also as you indicate - corroded connector pins can also push up the circuit resistance which lowers the reference voltage through the bulb circuit.

[3cav3]

I've been having a chat with a mechanic that I know this afternoon. Apparently its almost certainly caused by a failed position sensor on one of the shock absorbers. Just got to find someone who has Volvo Vida to talk to the car or replace all four at around £250 a corner! This reminds me why I hate electronics so much!

[chrisp]

I wonder why a failed shock absorber position sensor would trigger a headlight failure message? Seems bizarre, but I guess car electronics are increasingly bizarre!

[3cav3]

This car has xenon headlights that turn with the steering. Apparently if a position sensor is not giving a correct reading then the car adopts a fail safe headlight position of pointing down at the road, seems like totally over the top technology for the sake of it. The only other item than can cause supposedly is the ballast failing on the back of the headlights wiring, (almost never is)but this involves several hours dismantling to even gain access, hence the need for Vida. I'm wondering though if one of the more expensive code readers available on ebay might talk to the car? Does anyone know?
All four lights are still illuminated ,just not pointing in the right place.

[3cav3]

It turns out a friend of mine has the dogs bollocks code reader, after getting loads of spurious codes then on the second check they disappeared bar the headlight one. The cause is indeed a sensor on the o/s front anti roll bar link, the cost ? At least £250-300 for the part, plus a tyre is getting close on the back. Now I normally always replace tyres in axle sets, but have you seen how much tyres have gone up recently? In 18" a good one is £150-£170,and also to top it all a major service is also due,this car is starting to get expensive! Let's just hope it doesn't need anything else for the mot next month.

[Robsey]

I think all automotive stuff is silly expensive these days.

Unless you wish to throw good money at Chinese copied tat.
Sadly, the car companies have us by the short and curlies.

I rarely find a visit to the garage costs less than £400 a pop.
But the cost of a decent replacement car is almost like the cost of buying a small holiday home.
Not quite, but you know what I mean. Silly money.

[3cav3]

I reckon I'm not going to get much change out of £700, when I used to use cavs as my daily driver, I never used to spend that much buying the whole car, sadly I think those days are long gone.

[3cav3]

After calling in a favour or two ive managed to source a sensor for £140. Just waiting for a dry day to fit it now.
Went to pick up my wife from work, and thought I detected a little vibration driving the last mile. Looked round and found the one tire totally flat. Tried to undo the wheel nuts to put the spare on but couldn't shift them, so resorted to the tyre inflator with the tub of tyre sealant, it hardly went up. Thought it might just be enough to nurse it to the unit but half a mile up the road I gave up. Called the AA and they said they'd be 2 hours, I thought great that means more like 3 hours going on previous experience. But to be fair the patrol arrived early and I was back on the road in under an hour from the call. The pirrelli tyre had ruptured completely in 2 places, with the wire bursting open,always thought they were supposed to be a good make? But this one has failed like a cheap Chinese remold. I know there wasn't much tread left but it was still legal last week when I checked.
Next time I'm at the unit all 4 wheels will be removed and copper slipped,I have also ordered a long wheel brace already, as I felt wrong to call them out just to change a wheel.

[3cav3]

The mot came round before I realised, only failed on a split driveshaft gaitor and an advisory on a rear number plate light. Not to bad for a 13 year old car. However when you factor in the cost of a tyre, headlight sensor, a new driveshaft, even though it wasn't mentioned on the mot the car had developed a bad vibration under acceleration, - somehow i had missed the gaitor splitting. Also add to that a service, plus the tax is due the end of the month, I've somehow ended up spending over a grand on a car with almost nothing wrong with it! Roll on the summer time when I can get the car out for some long distance topless cruising.

[Robsey]

I tend to expect about £300 to £400 per car at MOT time.
Not cheap, but cheaper than getting a new car.

Topless cruising -
sadly you are the wrong gender for that image in my head...

Apologies, that is me being a potential letch.

[3cav3]

I tend to expect about £300 to £400 per car at MOT time.
Not cheap, but cheaper than getting a new car.

Topless cruising -
sadly you are the wrong gender for that image in my head...

Apologies, that is me being a potential letch.

Guessed I was asking for a comment like that, lol. Normally I expect to only spend about a £100 or less for the mot . The bill for the volvo was a bit of a shocker but I guess I could of cut it down a bit doing the work myself, but with the service a ramp was really required, as theres not even a dipstick on this car., and the driveshaft would of passed the mot but was getting awful to drive
Taking it for a spin it was back to its old self so is money well spent, even though the amount was a bit eye watering. Let's hope next year the costs go back to normal as I only do around 5k a year as its really just a fancy toy used on weekends and evenings, and I use my very, very noisy van( the gearbox really can't last much longer) for work.

[3cav3]

Last night I pulled into a lay by and there was a crater aka pot hole so deep that it took out my front wheel and tyre. My son was due home in the next half hour plus my wife was stuck at work which I explained to the AA ( the car is too low to get a jack under it) and they said they would make it a priority case, - by the time I got recovered it was almost 3 hours later, I'd hate to see what a non priority rescue would be! Lets not forget this took place on the main A465 between a major town and city, its not like it happened in the middle of nowhere!
I'm now going to photograph the pothole and try and claim off the council as there is clearly Parking signs at the entrance and exit to the lay by. Plus the wheel is obsolete and very rare, non appear to be available even second hand so I may have to end up buying a different set of 4 and tyres, its not going to be cheap, after the amount I'm charged in road and fuel tax plus the stupid increase yet again in council tax I dont see why I should pay. Not happy at all!

[Robsey]

I suppose they thought that as you were in a layby, you were in a safe location.
Low risk.

You really are having a hard time of it.
Hopefully your luck will change soon.

[3cav3]

I hope things start to change for the better soon. Life seems to be way to hard at the moment. My wifes job situation is getting worse, but she's now got some more interviews coming up i can only hope.
It wasnt myself that I was thinking about, it was the fact that my son was going to be home on his own at night that made me feel it was a priority, he's at the age where being at home for an hour or so is ok but not much longer. Everytime I have to call the AA out I cringe at how long its going to take them, over 5 hours so far is their record on a very hot day with a black labrador in the car that she was starting to overheat, I ended up having to get a neighbour that day to come and collect the dog and take her home to some shade and water.
The AA charge me the best part of £500 a year, for what I feel is a very second rate service, I often go years with out calling them out but after Thursday night I will now be looking at different providers. Any suggestions?

[Robsey]

Green flag only get you home, they do not normally fix cars by the road side unless it is an easy fix.

There aren't many other options...
RAC - I was with them in the 90s.
They were quite prompt, but didn't always diagnose my issue properly.

One chap told me that my Maestro 1275 A+ engine was worn, because it was smokey - over-fuelling
Turned out it was a faulty (new) vacuum controlled enrichment valve.
I diagnosed and replaced it myself.

But saying that, the AA haven't always been right either.
Once diagnosing a mis-fire as an EGR fault.
Again repaired it myself after diagnosing a buggered injector No3 connector / wiring issue.

With the AA you do have to phone them every year, otherwise they will hike the premiums up, and up, and up.

Just like you do with house / car insurance
and mobile / broadband prividers.

[Envoy CDX]

They are all much of a muchness, and I am finding the AA very poor and contracting out alot at the minute speaking to different people who've called them out recently.

Last one was about a month ago, broke down on the a19, technician came out, looked then drove off no recovery sent, had to limp the car home (not mine, but it's still the same thing really).

Spiralling motoring costs is starting to become a pain I know that much amongst other things, but 500 a year? That's obscene! I am going to assume that is multiple vehicles?

[Robsey]

Even multiple vehicles shouldn't cost that.

I moan at £200 a year with the AA, but that covers any vehicle that me or the wife are in.
Not the cars themself.
RAC ramp there prices up if you call them out more than once or twice a year.

[3cav3]

Ive got any vehicle plus cover my wife, home start, roadside and relay. I find that you can halve the cost if you remember to ring and threaten to cancel the policy, but with so much going on I forgot. Years ago their time was often around an hour, but I've recently even had them saying that they would be at least an hour to answer the phone!
About 3 years ago my wife had to abandon her car at dinner time, I rang them and said I couldn't get out there until 6.30, could they meet me there then, yes the said, 9pm they turned up! I'm so fed up that next year I will be cancelling.