Good work from the home tinkerer.
This almost 23 year old V70 goes to the Volvo dealer every year. No, not for services or repairs, but only for the MOT. Owner and self-taught Wim Beudeker does all the maintenance himself, including replacing the dual-mass flywheel and checking the valve clearance. And the IT specialist has programmed a nice surprise for judge Joep Schuurman!
The fact that Wim Beudeker is an extremely thoughtful type is evident from the way he prepares himself to carry out a major job. For example, the IT specialist created a complete manual with photos and images for replacing the dual-mass flywheel. Only after thorough study is the toolbox opened and the job started. It goes even further. For example, adjusting the valves is a difficult job with this five-cylinder. It would be useful to practice this first at your leisure. How? By buying a complete motorcycle from a scrap yard. Real! “Such an engine does not cost much, as there is virtually no demand for them, because they never break down. For me the ideal way to gain some experience. Then it was a piece of cake to do it on my own car. That is to say: checking it. Setting up is a craft, but that too was successful. There used to be a valve lubrication system in connection with the gas installation, but I removed that. Since then I have had no more problems with the throttle body, which caused the engine to go into limp mode. I buy all parts from the Volvo dealer, where I now have a close relationship with the warehouseman. I only go to the car parts wholesaler for the spark plugs, because I use a type that is specially suitable for an engine that runs on LPG.”
Ten V70s with this letter combination
A V70 like this forms a good basis for a long-term relationship, as we know from experience. Was that the main reason for Wim to choose a Volvo? “After sixteen years of leasing cars, I finally had the chance to choose something nice and I have always thought this was a nice car. There were already more than 350,000 kilometers on the clock when purchased and the gas system was installed at odometer reading 100,000. A fun fact about this license plate is that ten units with this letter combination and ascending numbers were delivered at the time, probably to a leasing company. Eight of them are still running. The seller where I bought it said it is a strong car and he was absolutely right. At the time of the purchase, I still worked a lot in Utrecht and Delft and sometimes drove up to 80,000 kilometers a year, but now that is much less. In addition to regular maintenance and repairs, I have made the necessary upgrades, such as a leather interior, including an electrically adjustable driver’s seat and seat heating. That all works too. I post many of my experiences on the Volvo forum and have found a lot of useful information there myself. What I honestly admit is that tinkering takes a lot of time. Yet it is also extremely satisfying and fortunately there is always a Lancia Ypsilon at the door, so we are always mobile.”
Known V70 problem: leaking heater radiator
A well-known problem with the V70 (and many older cars) is leakage in the heater radiator. It is often located under the dashboard and in this case it must be removed completely for the procedure. “I smelled the coolant in the car and knew almost immediately what was going on. After I had read up a bit and knew what the cause of the leak could be, I got to work. Removed the passenger seat so I could lie flat with my head under the dashboard. After replacing a few rings the leakage was resolved and so far things are going well.”
Wim is handy with reading equipment
As mentioned, Wim is quite handy with computers and with the reading equipment of his V70 he can not only use all systems, but he can also make adjustments himself. “Don’t forget to look in the left display,” he says to Joep with a broad grin before the test drive starts. We walk outside and after Joep has switched on the ignition, the text ‘Good afternoon Joep and Tim’ appears and later when it is switched off ‘649,000 km, now you…’ Wim scores points with Joep with this. And also with his story and the good condition of the Volvo, although there are some comments here and there. “Replacing the gearbox bearings still seems like quite a challenge to me,” says Wim. “I’m still thinking about that. The minimum requirement is 750,000 kilometers, then we’ll see. I have no idea yet what I should ride next. For now, I’ll continue to enjoy this one.”
What is wrong with the Volvo V70?
- The car shakes on the highway and times accelerate
- The car steers/feels vague from the center position
- The shock absorbers feel weak
- At a constant speed the engine sometimes seems to hold back a bit
- The LCD screen of the radio is partly defective
- The handbrake effect is moderate
- The wiper mechanism and the wiper motor at the front and rear make noise
- The inner steering ball joints both have play
- There is a lot of rust on the front springs
The opinion of Carrec Technocenter
“When I heard that this is a car from a home tinkerer, I was initially skeptical. Now that I’ve driven it and looked at it on the bridge, I have to change my opinion. This has been well taken care of and with a few minor adjustments it could drive even better. In any case, my respect.”