1997 Volvo V70 TDi SE from UK and Ireland - Comments

Air Conditioning gradually became less efficient and is now not working.

Rear washer inoperative.

Air flow meter has a fault which shows up as an engine management fault on the dashboard display. This shuts the engine down to "Get you home" mode, i.e. about 60 horse power. My local dealer was unable to fix it and suggested that the only course of action was a new air flow meter. I decided to investigate, stripped it out of the air cleaner and cleaned the sensor with petrol and a camel hair brush. This was entirely successful and has to be repeated about every 20,000 miles. I can do it now in about 20 minutes!

Interior tailgate trim now getting loose and needs some new clips.

In the hands of the previous owner the cambelt snapped at 73,000 miles and did £2500 worth of damage to the engine. Volvo say it will do 80,000 miles before a change is due, but the same engine in an Audi, the belt is changed at 60,000 miles. I do mine at 60K!

Bottom crankshaft pulley oil seal now weeping oil slightly.

Having owned the old 940 SE diesel estate which did 215000 miles with no trouble I decided to keep with Volvo and get the V70 for increased performance and handling.

This car is driven seriously quickly and always returns 42-43 mpg.

The mid range overtaking performance is fantastic and high speed cruising comfortable and quiet. You really can have your cake and eat it with this car.

Seats are heated and beautifully comfortable, I never get backache in driving even 400 miles per day.

I also have a V70 2.5D, and the air flow sensor has failed. I would like to try cleaning it as you suggest, but where is it? I don't have a Volvo manual, or know where to find one on the web.

My 2.5D was bought under the Volvo Used Car Scheme. It had 97000 miles on the clock, and I found it on Volvo's website at a dealer 140 miles away. The car came with a Used Warranty limited only by its mileage.

The Engine Management Lamp began to illuminate within a month or so or delivery, and with it came pitiful performance. The car went in to my local dealers, who contacted the supplying dealer and Volvo. Between them they arranged for a new Mass Air Sensor, charging me a quarter of the full price (not covered by the warranty because of the miles). Superb service from both dealers, and 20 000 miles of problem free driving since.

I, too, would like to know about this trick with the camel hair brush and some petrol. At £500 I don't want to have to replace the sensor again!

I have had a v70Tdi for 4 years now, and it has covered 141000 miles. The warning light has come on recently and it has shown code 121 which is the air flow sensor, resulting in loss of power, eventually it goes out and everything is OK for about 300 miles, then it comes back on and lasts for another 200 miles or so. I would also like to know how to clean the sensor and wonder if it is worth replacing the offending item?

I have also experienced the air conditioning unit loosing its effectiveness, I had it re gassed and everything was OK. Not bad for about £60 from Volvo dealership.

Also the ride on my v70 Tdi has become very hard and bumpy!Does anyone have an explanation?

I only read this as I was looking for reviews,

although I am unfamiliar with this particular model I would like to point out (as everyone is asking) that the air flow meter on any car will be located on the pipe between the air filter and the engine, usually quite close to the air filter end, it will be a smallish electrical connector that plugs into a black box, usually the small section of pipe where it sits can be removed at either end to remove the pipe with the air flow meter still in it, so you can take it away from the car to a more suitable workplace to remove the air flow meter. WARNING air flow meters generally have 2 very thin and brittle vanes in them very easy to snap and if you snap the vanes it won't work again and your car will run terribly if at all.

I have a 1.8 vauxhall astra cesaro which I got cheap because it was running really badly all that was wrong was the vanes were broken one of a vectra sorted it its now a very quick car. If you are attempting to clean just remember a very small amount of pressure and it will snap.

Well as to the hard ride I had the same problem and to fix I replaced the rear shocks as they had lost there damping pattern shocks are good you can get from German an swedish car parts no more than £100 and an easy job if you have some tools and a jack.

Volvo gary.