xc 70 awd 2000

I just bought a 2000 v 70 xc awd wagon. Are there any things I should
be on the look out for?

One thing I noticed is that when cruising on the highway about 65 mph,
if you ease the gas pedal down an inch or so so that it shifts downout
of overdrive there is a "bump" almost like hitting an expansion strip,
is this normal. Do these Volvo transmission shift so firmly?

Thanks,
Norman

 

That is transmission lockup to prevent slippage and increase gas
mileage. Most modern transmissions do this, but it is not that
noticeable most of the time.

 

To my knowledge is this not the best AWD system, from 2003 it is oke.

 

The 2000 uses viscous coupling which is what Subaru and many other
companies have used for many years. It is a very good system.

The Haldex AWD system was introduced on the V70 and XC70 in 2003.
Previously, both all-wheel-drive V70s used a viscous coupling to direct
driving torque where it could do the most good. But that setup has been
replaced by an all-electronic system from Haldex, the same system Volvo
uses on the S60 AWD and XC90. According to Volvo, the Haldex
system reacts extremely quickly to wheel slip, routing power to the
wheels with greater traction almost instantaneously: just one-seventh of
a wheel rotation to be exact. Both systems are fully automatic; no input
from the driver is ever required.

 

Stephen, there was much trouble with the "old" AWD system, when pushed hard
the system became to hot and broke down, which was very expensive.

 

That was a Volvo problem and had nothing to do with Viscous coupling.
Viscous coupling is an old tried and true technology that was not
implemented adequately. There is nothing to guarantee that the Haldex
system will become unreliable in the future. It is computer based and
its integrity depends upon the computer and its sensors. We all have
experienced computer or sensor problems. They are expensive to repair.
I know, I have replaced input speed sensors, throttle position sensors,
and output speed sensors on an 850.

I have a 2001 Volvo XC70 with the old viscous coupling system that has
served me very well. Viscous coupling is very sensitive to tire
diameter mismatches. The tires need to be frequently rotated. If used
properly it will serve very well.

On an Subaru I had with viscous coupling, it would actually pulsate the
power if the tire mismatch from front to rear was too great. It wanted
the best (largest) tires in front. If the front tires wore too much, it
thought that they were slipping and would transfer power to the rear
tires. At an intermediate stage it would pulsate. The solution was to
rotate the tires. It did no damage to the AWD system, just was annoying.

 

Thanks for the help.