Absolutely outstanding! I have been working on these Volvos for about 15 years and I have never seen better explanation of its weaknesses and symptoms!

Just bought a 1998 S70 with 136,000 miles. It is my first car ever and these videos are precisely what I need to learn how to take care of this car.

At about the 3:30 mark, I decided to start taking notes. This man is an inspector with a detailed report.

I really like this guy. He has the right mixture of simplicity of presentation while preserving the delivery of a lot of information. Good job! I wish my car looked as nice as yours. The gloss coat on my paint is coming off and it looks terrible.

Glad I know how to service all of those issues myself! There is no way I would pay so much money to have a shop install a $30 Head Gasket. I mean, it's a day job on an inline engine! I would gladly give up my day to save $5,000!

I know this video is 2 yrs old. Thank you for taking the time to educate everyone on what to look for in purchasing a used Volvo. I have a 2000 S70, and I know most people do not keep their cars for 16 years. I had to replace my A/C evaporator last year and it was very labor intensive. The entire dash had to be removed. I was able to prolong the inevitable since a mechanic had told me to always keep the fan on, just on low. I had already replaced the A/C compressor years ago. I have 158K miles and I have an "old fashioned" mechanic who is honest. The other issue you need to look at when buying a used Volvo, is the exhaust system. Volvo doesn't sell it in parts, it is all or nothing. My mechanic just welded my catalytic converter but this will be the last time he can do a quick fix. I have a hole developing in my tailpipe and once that is bad, I will have to spend the $1,700 to replace the exhaust system. I've asked around if it would be wise to invest $2,000 into a 16 yr old car and the answer has been yes by most people who know my car and Volvo in general. If I bought another used car, I'd be possibly buying someone else's problems. I researched older model Camry's (a popular car) and found that some people replaced their catalytic converters more than once and the price was slightly less than that of a Volvo. I am not a mechanic and freak out when something goes wrong on my car. I have not replaced many things. 2 yrs ago I replace the original starter. I've had American made truck before this and I can't tell you how many starters, oxygen sensors, alternators, etc. that I replaced. If a Volvo is maintained, it should last up to 400K miles. Lastly, if you read or get a chance to look at a CarFax, it is important to note the number of owners. I'd be hesitant to buy a car with more than 2 owners. A friend purchased a Volvo wagon and at first glance, it appeared to be a great car for little money. It was a bad investment and it had 5 owners. Again, thank you Robert for posting the videos. Wade

Thank you Robert! I have found alot of your videos very helpful to keep my surf wagon rolling. god bless you!

9 years later and this video is still super helpful, thank you. Planning on buying a 2000 volvo glt se tommorow!

I bought my 95 850 turbo for 2000$ not knowing that my pcv system was bad, my ac wasn't working, and the turbo hoses were cracked. I installed a new pcv system myself and replaced all my turbo hoses myself and recharged my ac too. Saved myself about the cars worth in repair. It now runs like a champ

I'm considering one of these legendary vehicles and I'm SO glad I found your channel, top man!

Thank you, I wanna be well armed when I go shopping. U have provided me with sufficient understanding so I can be more aware of what to look for and not be too easily fooled and have some bargaining backup info..Again THANKS a bunch!!!

Hi Robert. I'm going to look at a '94 T5 wagon tomorrow. This video was just what I needed. Cheers.

Very valuable information. I plan to purchase a 1999 V70r and this video has prepared me much better than I was before. Great job brother.

Robert, you are the Volvo Zen Master. Thanks for all of your videos.

Simply amazing. Clear and substantive. An excellent communicator / instructor. A pleasure to watch. Thank you.

best tip video ever seen on KZfaq about anything. Robert gets straight to the points that are relevant without nonsense and even instructs without complications. Thks sharing such important informations.

This is a keeper Robert! All good info, I can always rely on you! Thanks

I own a 99 s70 and I've gone through issues with trying to work on it and get it inspected. I just saw that a 97 850r is for sale down the road from my house. This video is kinda scaring me with the prices lol because I really want it xD.

Tks so much robert. Purchased a 94 850t and have had to do several repares already. Your expertise has made these repairs so much easier than just diving in. Your awesome !!

Planning on buying a V70 2.5TDI in about a month and I'm really happy that I stumbled upon your videos! Thank you!

God bless you Robert for uploading this video. I'm thinking to buy a 850 and this is gonna come in handy :-). As a matter of a fact these instructions also apply to a wider range of manufacturers.

Very informative. I had an 850 as one of my first cars 10+ years ago... I miss that tank!

I'm going to look at a nice used V70 R today, much more confident thanks to this awesome video, which I have been watching for months! Thank you, Robert!

I'm looking into buying a Volvo, and though i have quite a bit of experience with cars, it is nice to hear the specific problems for which to keep an eye out for. I did not expect for you to go into such detail and i believe more videos like this should be circulated. Thank You!

This is like watching Volvo porn I can't stop

I feel a lot smarter after watching this... thanks!

Your videos are the best. Helped me with my 940 and even now when i'm considering buying a T5 S70, this video is gold.

I just finished replacing the accelerator cable on a '98 Volvo base model. Thanks to your video, it prepared the work and made it relatively easy. Great, simple explanation...

Thanks for the awesome video. Usually ride a scooter to work, but wanted a rainy day car. Just bought a '96 850 wagon. Paid a few hundred dollars for it from a coworker. 136k miles. Has some front end damage but still runs like a champ. Glad I found your videos. Thank you very much!!

My grandmother bought a new 240 in 1987 In 07 i bought it off her. 2017 im still driving it. Iv put 3 timing belts on myself. About to do a 4th because im about to take a over 3000 mile vacation trip. Love this car.

Robert, your videos are so helpful, they have helped me do a lot of minor things on my old volvo and now that I want another one I decided to look over your videos before I buy a wagon-you are heaven sent! Thank you!

chris broussard's dad out here making these helpful videos, thanks guy

Hello Robert. Thank you Sir! Your videos made recently purchasing a '96 850R a much easier decision and saved me several hundred dollars. I found one with 85k miles and now know what needs to be done and what to be aware of. All of your videos were of great help and very informative. After owning Buicks' and Chevys', I never thought I would own a Volvo. Yet, Its a quick, well built car. Thanks Again!

a friend of mine had a clogged up engine like you mentioned. when i pulled the dipstick it flew up sky high cause of all the pressure that was building up haha.

Well done. Excellent presentation. My youthful Ford/GM mechanic days are long past, but I know when somebody “knows.” you give good, easy-to-follow descriptions and cautions that anyone with a bit of DIY can handle. The fact that you can simplify things down like that means you are both expert in the topic and a professional in delivery. Thanks for the video and especially for the caution at the end.

Thank you for the honesty and non-biased review, I greatly appreciate that especially in these modern times I think now you have convinced me to purchase an older S70 that looks really nice and has been properly maintained as I can do some maintenance things myself

*** dankjewel, gozer *** R-Dude :) Thats Dutch for "thanks, dude." You just saved my ass. I'm a total goof on car-tech, but i'm handy and i got a keen mind, so i checked your vid, did all the test, and turns out the T5-R that i had in mind, was indeed a total turn-down. It checked on 4/5 o/t things. Had gasket, airco, valve stem seals and PVC all not good, so thanks for savin me some very bad feelings. Car I looked up is currently stated in Netherlands, so if any of you guys is thinkin' bout buyin a car up north, gimme a shout, i'll hook you up with the 4-11. Cheers from sunny Amsterdam.

Hello Mr Robert. I Carolyn. I have a 1998 Volvo Wagon with 200,00 plus miles. And I love it. It runs great. I like to pamper any car that I have. So I thought I see what information I could get to help me keeping it running good. Watching your video of the 5 top things/ extras was great. Thanks so much. Very beneficial.

Hey mr robert. I just wanna say thank you for spending quality time to share these information. My dad had these when i was younger and im planning to buy one soon. With that said, thanks abunch i hope god grants you wealth and health. Ali,from Malaysia

Glad you get so much positive feedback as it's richly deserved, excellent clear instruction from a guy clearly gifted & able in the art of educating & helping others. Many thanks and very best wishes from an appreciative Volvo fan in Scotland.

Thx man, that covers a lot... Proud former owner of an '06 S80 (P2).

Robert.....you are awesome!!!!! Thanks for the tips, I purchased a V70 last fall just thinking I was going to keep it as a work car....and it turned out to be the best vehicle I have ever owned. I drive into Canada from Ohio once a month. Not only is this car a beast, but it saves me a considerable amount of money especially since I went full synthetic. I'm currently having some issues with my suspension due to the bad Ohio roads....should I look I go for a total suspension upgrade, or replace what's needed?

Thanx, I'm getting involvo-ed with my friend's 850 repairs lately. You are helping ppl out a lot...RESPECT U 4 IT!

One of - if not *the* best resource for V70 DIY on the net. Outstanding effort - well known and often quoted in the worldwide community of brick drivers. Keep it running, Robert. And thank you very much.

Very good sir! Well done and spoken. i got smarter of this :)

Is it possible to replace a timing belt and pcv system yourself? And if so is there any like tuning or other add ons I should do later once replaced? I have a 1995 volvo 850 t5r I purchased a while back, and I have an oil leak near my exhaust headers, any tips? Thank you for your time loved this video!

Always loved the Volvo 340/360 440/460 and 850 models.... thanks for promoting these quality cars Robert DIY.... great videos always enjoy watching them.

I rarely heard a man speak American English so beautifully. That's the accent that should be taught in schools across the globe.

Well done sir! Very informative video!

Outstanding video thanks for sharing

Robert - I just want to say thank you very much for all the time you spend making these videos. Was out buying an 1994 Volvo 850 T5 today and because of this video i was able to negotiate a very good price for the car which btw was in a really good shape despite the age.

Thanks for this video. Tentatively considering 850 ownership after a pretty bad experience with an S70. This type of real world knowledge really helps.

owner of a 95 850 turbo wagon 140k miles love the car hate the up keep.....

Steeeeeeering rack! Big issues with a leak out of the tie rod seal!

THANK YOU SO MUCH MR. ROBERT FOR THIS HOW TO VIDEO!! I am considering purchasing a Volvo convertible and happened to have ran across your video, and so glad I did!! I have just adopted you as my virtual mechanic!!! For us women who don't know much about mechanics of a vehicle or don't have a personal mechanic, this was so very helpful!!! I cannot say thank you enough as this will help me negotiate a better deal on the Volvo I'm considering purchasing. I clicked like and subscribe!! Thanks again!!

Wife has an 850. Looking at buying one myself tomorrow, thanks for all the great hints on what to look for!

Top things to check before buying a Volvo: YOUR MENTAL HEALTH just kidding lol

Always clear, concise and informative. Love "classic" Volvos and this channel. Big thumbs up for your work and time. Gene.UK

Thanks again Robert, this will save me lots of unnecessary heartache. Valuable information.

Awesome video. Comprehensive, concise and precise. It also talked me out of buying a used Volvo. Thanks Robert!

Great tips! I love my 1996 850R and my 2002 V70 XC. The 850R is a wolf in sheeps clothing. A great little car! The V70XC is all wheel drive and goes around corners really well. They're both wagons and very versatile. Thanks for sharing. You're videos are awesome!

Me and my brother are using one of these as a mobile mechanic work vehicle. It a 96 850 wagon 5 speed. We’ve been racking miles on my 12 Civic and decided to learn stick to use it. It’s more useable for that anyway. This video will be a big help to know what we need to watch for

Looking at a 1996 Volvo GLT tomorrow will keep all this information written and ready to check off. Thank you for making this video.

Thanks for the upload Robert. I have a '98 V70 Torslanda with ONLY 123,000 miles on the clock. It's the low power 10 valve 2.5 litre, but it still impresses me with its power and handling qualities. I've had it for approaching six years, and have no plans or need to replace it. It's supremely comfortable, fast, does 30+mpg on a run, and has never let me down. I love my V70. ;o)

Excellent job. Video and explanations are thorough and slow enough for green guys like myself to understand and feel comfortable going forward and checking out this vehicle for purchase. Much appreciated Robert DIY!

God sent! Pure love and wisdom plus reliable skilled craftsman! What a simple but super detailed video. Thanks a lot for saving us plenty of time and helping us prevent hassles. Thanks and keep safe

I was about to buy one today but then I tried the rubber glove trick - no compression, also the coolant level was higher when I came back from testdrive.. thank you for the video totally wouldn't recognized the issues without you!❤

I really enjoyed this video. Informative, good pace and no nonsense. Robert knows every nut and bolt on that car. Great to see a fellow Volvo enthusiast.

Thanks for sharing your knowledge with me. I’ve been looking to buy a Volvo but didn’t know what to look for. Your experience is invaluable. Thank you so much again . God bless.

Sir, this is the most informative straight to the point easy to watch automotive tips video I have ever watched. Thank You My Man Thank You So Much!

Robert is great I have came here so many times and always satisfied with he's answers thank you

Extremely helpful video. Thanks Robert! I just purchased a 1998 Volvo S70 w/ 355,000 miles! It is in ridiculously good condition given the mileage. Not even a door ding! Paint is in excellent condition. I did your PCV glove check on the oil cap. A ziploc sandwich bag w/ rubber band works good if you can't find a disposable rubber glove. The system was indeed clogged up causing the baggie to fill up and the smoke coming out of the dipstick. I'm pretty sure this system was original so I chalked it up to needed long term maintenance. Somehow it passed CA emissions with a clogged PCV. Also did the timing belt kit w/ water pump since there were no records of that EVER being done. Again, maintenance. Outside of that all they did was replace the thermostat, replace the coolant, oil change, and new oil and air filters. The thing runs like a top. Zero leaks. Tranny seems to work just fine. $1,500 cost. $2,300 in hard maintenance costs at local mechanic. $3,800 total investment.

This guy does a good job of explaining some basic car check out items.

Great video - right to the point with no rambling and repetition --- thanks.

This is a great channel me and my mom own Volvos and it's nice to see someone giving good advice about them

Wow! Excellent video, +Robert DIY ! I'm seriously looking at buying a 2000 S70 with 110K miles, and this was just what I needed to know to check it out thoroughly before deciding whether (and how much) to offer. Thanks so much for sharing your helpful tips!

Robert's videos have been EXTREMELY helpful to me as a new 1996 Volvo owner. I am very grateful. Always very clear and exactly what you need to know! Thanks, DW

I have owned a number of these older Volvos...and this guy is right on!...Thanks for the great info.

Robert, thanks for all the information. I had a '96 850 for 17 years then the head gasket blew. Loved that car! Now have a '98 V70, wish I knew some of this info before I bought it. But the thing about Volvos, they are built to last like no other car if taken care of properly. It can be expensive if you have to have someone else work on it for you, but the parts last longer than american cars and with proper instruction, there are many things you can do yourself. Keep up the great work, need your clear and concise directions. Thanks again!

Sound advice! I'm thinking of buying a V70 and these are the things I need to know. Thanks Robert!

Glad I found this guy. He seems very knowledgeable and encouraging

Super helpful! I'm looking at buying an older XC70 and was really happy to find this resource! Thanks!!!

Very informative, clear and professional, I am rarely impressed to this level with videos such as this on youtube, thank you. Keep it up, ill be sure to check here again in future for more help.

Thanks I'm looking at a 1993 model, owned by a mechanic today. Very helpful...

Fabulous report from you Robert, not just for the Volvos but any new car. I learned so many good tips from you. Great Stuff!

thankyou for another 5 star video :) my PCV went bad this summer, from not burning ~any oil to about a month later I was under minimum, a real shock and painfull drive home to fill up 2 Liters (oil stick min to max is 1,5L) when I pulled the oil stick smoke came out, $850 at Volvo dealer to change PCV, crank case and oil catcher (they said they put in a new upgraded model that last longer) I will do these checks when buying my next car :)

Great video. I was able to pick up a great 1996 volvo 850 turbo for 600 dollars, which needed a little work on the brakes and radiator, but now it is running perfectly.

Thank you for the information. I watched this video just before inspecting a very nice looking volvo 24o that appeared to be in excellent condition that was being sold by a volvo mechanic shop for a out of state customer. There was fresh oil all over the oil pan, bell housing, passenger side of engine and on valve cover. There was pressure blowing out of oil cap. The Volvo mechanic told me that it was suppose to blow out and not suck in and all to do to the pcv system was to clean the flame trap and nothing else. Your information helped me make a decision. Thank you

Thank you, that was very informative. I already own the 850 and it has some issues, but now am excited to check more out.

Your videos are a great resource. Thank you. I just purchased a 2000 Volvo S70AWA.

THANK YOU!!! Great video. I'm heading out tomorrow to check a 95 850 with 95K on it and you gave me the list I need to check it out with. I'll use most of what you showed on here.

I'm going detail my aunts Volvo tomorrow and I am going to check all these things! Thanks for the cool vids

dude, your videos are awesome! Thanks so much for making these and sharing your wisdom!

Thank you, Robert! I'm on my way to test/buy a 1999 V70 today. This video was definitely helpful in showing what to check!

I just purchased a 99 Volvo S70 yesterday with 55K miles (one owner, garage kept it's entire life in NYC). I watched this video three times, read about common faults and made a checklist using this video as the foundation to my inspection guide. It passed all the major inspection points plus other issues. Thank you, Robert! Oh, I'm commenting using my wife's computer.

Thanks for the great video Robert. I’m going to look at a 94 850 turbo wagon in 2 days and I’m so glad I stumbled upon this. Great info and advise. Subscribed.

Very helpful and informative video...much appreciated as I'm currently looking at a possible purchase of an 850 T5 sedan.

i know this video is pretty old but im getting a '96 850 turbo wagon soon and your videos have been so freakin helpful and informative thank you for so much for these videos no doubt you've saved me some headache and money down the road 😃

You have the _best_ auto maintenance vids on KZfaq. Thank you!!!

outstanding information! used this info when I went shopping for my daughters first car; found 2 cars had major issues based on the information here-actually then talked with the owners and sure enough, they knew they had problems but were hoping to sell it to someone and let them have the problem...