My 1998 S70 (which has already garnered unsolicited compliments for its good looks from others, including the driver of a brand-new PTCruiser who shouted to me, as I left a fast-food joint, "Now THAT'S the care I really want!") is beginning to have multiple problems.

If anyone here is familiar with any of these issues, especially if you've dealt with them, I'd be interested in hearing from you.

1. Power windows won't go down; pressing buttons results in motor noise/electrical buzz but no lowering of the windows. (I assume I'm a bit lucky here in that the windows could have been stuck in the down position.) Before this started happening they worked fine.

2. For the past two months or so I've had to continually add coolant to the overflow reservoir as the level dropped and the radiator dashboard light activated. Have added several containers of various "stop-leak" treatments to radiator via the overflow reservoir (apparently Volvo doesn't want owners to open the actual radiatir itself, as I could find no opening for it.) I did notice recently, also, that while the driver's side vents blew warm air when knobs turned to do so in order to warm the passenger compartment, the air blowing from the passenger side remained cool, even when the knob was turned to maximum heat. The temperature gauge, fortunately, has remained in the normal range, so at least the car isn't overheating at this point. Does this sound like a heater core problem, radiator problem, hose problem or other issue?

3. On even mild days, if the car has been left in the sun (for example, in a parking lot) the key fob is unable to unlock the driver-side doors. The interior lock/unlock knobs only moves/shudders when the keyless entry button is pressed but don't rise to actually unlock the doors. (Again, this occurs only on the driver's side, for some reason.)

If anyone has any insights regarding any of the above please speak up, and thanks!

I, too, am a S70 owner after admiring this car for quite a while.
I am having PWindow troubles as well. The driver's side will not finishing opening, it bogs down then stops about mid way HOWEVER, with the door open, it operates normally!! One thing you may check, I have noticed that the rubber molding will get caught in the window as it is sliding up. The outer portion actually folds in on itself. Sooo I am wondering if my window has a track adjustment that the pressure is alleviated somehow, when the door is open.

I am no expert, but it sounds like your coolant problem could be heater core. Have you been noticing residue on the inside of the windshield when you use defrost or difficulty defrosting the windows completely?

I am guessing you are in a warmer climate. I am getting a feeling that the door lock actuators are very sensitive to heat/cold. Really, I am getting the feeling that there was a bad batch of actuators that made it to the S70's. I am hearing a slight delay in some of the the locks as I use the interior lock/unlock and the rear driver door does not unlock - it will lock. There seems to be an abundance of the actuators on ebay.

Another possibility may be in the remote receiver. I have not idea where it is but I would guess it is positioned somewhere in the top but underneath the dash probably more toward the driver's side. You may try one of those dash protector/interior heat reducer shields that people put in their windshields on hot days. See if that affects the operation. Just a try.
GREG

Greg,

Funny you should mention the rubber molding around the windows! On my car it's falling off in a few places. It appears that not enough glue was applied (or else the glue wasn't very long-lasting on my 1998 S70). Fortunately, all that's been necessary so far has to re-align the grooves in the underside of the molding. This coming week I'm going to apply some liquid adhesive (which one I'm not sure, but it'll have to be safe for use with rubber, obviously) and hopefully that will keep the moding in-place.

Thanks for your suggestion about the molding getting caught in the window as a possible cause of the windows in my car not lowering. I will check that out today and report my findings here!