My C30 had its original timing belt (160K miles) when I bought it. I immediately changed it and the lower coolant lines because they were leaking. If you're going to buy a C30, my opinion is to get one without a sunroof, with a manual and cloth seats. The simpler, the better.
@@bellesebastian012 Sun roof drains shrink and crack and water can leak into the interior. I’ve had that happen. It’s an absolute pain to fix and a lot of work. The transmission is good enough for stock power. Leather can wear faster than cloth
@@bellesebastian012 Leather seats are weak on all of these 2004-2013 volvo models. Mostly if you dont want your car to be in mint condition all the time you need to change seats at 175-200k km (110-125k mi).
My secretary has a 2011 C30 R-Design. 140,000 miles. Only problem so far is a cracked coolant tank. She hasn't even changed the timing belt as required by now. Car is solid even though it's not maintained well. Not as well built as a Volvo 87 240 or Volvo 96 850T5 but still very functional.
As a proud C30 owner let me add a bit to that list, engine wise: belts and the water pump is a must to check before purchasing, other times like wheel bearings especially in the front, and last but not least the windshield primer goes bad (I discovered it the hard way) it’s a know issue for Volvo’s in that era because the company used a environment friendly primer which isn’t that strong so you might see some leaking from the windshield and check the alternator/battery.
What millage should the belts and water pump be done at? Thanks I’m advance I’m currently looking into buying one around 80/90k millage as an affordable runaround for work
I own a 2011 C30 R-Design and i simply love it !! It drives amazingly, and is very confortable. The only issue i see with it is the small entry to the trunk.. othewhise i find it a great car!
just got a 2011 c30 t5 and love it. had a mini before this and considering how unreliable the mini was I love this car so much more hoping it lasts me 10 years with some love
It will last! I got my 2011 pre-owned in 2014 with 40k miles, put 40k miles on it and have NEVER had a single issue. Just perform the factory-recommended maintenance and you'll be good. Enjoy your C30!
Just took the car to my mechanic for a “check up” he says its in great condition and should last. Definetly gonna stay on top of oil changes. Just found the placement of the cabin air filter and boy is it a pain to change. I’ll leave it be for my mechanic. Overall very happy and proud to be a c30 owner! Gonna treat her good. Want to vinyl mine to look like the c30 Black Design. I think it looks so much better than my all white c30
@@chrisnipple3469 Steering rack, struts, bushings they are all in the same area and all wear out. 224,000 miles is getting up there. Might consider getting a vehicle with fewer miles.
Being that the Communist Chinese now own Volvo, my current Ford build Volvo vehicle will probably be my last Volvo. Will seriously consider other like/similar platforms next time I need to purchase a vehicle. From what I am reading on this site about C30 failures, best/cheapest thing I can do is not run the miles up on it, even though it is a fun vehicle to drive.
iggy151 deadass I was between this and a Ralliart X-gen and replacement of maintenance parts vs potentially having to buy another/6spd swap the tranny...sleeper vs hype...if it was only awd this wouldn’t even be a discussion 🙇🏻♂️🙇🏻♂️
Hmm. Getting divorced, need a car for myself and the dog, as I only have motorcycles right now...saw an ad for a 2009 near me. Listening to this video it seems like I shouldnt buy it!
I have a V50 T5. I can attest that the coolant line does like to go. It went on me about a year ago and was a giant pain in the neck as I was pretty far from home. Just make sure you keep an eye on that temp gauge if that happens to you because even a slight change in temp with air pockets in the cooling system can crack the block (or so I'm told. Thankfully it didn't happen to me.). Also, the power seat wires on these cars can chafe over time and as a result, the seats stop working and it can trigger an airbag light. This happened to me, and was a massive nightmare to fix because both the front AND rear seats had to come out to replace these wires. Just a few extra heads up for you guys new to the world of the P1 cars.
When my 07 C70 T5 oil filter housing broke down, there was no oil leak, but an air-sucking sound from the oil dip stick tube while the engine is running. When I pulled out the oil dip stick, the sound is gone, but obviously, the PCV was having issues. I replaced the housing by myself, took about 2.5 hours. Not a super easy job, but definitely doable.
Great guide. Being as pretty much all C30s will encounter these issues at some point, don't pass on one if you see these problems but at least you'll know what's up. Hey, at least it won't scare you off because the next one you look at could have the issues too. On the plus side, some of these items are REALLY cheap and easy to address. :)
My dad bought a 2013 automatic c30 and I fell in love with how it drove. So the next day I ended up finding mine for 3500 with a new clutch amongst other things. And it's a 6spd!
My 2009 C30 T5 R-Design had at time of purchase: 1) The finicky TCV problem 2) Vibrating axles 3) Bad A/C clutches 4) Cracked overflow reservoir 5) Broken upper motor mount 6) Clogged sunroof drain 7) Broken front spring 8) Bent factory rims w/ mismatched tires So, there's merit to what he says here.
Kyle V. R It is a great car to drive. Though it may not be the fastest it is a small car so driving around small curvy roads are best. But it does have enough pep. The seats are comfortable and the overall feel of the car is great.
As we speak I am shipping in a C30 from Colorado to NY via Carmax. Found a 2013 with only 37k miles on it and automatic so had to do it. Have wanted one since 2008 and the quest to find a low mileage one was a pain in the ass but looks like I might be nearing the end soon. Can't wait to check it out when it comes.
@@donniegray2074 Friggin Awesome. Handles really well...almost as good as my old Firebird and the speed look out. This baby can fly. Even with it being an automatic tranny. It's an amazing car and I love it so much. Just makes driving so much fun again.
@@ManMonkey600 I'm happy to hear that! Glad it was a good purchase. I should be picking up a silver 2011 R-Design soon with only 78k miles! Not as low as 37k miles 😅 but under 100k which is all I was really looking for anyways. 1-Owner and lots of service records. I'm soo pumped!
@@donniegray2074 The R-Design is sweet man you will love it. I wouldn't even worry about it being at 78k miles. From all the information I read, and I read A LOT about this car. It really is like the best car Volvo has made in the last 20 years of production. Extremely reliable, minimal issues over time with routine maintenance, and just a fun sized dream to drive around town in. I also love that it's not like anything on the road so people are like wow what's that when they ask me about the car. Enjoy your C30 and treat it well and it won't ever let you down.
@@ManMonkey600 Yeah that’s literally all I’ve been doing is reading up on it and watching videos on RU-vid! I’ve owned two Volvo wagon’s over the years, one being a 94 850, And the other being a 2000 the 70 Cross Country. Both were great vehicles that were still running great when I sold them with over 200,000 miles. The guy who is selling this 2011 said he had a few of the common C30 issues taken care of already including the loose windshield, the automatic shifter problem, and a cracked coolant reservoir. The only thing he said hasn’t been done is the timing belt/water pump replacement. He said that’s usually good up to 100,000 miles or so. I’m gonna be proactive and get it done probably within the next 5,000 miles just to be safe. Speaking of maintenance...is the transmission something that I should have serviced like a fluid change it or flush?
The biggest problem on all Volvo's of this era - sunroof drain leaks. If you look at a car with a sunroof, open the sunroof and pour water into the front mechanism of the sunroof. In each corner, there is a small hole designed to let rain water pass through to under the car. If you pour water into the holes and it isn't dripping out the bottom of the car, the drains are either clogged or the tube shrank from the heat it can experience in the pillar, and the water will eventually find its way either onto your floor mat or under the floor itself, between the sound deadening and the floorpan. If this happens and enough water builds up over time, it can cause all sorts of damage. What will happen is it will short out the yaw sensor under the seat, and as a result your stability control system will cease to function, costing you lots of time, frustration, and money (This happened to a good friend of mine's XC90). Moral of the story - check the sunroof drains! Or just don't buy a car with a sunroof.
Windshield is often loose ! Airco condenser often breaks down due to gravel... rear window washer often breaks down his cars with quite a lot of problems and expensive problems
I have also replaced the inner CV boot on the driver's side axle. The passenger side will fail soon as I see the same cracking pattern on it. I also replaced my expansion take before the lead got too bad. The seal along the roof line of the windshield had failed and caused a major interior leak. I sealed that with silicone and had to remove the seats to remove the carpet to the foam underneath could fully dry. And of course the drain tubes from the sun roof were shrunken and not connected. I replaced that with new vinyl tubing purchased from a big box store.
How did you replace the boot?! I've only seen that we can only replace the whole axle because no boot repair kits were available? Anyways, mine ripped a while ago and I'm certain even if I replace the boot the axle still will fail by then.
@@christianhudspeth3338 once you have the axle out, cut off the bad boot and take the end off and clean it up. You can buy new boot kits and you need a crimp tool. It's really easier to install a new axle. So I may just install a new axle when the passenger side rips open. The axle is still good if there was still a lot of grease left inside the torn boot.
Bought one a few months ago. Sadly I got the F 1.8 engine. Should have gone with some of the bigger alternatives.... But well, it's still a nice car :)
A tip... PCV failures can cause oil leaks on most vehicles with PCV systems particularly euro cars. If you have a vehicle with PCV think about servicing the oil separator/PCV assembly (and replacing the PCV valve or diaphragm if it's cheap) every 40k to prevent blowing out oil seals/gaskets. I have personally fixed a few vehicles with oil leaks solved by simply replacing the PCV valve to vent properly for less than $20 from a local auto parts store. With regards to these cars the cheap aftermarket assembly has been a good solution vs the expensive OEM assembly. The only issue I've ever experienced with the aftermarket assemblies is that they may need threads tapped for the various brackets that are bolted to the assembly.
PCV valve use to be included with standard servicing along with points, condenser and distributor cap in the old days. Now I guess we are going backwards, considering Swede's are involved. Thanks for the info, last thing I want is oil blowing out from seals from a crankcase that can't breath.
Read through all the comments and no one mentioned Alternators.. I must be very unlucky or you guys are very lucky. Every Volvo i’ve owned had an alternator broke.. 2 S40s and my current S60 T6
I had that problem. Had two or three inches of water on my passenger side floor. The drainage holes are probably clogged. I used compressed air for keyboard. Stuck the nozzle in the drainage hole located at the sunroof sealand forced compressed air in. It worked. Dealer wanted $150 just to look at it.
I have 2 s40s both had that problem. Both on the passenger side floor. For both vehicles it was the sunroof drain tube. It got disconnected on the upper pillar. I got access to the tube from inside the car removing the pillar.
@@jake3far yeah, the rubber hose can pop off. To the ones that are getting water on the rear left side passenger floor, remove the carpet on the front passenger behind the center console. There should be a little tube that should be disconnected to the drain
Something I have always wondered is whether or not these cars have cracking issues with the blocks. S60r owner here and it is a plague with them and they are similar sized engines, but don't know if there are any major design changes between the two.
looking for a somewhat unreliable hatchback thats still more reliable and fun to drive than a mini cooper? Well, here you go! Presenting my first car that was one of the worst and best financial decisions ever made!
Meh, unreliable I wouldn't say so. You hardly ever hear about transmission, or engine issues on this car from forums, sites, and videos online. The few things he mentioned which are what most have said fail mostly on these cars are minor in repair cost if you compare it to other luxury cars in the same class during the 2008-2013 era.
Good Day - I'm looking to purchase a C30T and appreciate this advice from you. If I go look at one, what tool(s) would I need to remove the engine cover? I would guess a Hex 12? As for rust, what areas rust first so that I can check there? Thanks in advance.
Also a common error on early C30s & other models as well. The electronic steering lock plays up "steering locked, please try again" message appears and you can't start the car. If this happens you cant drive the car and it will need it replacing/ re-programming....$$$$$$'s.
Do you guys run a shop? I noticed in another Video you flashed the computer and gave it a tune. I was wondering how to get about that without paying 700 bucks for a one time flash. It's the exact same car you have an 08?
Major syptom of a clogged PCV system is a loud squealing noise coming from the PCV system itself. It can be confused as belt squeal as i checked that at first but it wasnt that.
Abdiel Aviles Removing the oil filler cap will confirm if PCV is at fault - noise will stop as crankcase pressure can now escape without restriction of the blocked PCV
@@TheWallerbyboxer yes correct. Shouldve mentioned that but its been a while since i fixed the issue. So if anyone's reading this, and they hear squeeling coming from the engine; if the noise goes away after unscrewing the oil fill cap, then the pcv is definitely bad.
@@TheWallerbyboxer 2012 no problems other than leaking sunroof drain and, failed right side anti-roll strut connection. Both were pretty easy fixes, like the idea of loosening the oil filler cap for troubleshooting, thanks !
A good video helps me a lot. I would like to know if this model can totally disconnect the esp or stability control at 100% and be able to play with the car without the help ever intervening while the esp is off. Thank you
Hi guys, perhaps silly question but I've picked up a 2010 Volvo C30 base T5 from a private seller and the seller told me something " plastic cosmetic" from the center lower bumper is missing. Can you tell me if the front lower air guide is visible from the front? I've ruled out no honeycomb lower grill insert on this yr/model, I understand that. So I've looked at stock photos front angle and compared to mine. There isn't any obvious difference. What I see is what looks like radiator & a/c compressor like horizontal metal lines on stock and my own currently. I'm thinking lower front air guide but it doesn't appear to guard or protect. What am I missing? Thanks!
I am selling my 2009 C-30 It needs to be towed but it is in great condition, very clean approx. 160,000 miles. I am located in NY on Long Island. Come get it for almost free.
@@Buchoass probably too far to make it cost effective for you; I'm in central GA. Thank you, served almost 28 years before I had to retire after being diagnosed with ALS.
@@jcm9698 That would be a really long tow. lol I really enjoyed my C-30 but it's time to let it go, I would have liked to given it to you. wish you the best with your ALS battle.
I have c30 2008 , 1.8 Flex ... bought because, car doesn't have timing belt, no turbo , and sexy line !! Car is little bit high on the ⛽️ , but on the snow is like m*** f*** ! Bought from old lady , she was first owner, she has car from 2008 till 2019 , and made 50 000 km , when I bought car first month everything broke down, from buble lights , so many problems,but everything I fixed, and start to drive car every day , so from 2019 till now 160 000 km with any problems, just filters and oil !! Car is for me NO1 , but I learned one lesson car need to be driven , car doesn't like sitt on the parking and be driven 2/4 km per day !
Should probably also mention that the camseals you were talking about almost never leaks on the T5s. Its usually the VVT units that leaks, which is expensive to fix.
A/C fix is the zip tie or bread clip fix. All of 15-20 minutes to remove the splash guard or wheel well and wrap tires through the holes of the a/c clutch. Not THE fix, but cheap af and relatively permanent.
Love e channel but in my humble opinion you guys need to work more on the cars there's always first time for everything struggling wen working on cars it's good content help others takle the jobs
just about to buy one of these ,,, is there a fix for the really light steering , after my a3 3.2 quattro i thought the steering was in city park mode , or hair dressers mode ,it was so light. many thanks
It's been reliable but it comes with a caveat. I've replaced the pcv/oil filter housing, thermostat and I need to replace the clutch master and coolant lines.
Considering they are basically using the same T5 as other models, should go a couple of hundred thousand miles if not driven hard. My S80 was going on 225K MI and, I had a lady hit my left front wheel at twenty MPH with her new Honda Civic. Basically no damage to my 2004 S80 other than the Steering rack hydraulic bypass valve which was on it's last legs anyway. Perfect body, perfect interior, totaled my S80 after seeing what I would have to do to replace the steering rack. Vehicles are just not made to drive forever, doesn't matter how well you care for them. There are other mechanical issues which, unless you have lots of time, money and a place well, you'll need to eventually get a new horse. 200K MI no problem, regular service and timing belts every 108 thousand.
@@seademon11 We just purchased a Honda Pilot but looked at that Euro styled Buick as well. The Dealer wouldn't play and, was actually rude to my wife so we left and went to the Honda dealer. I liked the Buick and was a little disappointed that the dealer was being a dick.
I have a 2009 C30 with a chronic P0027 OBD code. I have had the exhaust solenoid replaced already with a genuine Volvo part and I have changed the timing belt using a cam lock tool on the upper part of the engine and I relied upon the timing marks to line up the crank shaft. I still have the P0027 code. I even swapped the intake and exhaust cam sensors and the same code returned. Who has some ideas on what's wrong? I did not feel any free play in the cam gears when the timing belt was off. thanks
Hi my name is Elizabeth I just bought one from C 33 five is in great condition of the wiper on the back is not working I don’t know it is that the little motor oil is a fool can you help me out with that how should I try it to see if it’s not that little motor
Bought my C30 in late 2010. Apart from annual service it's only had front suspension bushes replaced. £330. Still looks brand new, no squeaks or rattles.
Have had mine for nearly 10 years and hardly had any issues...as someone that's been on c30world and c30crew since purchasing it new I've read of the VVT solenoid going bad once and it's a super easy replacement. Just unscrew the top plastic engine cover, and remove a couple screws on each solenoid. They're pretty reliable cars, short of PCV and axles if you start pushing power and doing hard launches. The only other thing is maybe the turbo control valves go bad sometimes, usually from pushing more boost than stock = more heat, but It's a cheap replacement. Probably my most expensive repair so far has been those stupid headlamp washer covers. Just like one of shiftinglane's is missing, the clips are very thin and I've lost two already. They're cheap but don't come painted. Had to take it to a shop to paint it. Second time I just bought two new ones and polished the black primer finish. Looks kind of menacing now.
As a women this is fantastic thank you, I really love Volvo's and I'm getting one soon but I have limited mechanical knowledge and it's great for me to have some extra bits to look for so I don't get conned by fat old men.