What I did today thread...

[js7799]

Replaced a core plug that decided to eject out of the engine block last week. What a pain, but at least it's done. I don't think the updated metal plug is going anywhere.

Also swapped my worn bump stops from left to right which will hopefully reduce the amount of rubbing I had in the wheel arches.

[Georgeandkira]

Went to see a 1996 Volvo 850 estate auto a husband and wife are giving away.
It has 201,XXX miles and is in pretty good shape. Having been garaged for 2 years+ it has a musty smell. I got it running with a jump.

The engine is the same B5244S in our V70's. It has the characteristic ticking atop only a touch louder. If I take the car I'll throw in 15W-40 to see if quieting results but that is a chore for a later date.

What I must do tomorrow is fill the tires and see if it has brakes. I also must see if it goes into gear.

I posted this here because this section is my 'home'.

[oragex]

Originally Posted by Georgeandkira

Went to see a 1996 Volvo 850 estate auto a husband and wife are giving away.
It has 201,XXX miles and is in pretty good shape. Having been garaged for 2 years+ it has a musty smell. I got it running with a jump.

The engine is the same B5244S in our V70's. It has the characteristic ticking atop only a touch louder. If I take the car I'll throw in 15W-40 to see if quieting results but that is a chore for a later date.

What I must do tomorrow is fill the tires and see if it has brakes. I also must see if it goes into gear.

I posted this here because this section is my 'home'.

I think the engine in that era was quite more problematic at the valve seals, and perhaps also at the oil passage o-rings inside the oil pan

[ASt85]

Finally got round to squeezing the C70 off the drive past the V70 to take my son's MX5 for it's MOT.

C70's handbrake shoes frozen, it not having moved since it had the MOT in February...two rear wheel drag/skid marks on the drive blocks later the handbrake lets go with a loud "boing" as the wheels scrapped and bumped over the slight dropped kerb. So ran the C70 round the block several times braking with the handbrake to clean it up....everything back to normal.

Then go to start the MX5 which was fully charged a few days ago.........click click click groan.....put on fast charge using the Absaar...5 minutes later the MX bursts into life....meanwhile back at the ranch the V70 goes shopping with SWMBO....me off to local MOT garage....pass no advisories - result for a 26 year old Eunos aka MX5 ....now all I've got to do is find a better battery than the pants Lion version that someone put in the MX5 before it was bought a few years ago.

Wonder if Volvo dealer might have a better battery than the recommended gel Yuasa ????

[Dancake]

Another oil and oil filter change completed today on the D5.

[Turbodave]

Never seems to end as far as Volvo maintenance goes in my house hold...

The V70 D5, having been with a mate for 2 weeks in lieu of his big van, came back and had four Dunlops fitted then discovered the top engine mount was buggered so replaced it (£41) and whilst in there for a few stray wires and the metal intake pipe flapping around so bolted it back on. Also has an alarm service warning, removed fuse F8 and it's now pathetically buzzing away which is annoying so will replace it at the weekend.

Her V50 Sport has just had the rear shocks replaced and I've just sourced a new header tank as the current one is badly stained and look terrible. Also readjusted the headlights, previously binned the crap OEM projector units that were tarnished and replaced then with Saab units which made a fantastic improvement and aside for that, it's steadily approaching 200k with no signs of slowing down.

The V70R hasn't seen much action as usual, house move means it's been under lock, key and car cover for weeks but I have new shocks to go on, new discs and pads and the bumper needs painted but I did get the angle gear sleeve replaced recently and sorted a few niggles... broken washer jet, scabby headlight wiper arms repainted, IsoFix bracket swapped to the D5 as this just never sees child based duties.

Been a dear month, in fact I'm still sweating as I type this...

[oragex]

I went replacing the lower right engine mount (near the crank pulley). This video only shows what the bad mount looks like (read the video description for more details).

See Youtube for 'Broken right lower right engine mount Volvo S60'

[Georgeandkira]

Yesterday I spent 4 packed hours going over the free '96 850 I mentioned six posts above. I'll be brief.

The prices are for mid-line to OE parts with me doing the work
$920 Brakes / rotors / fluid: The calipers were solid rust structures. The rotors' surfaces looked like the Moon.
$040 Crank Pulley motor mount (possibly others)
$200 PCV system non-functional. HUGE smoke from the filler and dipstick tube.
$260 Timing belt, rollers & water pump.
$ -?- Addressing the A/C's condition.
$500 One of the CV axles was clicking. Only Volvo branded rebuilds available.

The recirc button was missing from the A/C as was the radio code. The owner thought it was written atop the radio unit itself.

Oddly, the flexible brake hoses weren't at all cracked! The dampers showed leaks.
Whoever installed the new radiator included a slow leak in the bottom cooling line.

The car had matched Goodyear tires (2 new, 2 in mid-life). If I listed all the things which worked, I'd be crying.

Driving the car home would've been criminally negligent. Having the thing transported home would've been too dear.

Hey, I filled the tires (which were flat) and installed a working battery so the owners can start it and park it on the street for viewing.
The car runs and the brakes even "work" at slower-than-walking speeds
I even sent them a FOR SALE sign for it.

I just have so many other things I need to do first. Ahhhh, to be 18 again.
At least we're all better off than when we started.

Thanks for reading, G&K

[Cento16v]

New rear discs, pads, and handbrake shoes arrived ready to be fitted today.

Also a new steering rack, and new track rods and oil as mine is weeping slightly and it's not getting any better!

Replaced all 5 coils and plugs with brand new OE parts today as I had a slight misfire on cyl 4 under load, all perfect now, really pulls hard up to 7000rpm now, no sign of timing pulling back at all.

Still need to sort a Grom out at some point, and still need a new rear boot lid or outer panel ideally.

Also booked for a new 3'' turbo back exhaust next weekend as mine is blowing slightly now.

Still running very well since the remap, doesn't notice the caravan and will return a steady 29mpg sat at 56 with the van on, and I've had my 1st 500 miles out of a tank recently when we went on holiday in it, sat at 70mph on cruise all the way there and back.

[ASt85]

Originally Posted by Georgeandkira

Yesterday I spent 4 packed hours going over the free '96 850 I mentioned six posts above. I'll be brief.

The prices are for mid-line to OE parts with me doing the work
$920 Brakes / rotors / fluid: The calipers were solid rust structures. The rotors' surfaces looked like the Moon.
$040 Crank Pulley motor mount (possibly others)
$200 PCV system non-functional. HUGE smoke from the filler and dipstick tube.
$260 Timing belt, rollers & water pump.
$ -?- Addressing the A/C's condition.
$500 One of the CV axles was clicking. Only Volvo branded rebuilds available.

The recirc button was missing from the A/C as was the radio code. The owner thought it was written atop the radio unit itself.

Oddly, the flexible brake hoses weren't at all cracked! The dampers showed leaks.
Whoever installed the new radiator included a slow leak in the bottom cooling line.

The car had matched Goodyear tires (2 new, 2 in mid-life). If I listed all the things which worked, I'd be crying.

Driving the car home would've been criminally negligent. Having the thing transported home would've been too dear.

Hey, I filled the tires (which were flat) and installed a working battery so the owners can start it and park it on the street for viewing.
The car runs and the brakes even "work" at slower-than-walking speeds
I even sent them a FOR SALE sign for it.

I just have so many other things I need to do first. Ahhhh, to be 18 again.
At least we're all better off than when we started.

Thanks for reading, G&K

Hi G&K - methinks this might be a good tine to say thank you but no thank you - whilst the 850 platform is nigh on bullet proof once the gremlins have taken over it can be an uphill struggle IMHO