My V70 is jealous...

[GreenBrick]

I can only think that the sudden spate of failures on my V70 are due to me spending time on repairing my other daily and purchasing a new project vehicle.

The V70 is now loosing oil out of the oil cooler and/or seals, causing lots pf blue smoke off the exhaust and a bad burning smell.
The dashboard instruments now go on and off with their own free will. Now using a smart phone as a GPS speedometer.
An urgent SRS error is now displayed when the instruments grace me with an appearance.
The front suspension struts are clunking and it looks like both of them need the top bushes/bearings replacing.

I believe the SRS error is a result of the instrument cluster going on and off (correct?). When my other daily finally stops leaking PAS fluid (new hose ordered) I will get the panel out and sent for a refurb.
I have ordered a new oil cooler and seals.
The struts are going to have to wait. I hope they pass the MOT in March.

So all in all I have ordered a lot of bits for my 2 daily drivers and not spent any time getting my new pickup engine stripped down.

[Georgeandkira]

I am a firm believer in automobiles being jealous.

I had the frayed leather of my driver's seat repaired and was telling someone that I wanted it, "...fixed up so I could.....show it off when it reached 200,000 miles." I deftly stopped myself from saying "sell it" because the car would hear me.

Like dogs and children, cars do know when they are the subject and when something's afoot.

[GreenBrick]

Now my project vehicle has had its engine swapped and its welding done, my V70 has now really started to try for my attention, the ETM has failed and left me stranded and the handbrake has made some very expensive sounding noises recently. Doesn't it realise that I will simply remove its tax and insurance and put them on the project car instead?

It should have been happy with a rebuilt instrument cluster and a new oil cooler, but no.

It is starting to look like it may cost more than it is worth to get it through its MOT, but I guess the more I do to the car, the more guaranteed history I have.

One last chance methinks, new suspension bits, an ebay fix for the ETM, and rebuild the handbrake then off for an MOT to see what still needs doing... Oh joy.

[Georgeandkira]

2's company, 3's a crowd? No?

Your used car prices are way low compared to No. America. I assume it's because so many need some-to-lots of work.
Ergo, fix any car so you can pass MOT and drive it....or sell it immediately after it passes.

How to budget the long term maintenance of a car varies.

Think replacement costs (purchase + repairs to a NTY vehicle OR new car payments) not merely maintenance costs vs. the car's retail worth.

Really sticky? really indeterminable?, 3rd or more car?, real low use of a particular vehicle? Say "Good Bye".

[jgjones095]

my cars are like that lol
let me know how to Ebay ETM fix goes!
what one are you getting, is it the contactless tps?

[GreenBrick]

Yep, looks like I will be ordering one of the many contactless ones. Saw a very good you tybe vid of a chap doing the whole job, looks doable...

Watch this space...

[GreenBrick]

Originally Posted by Georgeandkira

2's company, 3's a crowd? No?

Your used car prices are way low compared to No. America. I assume it's because so many need some-to-lots of work.
Ergo, fix any car so you can pass MOT and drive it....or sell it immediately after it passes.

How to budget the long term maintenance of a car varies.

Think replacement costs (purchase + repairs to a NTY vehicle OR new car payments) not merely maintenance costs vs. the car's retail worth.

Really sticky? really indeterminable?, 3rd or more car?, real low use of a particular vehicle? Say "Good Bye".

The way I see it, in the UK, a bottom-of-the-market-car's price does seem to hinge a lot on the length of the MOT remaining, my car has gone from probably being worth £1000 or so to nothing as the MOT ran out today. How much it will take to get it back to £1000 could be simply the cost of the MOT if it passes (£50) which it won't, or the £600/700 it probably needs plus an MOT.

[jgjones095]

Yeah I watched a few vids on the ETM too

As for car value prices eventually depreciation and the cost of running them.. well repair cost...becomes more than the car itself. You do question it but it's either knowing it's good for about 30-50k or buying another and starting again...

I have had it when the value of the car (albeit in the insurance companies eye) costs less than the excess I would pay (in an event of claiming) which was £100!

[GreenBrick]

Had a look at the throttle body on my V70 and it seems to "stick" at a certain RPM. Tapping the throttle body (with a ratchet spanner) seems to free it up, momentarily.
I have cleaned it out with spray cleaner, and the throttle moves freely enough by hand, but once the engine warms up it either runs very rough at about 500 rpm or revs up to 3K and stays there and ignores the pedal completely.

Is there any hope it can be fixed, if it is the motor that is faulty?

The potentiometers seem to give back sensible readings when I have used VIDA/DICE on it.