What I did today thread...

[ShadeTek]

It stopped raining, woohoo, took the plug cover off and took out the fangled new all in one ignition coil pack, check for cracked wiring and then took a spark plug out to have a look at it to see of it was needing replaced. Then cleaned the dashboard and then decided to diagnose the faulty external air temp sensor. Took the door card off, only broke 2 rivets, and did a cold impednce check back up to the sensor. At 20°C it should have been 2.5k (I think) but mine was reading 4.1K so it looks like it was at fault and I have condemned it. I heated it up with a lamp and it would only go as low as 3.0K (should have been lower), too. I also cleaned the connector on the brake pedal angle sensor at the brake vaccum as it is throwing a code every couple of weeks and killing my cruise control. Adjusted my handbrake cable and then went for a test spin.

[richard s]

had my kids bring me my fathers day present of toblerone and nivea after shave balm when i woke up. we then had a drive to my parents for an hour and when we got home i spent ages trying to upload some photos from my phone (which used to work) to eventually get them to sync together and have my phone then refuse to upload the images as it is being used as a mass storage device when plugged into the pc grrr.
carwise i checked my oil and water

[ShadeTek]

Well after thinking the auto rain sensor was pants, I have since changed my opinion. The reason for that is what I thought was the variable wipe timer for the rear, isn't that at alll. It's a sensitivity adjustment for the front rain sensor and if I set it two notches down from maximum, it works quite well! Which is saying something for Scottish weather.

[PeteB1]

I performed a rear brake overhaul - discs, pads & shoes over the weekend.

There were no unforseen problems, the discs required belting off with a small 'lump' hammer to break the bond to the hub but they then came away relatively easily. The pads were not as worn as I would have expected for 65000 miles and the shoes looked OK without any signs of the delamination so often observed. The discs were fairly rusted around the edges, as was the edge of the drum inner surface where the shoes don't contact but that's not unusual for any car I've worked on. It was not to the point where the shoes prevented removal once I'd loosened the handbrake cable.

Strictly speaking, the job didn't need doing yet but with the above mileage on a 5 year old car with original brake components with the known potential problem, I now have full peace of mind, they're all replaced. All Volvo badged and sourced components used.

The only question I have is unlike the front discs which have new caliper carrier bracket mounting bolts with them, the rear ones didn't so I ended up re-using the old ones without apparent issue. Should I now remove the caliper again to replace these carrier bolts?

Next job - front brake overhaul and cambelt/auxilliary belt + idlers etc.

[ShadeTek]

Originally Posted by PeteB1

I

The only question I have is unlike the front discs which have new caliper carrier bracket mounting bolts with them, the rear ones didn't so I ended up re-using the old ones without apparent issue. Should I now remove the caliper again to replace these carrier bolts?

On my old 850 I had the originals after 17 years and they are still going somehwere.

[ShadeTek]

I was lurking about my engine bay today to find the top engine mount was begining to crack from the front to the rear. Hello wallet.

[bublnsqueak]

Today I finished repairing the damage from a water pump / cambelt failure that took out 10 valves on a car I had only had for a month.

Dealer I bought it from, went very quiet after initially offering to help. Kept all the receipts, quotes and bills.

Lots of help from friends, local businesses and this forum.

Had a bit of trouble finishing off. Thought it was valve timing. Turned out to be 2 separate ignition faults: broken plug and a dead coil pack.

Thanks to all who chipped in!
Now what's the number for the small claims court?
Paul

[Georgeandkira]

Hello, Today I drained the sump of a 2002 Audi A4 Quattro 3.0l V-6. I used my power bleeder as a transmission fluid delivery tool. I'm happy to say the fluid didn't smell the least bit burned, considering how black it was. I will not continue with my planned escalation of larger maintenance tasks with this car as it is not my vehicle and working in the owner's driveway has been clumsy at best. My ego demands I mention that I was looking forward to getting all the clamping hardware necessary for a cam belt change in this picky engine. Again, working on someone else's turf when you're feeling out a job is difficult. Kira

[littonlad]

Took the towbar off my V70.

It's now on eBay.....

[James S]

Did the engine oil, filter and air filter, aided by my 5 year old grandson! I've got one of those vacuum oil extractors and he supplied the pumping power! All done now, and not a drop of oil on either grandson or grandfather (and that's go to be a first).

I am hoping that he remembers enough to do the job for me next year