2001 V70 T5 - What isnt wrong- What do I fix if anything?

[jeresum]

I have a '01 V70 T5. I paid it off finally last year. I know Volvos are supposed to be good cars, but saying I hate this car would be the understatement of the century. To make it even more awesome, I do not have a Volvo dealership or licensed repair shop in town, the closet is 4 hours away. The other mechanics in town are on two ends of the spectrum in not willing to touch the car, or are willing but it will cost me an arm and leg.
I need to know what makes sense for me to fix with this car. I have some basic car knowledge... I know how to change oil, follow instructions, change a tire, and other small things. I don't know how to check spark plug firing rates or anything too technical. That being said I am willing to learn, I just don't want to do more harm then good when repairing something that needed to be done by a professional.
So, the first issue we ran into was the dim headlight issue. I have found a repair for that, and just need to order the new part.
Next, we have ran into transmission and catalytic converter issues. I had someone blow out the cat converter, but that only lasted for a short time. I live in a state that doesn't require emission testing, so I had some advice to just take it out.... but other advice that said Volvo has sensors before and after in which causes more issues if you try and do that. It is time for trying to find a new one, or try another blow out.... but that is a pricey fix before you even try to get the mechanic's time into it.
The car is in serious need of an alignment, but the shop I took it too stated it needed tire rods before they would do it.
After that.... the brakes began to go bad quickly. I have no brake pressure which as I am sure the mechanics on this forum know can be a simple brake line to a cylinder issue.... none of which I know to do. I did stop by the local parts store and ask about parts and they are much cheaper then the cost of the mechanic.... but I need to know I could do that. I have kiddos I transport.
So... dear Volvo owners and those that know about them. What do I take on?? Is there any advice?

[oragex]

Do you lose brake fluid ? Reservoir level is stable?

The 2001 transmission is know to break. At least have the neutral feature disabled by software reset at the dealer. Also read about B4 servo cover and solenoids here on forum.

What is the trouble with the catalytic converter? Check engine light? If that's all, leave it there, it doesn't matter, only the emissions are off specs (not necessarily by much).

Dim lights: replace the bulbs. Light gets dim on old bulbs. These are cheap and good http://www.ebay.com/itm/Genuine-Philips ... 3f&vxp=mtr. If light is still not enough, check headlights adjustment, google how to do it. Replacing a bulb is very hard on you model, google about it, there is some electrical box that has to be removed to get access.

Tie rods are known to prematurely wear. The shop can do an alignment even without replacing them first, just be aware that the alignment might not remain good if the tie rods are worn. You may get a second opinion at another garage, it's easy to check the tie rods for play.

[jeresum]

I checked the brake fluid reservoir after posting this, it was dry. I did buy fluid to put something in it.... but I'm guessing that points to a cylinder? I do remember that when I went through the alignment deal he said that the brake line looked like it was worn and cracking.... is there a place on the forum or can you tell me how to check this with a Volvo?
The trouble with the cat.... we lost power in the car. It would be going ok, and then I couldn't get any power. It would run and start, but it would not go above 5mph. I did get a mechanic (retired now) to look at it. He said often in those situations it could be the cat or the some sensor. So, he replaced the sensor and blew out the cat. It worked great after that, we even had Turbo... But, it has been slowly getting worse as time went by. We drive the car in town and don't get it up to any major speeds ever really. And, with some of the other issues we didn't want to push it.
I knew too that the transmission may be having issues, and I almost went in to get a transmission service. But, then I read about how many issues were brought up by the pressurized fluid changes I tried to get a mechanic to do it without the pressure. But, no one will. So, I will have to do that one. I did find the detailed instructions for that one.
I replaced the bulbs and found out it it is the "dipped beam failure" that I have read about. With the breaker (?) in the cpu unit under the steering wheel that over heats and causes a lost connection.

[oragex]

For brakes, check under the master cylinder (should be somewhere bellow the reservoir) with a rag, see if it's wet. Also check underneath the steering wheel, above the pedals if liquid is dripping. Then check front brake rubber hoses behind each wheel at the lower point of the hose see if it's cracked. You can see the hose when the wheel is fully turned, without jacking the car. If all checks fine, there could be a leak inside a caliper.

As for the cat, my guess is that the mechanic found it to be broken and clogged with the debris. I think running with it emptied makes for a different exhaust pressure and might have affected the oxygen sensor. Perhaps try removing it (the front one from inside the engine bay) and see if it looks black from running rich. You can try to put a flame on it for a few seconds to burn the black deposits at the holes on the tip.

I don't know about the bulbs issue, heard it's caused by un-proper bulb wattage.

You are right about the transmission issues. What I would suggest, is asking a garage to drain it like an engine oil drain. It takes only Mobil 3309, Toyota T-IV or MaxLife® DEX/MERC ATF (the cheapest, at Walmart). There is a drain plug at the lowest point of the transmission, gets out 3-4 quarts. Refilling is done only by the yellow dipstick tube, careful not to open some other bolt on the transmission thinking it's a refill hole - tell the garage so they don't confuse as certain bolts once removed it loosens parts inside and it's toasted. It will take two such drains, the transmission must be running for a few minutes between the two drains. The transmission needs to be reset to new fluid at a Volvo dealer right after, that's why others had issues after the fluid change. The transmission needs to know there is fresh fluid, so it adapts shifting.
If it's your first repairs, don't forget to use jack stands when going underneath