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Rate your skills - the official MVS poll

Help, Advice and DIY Tutorials on Volvo's P80 platform cars -- Volvo's 1990s "bread and butter" cars -- powered by the ubiquitous and durable Volvo inline 5-cylinder engine.

1992 - 1997 850, including 850 R, 850 T-5R, 850 T-5, 850 GLT
1997 - 2000 S70, S70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70, V70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70-XC
1997 - 2004 C70

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I am a (blank) Mechanic

Poll ended at 14 Sep 2016, 16:46

O Rivers - I can't even pump my own gas (with apologies to NJ residents)
1
1%
1 River or Beginner - I can perform monthly checks of dipstick, coolant level, PS level
1
1%
2 Rivers - Basic - I can do an oil change, Change a tire, wiper blade, fuse, relay, lights
5
6%
3 Rivers - Mechanic I can do a full brake job, driveshaft, PCV, fuel pump
45
57%
4 Rivers - Advanced - Top end of motor, bottom end of motor, drivetrain - can often find better ways to do things than 'the book'
25
32%
5 Rivers - Expert - You know who you are. The few, the proud - mike, jimmy....and less than 10 others..and not me.
2
3%
 
Total votes: 79
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abscate
MVS Moderator
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Year and Model: 99: V70s S70s,05 V70
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Rate your skills - the official MVS poll

Post by abscate »

Well, its official unless Matt decides he doesnt like it.

Occasionally we are giving advice to a new Volvo owner and we are trying to ascertain her/his skill level, so since its Sunday I thought I would invent a game called rate your skill level.
Empty Nester
A Captain in a Sea of Estrogen
1999-V70-T5M56 2005-V70-M56 1999-S70 VW T4 XC90-in-Red
Link to Maintenance record thread

DeathRex
Posts: 53
Joined: 28 May 2016
Year and Model: 1996 850 Turbo
Location: Cortez, Colorado
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Post by DeathRex »

I'ma #3, but I've been trained to be a ET. I'm surprised that no one in my family can do what I can.

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E Showell
Posts: 3275
Joined: 16 October 2008
Year and Model: ‘07 S80 3.2
Location: Long Valley, N.J.
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Post by E Showell »

ET -- Extreme Turd? ( I kid only because I thought abbreviations were frowned on in forum rules).
'98 V70 NA FWD 5 spd, silver sand metallic (sold)
'99 V70 NA FWD Auto, dark blue (sold)
'99 S70 NA FWD Auto, black (sold and resurrected -- Don't cry for me Argentina . . . )
'07 S80 3.2 FWD Auto, Barents Blue Metallic
'06 V70 R AWD Auto, Sonic Blue Metallic (sold)
'04 XC70 Ruby Red Metallic (sold)
'95 855 auto (sold)
'86 245 manual (sold)
'05 V70 T5 M (totalled)
'06 V70 FWD Auto (totalled)
'02 Honda Insight CVT
‘04 Honda Insight CVT — “Yesterday’s car of tomorrow” (sold)
‘06 Honda Insight CVT

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matthew1
Site Admin
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Year and Model: 850 T5, 1997
Location: Denver, Colorado, US
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Post by matthew1 »

Great poll!
Help keep MVS on the web -> click sponsors' links here on MVS when you buy from them.

Also -> Amazon link
. Click that when you go to buy something on Amazon and MVS gets a cut!

1998 V70, no dash lights on

1997 850 T5 [gone] w/ MSD ignition coil, Hallman manual boost controller, injectors, R bumper, OMP strut brace

2004 V70 R [gone]

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E Showell
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Year and Model: ‘07 S80 3.2
Location: Long Valley, N.J.
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Post by E Showell »

I gave myself a 3, but I've done full suspensions (twice) and been into the top end of the motor (didn't work out so well); done a delta link replacement (both sides with the MVS Loaner tool -- thanks Kahl!); have recovered seats; redone a headliner; replaced passenger side axles,; done sway bar end links; replaced dashboard lights; done tailgate strut replacement; full PCV systems overhaul (twice); changed oxygen sensors; done body panel replacements and exterior trim replacements; added roof racks; upper torque mount and crank pulley motor mount; oil pan o-rings; heater cores (2); emergency brake replacement (Steve and Sommerfeldt take note) and a bunch of other stuff. About to do an A/C compressor replacement and haven't done a timing belt replacement (I don't seem to have the necessary hand strength). I have had my brother's help for most of that stuff so I'd have to rate him a three as well (and I couldn't have done a lot of that stuff without his help).

More importantly -- although I certainly couldn't have done much of that work without my brother's help, I never even would have thought to try it without MVS, so a big hats off/kudos/bravo zulu to Matt and the moderators.
Last edited by E Showell on 31 Jul 2016, 19:38, edited 1 time in total.
'98 V70 NA FWD 5 spd, silver sand metallic (sold)
'99 V70 NA FWD Auto, dark blue (sold)
'99 S70 NA FWD Auto, black (sold and resurrected -- Don't cry for me Argentina . . . )
'07 S80 3.2 FWD Auto, Barents Blue Metallic
'06 V70 R AWD Auto, Sonic Blue Metallic (sold)
'04 XC70 Ruby Red Metallic (sold)
'95 855 auto (sold)
'86 245 manual (sold)
'05 V70 T5 M (totalled)
'06 V70 FWD Auto (totalled)
'02 Honda Insight CVT
‘04 Honda Insight CVT — “Yesterday’s car of tomorrow” (sold)
‘06 Honda Insight CVT

tryingbe
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Year and Model: None
Location: Mesa, AZ, USA
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Post by tryingbe »

I've know a lot, and there are a lot more I don't know.

So, abstention for me.
Last edited by tryingbe on 31 Jul 2016, 19:38, edited 1 time in total.
85 GLH, 367 whp
00 Insight, 72 mpg

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RigsPGT
Posts: 165
Joined: 2 January 2014
Year and Model: Red 99 S70 T5,
Location: Tampa Bay, FL
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Post by RigsPGT »

Know it all? Naah, not me!
I spent a good 15 years with Ford Probes, Mazda 626, MX3/6, Millenias and I can rebuild their KL 2.5L V6 engines without a hick up(killed 7 with and without boost), even somewhat tune a Megasquirt system and modify their teeth but stepping into Volvos its like swimming from a lake into an ocean. You know how to swim but you need to learn the ins and outs of the ocean on the fly.
One unique thing I found about Volvos (P80s) is their simplicity. This made me fall in love with them thus claiming 2 so far :) a base and a T5
99 S70 T5, The Red Devil
Ported 19T and R manifold, 3" DP with Magnaflow race cat, 2.5" cat back, Precision FMIC, Rigs intake pipe, H&Rs, Bilsteins, 302's with Akebonos, Jewels, HIDs, egg crate grille, transmission cooler.

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theWIFES_S70
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Year and Model: 1998 S70 base
Location: Queens, New York
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Post by theWIFES_S70 »

3.4! (Which, rounded down, places me in the 3 category.) I can do brakes with my eyes closed. Fuel pumps are fun!

But I'm deathly afraid of pulling a head! Putting that in the 4 category really changes things.

Poll seems accurate thus far (e.g., the 4s). Though, I think they're quite a few more I'd consider 5s.
Retired:
1998 Volvo S70, N/A, 5-speed, 187K
2007 Volvo S40, 2.4i, 5-speed, 121K
2015 Volvo S60, T5, 85K

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abscate
MVS Moderator
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Year and Model: 99: V70s S70s,05 V70
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Post by abscate »

tryingbe wrote:I've know a lot, and there are a lot more I don't know.

So, abstention for me.
Here's one of the 5s.... :D
Empty Nester
A Captain in a Sea of Estrogen
1999-V70-T5M56 2005-V70-M56 1999-S70 VW T4 XC90-in-Red
Link to Maintenance record thread

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abscate
MVS Moderator
Posts: 35267
Joined: 17 February 2013
Year and Model: 99: V70s S70s,05 V70
Location: Port Jefferson Long Island NY
Has thanked: 1497 times
Been thanked: 3809 times

Post by abscate »

I think one of the beauties of MVS is I probably joined here as a solid 3 but, with the resources here, would feel unafraid to tackle the 4 jobs, and some of the 5s

I put my 1999 up for sale in 2010 as I thought there was no way I could climb up the learning curve under the hood, AC, suspension, timing belt. For 1000 bucks in refurbishing parts, I've had a great ride go from 120 to 180k. That's four car payments for 6 years. With a working ebrake.

That's the whole point, isn't it?

The DIY on other car make Fora are way below the MVS grade, imho
Empty Nester
A Captain in a Sea of Estrogen
1999-V70-T5M56 2005-V70-M56 1999-S70 VW T4 XC90-in-Red
Link to Maintenance record thread

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