Interesting technician instructional videos on YouTube

[June]

I ran across a really cool series of videos on YouTube posted by Rivlanta a GM series of videos for the Buick technician. They are really nicely done ranging from the 1980's to 2000's. I realize we own Volvo, but things like techniques to diagnose and repair wind noise, torque steer, 4T65E transaxle, and lots more is covered in the series. The series is called Buick Know How. I've watched a few and feel I have learned a bit. I really wish Volvo had such a informative series of videos on our cars like that. Enjoy, June

[93Regina]

I really wish Volvo had such a informative series of videos on our cars like that. Enjoy, June

There are good/decent Youtube "how to fix it" videos available, but to my awareness, nobody has sorted the chaff from the wheat, and then cited these.

Over the years, Volvo's service literature has explained tech updates, etc.

>techniques to diagnose

Later day shop manuals can be accessed at a Volvo web site, for serious dollars. But, for electronic diagnosis, shop tools may be required...otherwise, one may be winging it.

With older Volvos, there are still manuals available, Volvo (ebay) and aftermarket, but with online forums, most users can find a solution.

When dealing with electronic issues, Volvo, like other OEMs, do not explain always "theory of operation." Modern day "techs" tend to be part-replacers mostly, who use the computer interface to do the diagnosing. In GM repair shops, the tech plugs in "computer cable," and the computer "drives" him thru tests.

For a brand new vehicle, I don't know if OEMs would sell a shop manual to a customer. I just checked GM's site, and for 2017 Corvette, no service manual exist.

For emission testing, there is the OBD-II plug in newer vehicles. OEMs, by law, must install this, and one can buy an OBD-II tester. But, a novice might be fixing the effect, rather than the cause sometimes. With EFI vehicles, one needs to have a sense of what's happening theoretically. Billions have been wasted by techs/amauters throwing parts at the "problem," which turned out to be something else.

Hence, a person should understand how an engine works, and then how this electronic "stuff" is acting upon it.

Going back to say a 1978 280Z that was fitted with a Bosch L-Jetronic fuel injection system, someone I knew then had one that would cold start fine, then as it warmed up, it would blow black smoke out pipe, and die if accelerator pedal was not depressed down. Long story short, after three shops had looked at it, they had to get a Datsun tech rep out of Denver, who fix'ed it within several minutes. Problem, the water sensor was "telling" the computer that the engine was always cold...so the comuter was increasing the fuel mixture (black smoke) when cold.