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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
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Re: Rate your skills - the official MVS poll

Post by abscate »

This past year I added to my understanding of fuel trim and how to use that info to diagnose.

It solid 4 material, but I don't have the intuition to reach 5 IMHO

I did have the fleeting glimpse of 5 with my intuition about shockwaves fuel pump, but that was promptly cancelled by putting in my airbags backwards
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
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Post by abscate »

I had a good couple of years on Volvo’s since this poll including a driveway clutch job and a grind through a vacuum leak.

I’m still a solid 4 as whenever I read a jimmy post I think...

‘I didn’t know that, and I probably should know that...”
Empty Nester
A Captain in a Sea of Estrogen
1999-V70-T5M56 2005-V70-M56 1999-S70 VW T4 XC90-in-Red
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erikv11
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Post by erikv11 »

Engine swaps, a couple rear main seals, head swaps and trans swaps (autos), all the suspension jobs and lots of fuel and other system repairs, I can flash an ECU but won't meddle with the tune, not good enough at troubleshooting but regardless it is a very long ways off to 5 rivers. I don't think you get there without training or other full time effort ...
'95 854 T-5R, Motronic 4.4, 185k
'98 V70, T5 tune-injectors-turbo, LPT engine, 304k, daily driver
'06 S60 R, 197k
'07 XC70, black, 205k
'07 XC70, willow green, 212k
'99 Camry V6 :shock: 153k
gone: '96 NA 850 210k, '98 NA V70 182k, '98 S70 NA 225k, '96 855 NA 169k

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abscate
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Post by abscate »

It’s that 10,000 hours thing.

I did have the fleeting glimpse of 5 with my intuition about shockwaves fuel pump, but that was promptly cancelled by putting in my airbags backwards
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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WhatAmIDoing
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Post by WhatAmIDoing »

After 2 years of working on my Volvo, definitely think I've moved from a 2 to a 3. That emergency weekend brake job last summer was fun. Sights are set on 4, but that's still a long way off.
'98 S70 T5M - 323,000mi - awaiting heart transplant :shock:
'98 V70 T5M - 324,000mi - my new project
'99 S70 "AWD" - 220,000+mi - gone :cry:
Knows enough to be dangerous :wink:

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Rattnalle
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Post by Rattnalle »

I'm a solid 3.

The 4 stuff listed is stuff you should never have to do to a car unless you're working some old classic or something. If I ever get there I'll get rid of it :-P

850TurboTurtle
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Post by 850TurboTurtle »

I wish I was a 3, but when the motor blew, and then the tranny blew a year later, I learned how to do a top end, tranny swap, rebuild, lower, front axles, rear shocks, water pump, and more than I ever wished. Then again, I saved enough to buy my used S80, so thank you forum for all the help!!

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abscate
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Post by abscate »

The best part of being a 4 is talking 3 into doing things they wouldn’t do otherwise.
Empty Nester
A Captain in a Sea of Estrogen
1999-V70-T5M56 2005-V70-M56 1999-S70 VW T4 XC90-in-Red
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Goupil
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Post by Goupil »

I'm a 3 as long as I have an internet connexion :mrgreen:

Might get into level 4 if I have to, but I'd rather not :roll:
1998 Volvo V70 B5254T M56
1994 Volvo 945 B230FT M90
1985 Volvo 240 B230E

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WhatAmIDoing
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Post by WhatAmIDoing »

I've upgraded from a 2 to a 3, and after this summer I think I can call myself a 4.
'98 S70 T5M - 323,000mi - awaiting heart transplant :shock:
'98 V70 T5M - 324,000mi - my new project
'99 S70 "AWD" - 220,000+mi - gone :cry:
Knows enough to be dangerous :wink:

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