What did you do to your P2 Volvo today?

[kcodyjr]

How many kms on that car?

342219 kilometers, but the odometer says 212645 miles.

[abscate]

True. Get well soon, Abscate!

Ben's been shifting rougher than I like so I took him into the shop today. Long story short, his wee leak apparently became large and according to the shop his fluid is black and low. Yeah I did the flush and fill late last year. Also, mini-rant, whomever came up with the trans dip stick can go bleep themselves. It's completely useless all crammed way down in the bowels of the engine. I have never been able to get an accurate reading (just tried last week too) and no matter how it wipes and comes out after excusing yourself past hot hoses, it's just a haphazard smear of red.

I'm booked until August with to-dos and school and mawwage so I told them to flush it and diag to see if the transmission is shot. If so, expletive rhyming with duck. If not, they'll need to replace whatever seals they were talking about between the rock and hard place. Ugh.

I think Ben might have heard me talk about selling Steve (my '17 MX-5 RF) and getting another P2 or P3 (depending on whether P3s good or not). So is he punishing me? My ol' 1980 Celica used to get jealous when I looked at other cars too.

I've been so loving toward him though! I rarely engage the Turb and I've never hit a kerb. I have PM'd him and bought him pretty new shoes! How could he break my heart with this potentially bad news?

Hopefully the transmission is still good. Hope dies last.

Here is that high standard of marital aspiration, Starbuck!

Photo circa 1989

[Blacklab467]

How many miles on Beth's XC 70? It might be worthwhile to consider a new used transmission judging from the condition of the rest of the car if it does have catastrophic damage.

[Starbuck]

Wow Abscate, that pic was worth the wait!

Ben's mileage is only 175k. He's in good shape otherwise. I've done a tone of PM on him since I bought him last year including a timing belt in March. If his transmission turns out to be okay, the next giant thing I'll do is a coolant system overhaul. Those rad hoses are stamped with 2003 and as a sufferer in the Bav Money Waster cult... this makes me super nervous. He does have fresh coolant as R&Red the water pump too (old one looked fine but I didn't care because I had it out).

So if it comes to it, I'm not opposed to a rebuilt transmission et. al. I'd love to do it myself but I don't have that kind of time right now. I'll ask for advice/recommendations here if necessary. I've also thought about trading my Mazda in for a P3 but have done zero research so far on whether or not they're good cars too. I really like my P2!

[abscate]

Those rad hoses are stamped with 2003 and as a sufferer in the Bav Money Waster cult...

Hee hee... I got that one to catch on, unlike “ fetch”

[jonesg]

idupe

[jonesg]

installed TPMS system, only $55 , cheap compared to the 5 tires I ruined in the last 3 years.
Monitor plugs in the cig lighter , the alarm beeps if a tire goes below 30 psi.

re-plumbed air system with high flow V fittings, fed up of impact tools that can't loosen lugs.

[DonnVa]

Timing cover and drip tray back on the car for the first time since I bought it last July. No leaks!!

[Starbuck]

DonnVa, I'm loving that clean engine bay!

The shop called today and said the flush and fill smoothed the shifting issue out. I approved the seal repair as I don't have time to do it myself. I thanked the Master Tech for the tip he gave me back in October to mark the actual timing belt too and he said, "Wait, you replaced the timing belt yourself?" When I replied I had, he enthusiastically offered me a job.

I told him I'd seriously considered applying for an apprenticeship earlier in the year but my cervical issue when paired with staring at the nethers of a car on a lift for 14 hours a day had caused my thumb and two neighbor fingers to go numb on both hands. Then after I had to quit the dream job at the shop it was three months before I had feeling in them again.

Still, it was a really nice thing for him to say and it lifted my spirits. Aaaaaand this is why I'm going back to school for Life Plan 3.0 hahahaha.

Fall down seven times, get up eight.

[abscate]

It is tough on the body indeed. I’ve been treating mine much better , cracking bolts with heat, lube, and 12-24 inch bars rather yanking in short ratchets. Impacts are also your friend.

Driveway diving is hard on you in the post 60 era, too..you learn to plan out and bring tools with better than when I was modeling for J Crew.