What did you do to your Volvo today? Topic is solved

[abscate]

Knocked off rotors, calipers pads on Evita at 168500
Pushed 500ml brake fluid
All hardware cooperated which was nice as it was 24-27F out, at least I was out of the wind.

Best part. Ordering the wrong rotors from FCP, rears instead of fronts, then figuring out I had thrown a set of Volvo rotors from my stock in the trunk in case FCP didn’t have them in stock ( FCP is right on the way to the ferry, so I pick stuff up on the way )

[foggydogg]

I know this isn't an Ouch Contest, but...

Some of the fleet will have to wait a bit to have their ills addressed,
It was in the low teens this morning; I cleared enough space under the house for the project 99M...
and after a bigger adventure than I needed, it is slowly going back together.

This was supposed to be The One; the 97 850 is the prime mover instead, and the poor thing has its tongue hanging out.

[Sveedy]

Started putting things back together on the engine.
Renewed oil pump

[BlackBart]

Insert Tab A into Slot B.... torque to spec.

[abscate]

New Beetle headlight out - reached in and latch knob on the retainer snapped off in my hand, Its 10F out.

Drive 1/4 mile to independent. We are backed up but I can do it this weekend. Four hours and have to replace the light at $300, so $600 all in.

Except - it isnt theheadlight thats broken, its the internal retainer, which is NLA.

Drove back home.

Drilled a 6mm hole into retainer sleeve.
Inserter Phillips scewdriver
Tapped with small hammer.
Installed one $10 bulb
Reversed to install
Elapsed time , 20 minutes.

[454cid]

Drove to get coffee, and warm the car up, so I could take it's temperature with an IR temp gun. The highest reading I got was 140F at the top of the housing. Air temp was only around 14F, but I'm pretty sure the thermostat is mostly stuck open. Parts have been ordered.

[scot850]

From what you say it sounds like your thermostat is stuck open. Not un-common especially if they have sat for a while or coolant has not been changed regularly. When I worked at the dealer (in parts dept) the foreman recommended that you should change the thermostat every 3 years. Cheaper than a head gasket!

Neil.

[Clemens]

I replaced a fuel line, changed some of the power steering fluid and fixed my heated seat. Luckily I had spare heater mats on hand.

[ZionXIX]

A few months ago I saw dash lights stop working in my 850 and then they would magically turn on half through a drive. I originally thought it was the light switch. I posted here a disassembly with cleaning and a little dielectric grease. I thought I fixed it but the problem returned a short time later. Today I noticed if I mess with the dimmer or "rheostat" the light would flicker and eventually turn on. Pulled the switch out and gave it a few taps. Lights work great now. Just have to tap the switch every now and then.

Holy crap that is an expensive switch to buy new. About $215 new on FCP. At that price I may try to destroy it fixing it first.

[ZionXIX]

Part 2 of fun with rheostats.

I disassembled my rheostat which is overly complicated by the way. You cannot fully open this switch without removing the slider switch. I de soldered mine and then plugged it in to see which wires had to be shorted to make the lights come on. The slider has 3 wires. Plugged in and no wires attached the lights default to "on". If you short the red marked wire and the middle wire the lights turn off. Im pleased that the lights will stay on with no slider at all. I went ahead and desoldered the 3 wires from the board as well and now the dash lights stay on as long as headlights are on. This is great because it's a free fix. I have never needed to reduce the dash illumination. I find the 850s to have a comfortable brightness at max power. Newer vehicle dash lights distract me greatly when driving. So I'm gonna say volvo got it right and just continue existing with 100% dash lights like I always have. Hypothetically I could solder a new slider in place but goodluck finding that exact one.