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

[Chuck W]

A Thunderbird is roomy , but I don’t think either will fit.

Probably not. The trunk is pretty sizable, though. The stupid cage I built 15 years ago eats up a lot of the interior. Need to pare that all back a bit.

[volvolugnut]

Is that clamp strong enough for the coolant hose? Looks like it could blow right off? I use a rolled edge Norma Torr worm gear clamp for that. No, not Oetiker so I can easily remove it (most important for the lower hose to drain coolant).

The only time I've blown one off was when I pressurized the system with 60psi from the water hose (city water). If it hadn't blown, I probably would have lost my trucks radiator. I don't recall why I did it, but I was in the process of flushing the cooling system.

They have ears on them, but there's no way you're pinching it by hand enough to remove it. You have to use pliers and its best to use the pliers specifically designed for them.

The really great thing about them is that they adjust for thermal expansion, since they're a spring.

In a pinch you can remove and install these wire clamps with water pump pliers applied from the side.
volvolugnut

[foggydogg]

Is that clamp strong enough for the coolant hose? Looks like it could blow right off? I use a rolled edge Norma Torr worm gear clamp for that. No, not Oetiker so I can easily remove it (most important for the lower hose to drain coolant).

OEM on GM cars for decades, but plus one on the Norma clamps.

[brunocerous]

You can’t clamp over a paper label, Bruno…it’s …just…..wrong.

I was going to say the same thing... unacceptable!

Thanks for the heads up! I went out this morning and removed the label. I was so DONE with working on this radiator replacement that I just wanted to get it over with. Is the danger that the Oetiker clamp could slip off the hose?

While I was out there, I also reattached the left rear mud flap on the T5 with two new rivets to supplement the single point of attachment that remained and took it to the car wash, where they offered me a $20 monthly membership that includes unlimited car washes. I did briefly consider it.

I finally undid the two radiator mounting bolts with a combination of a grinder, oscillating tool and drill. It wasn’t pretty, and I’m not proud of what it looked like at the end, but it was a relief. 5F760CFA-0598-4E77-A362-6B9089A9403C.jpeg86AF0006-4A58-44C1-8D53-B43B52345393.jpeg

Where did you get the constant tension band clamp for the upper hose?

I ended up leaving the worm-drive style clamp on there because it looked like it was in good shape.

[454cid]

OEM on GM cars for decades, but plus lone on the Norma clamps.

They're stock on my 99 truck, but my 2000 Saturn had clamps more like the non-oetiker clamps on my 850... a worm gear type clamp but the grooves weren't punched all the way through. I didn't like those, as the one I did have to mess with would not seal again, even though it looked ok. I'm not sure what my 69 Buicks had originally, but probably a combination of single wire clamps, and the type with the screw arranged radially.

I think my 86.5 Toyota Supra used constant tension band clamps, too.

A lot of guys replace the constant tension band clamps with worm drive clamps. I used to do it myself, until I realized the original clamps were better. I use very few worm drive clamps now.

I'm looking forward to giving Oetiker clamps a try, too. First time I was exposed to them was on a CV joint on a front driveshaft on a 4wd. I'm thinking they'd be good on heater hoses on my vehicles that use bulk hose.

[454cid]

While I was out there, I also reattached the left rear mud flap on the T5 with two new rivets to supplement the single point of attachment that remained and took it to the car wash, where they offered me a $20 monthly membership that includes unlimited car washes. I did briefly consider it.

My 850's mudflaps could stand to be replaced. The fronts looks abraded by something. I didn't know they're held on with pop-rivets, but I suppose that makes sense since the fender well liners are held on that way on the S70.

I do have the car wash membership....for each Volvo! The 850's is cheaper, Though, as they'd raised prices by the time I bought the S70. I plan on going through today with the S70.

[scot850]

Just a word of caution! Do not use regular rivets and washers to fit these. First curb you go over that catches your front mudflap will rip it beyond repair and most likely bend your fender badly too. Volvo has expensive rubber coated rivets that can be found on line from non-Volvo suppliers more reasonably. These are designed to pull through the mudflap and not bend the fender. I recall someone on MVS also using the plastic fender clips with the mushroom head and ridges that push in and grip.

Neil.

[ZionXIX]

So I find myself today sitting in my xc90 parked in front of a bowling alley waiting for a ride. The xc90 died sitting in traffic and I pushed her off the road into the parking lot so as not to worsen traffic. So far with nothing more than a multitool I've been able to determine the engine turns over (slowly), plenty of fuel at the rail, can't check spark without more tools. Check engine light on when cranking. If only I had remembered to leave the jump pack on the car so I could at least try that.

Part 2 of the xc90 dying in traffic

Got her towed home with triple A. Talk car stuff with he driver the whole way home. Pretty good guy who has a thing for toyotas. Any way I started tearing into the back seats to get to the fuel pump. I swapped a junkyard fuel control module in and no change. When key is turned on there is no noise coming from the fuel pump. I unplugged it and put 12 volt directly to the pump wires and nothing. No noise, no power, just quiet. So I'm gonna go out on a limb and say the fuel pump went out on the xc90. Got a new one due to arrive tomorrow.

[bmdubya1198]

The constant tension clamps are used on coolant hoses on MANY cars, primarily American and Asian. European cars are pretty much the only ones I work on that don't use many of them.

[scot850]

The P80's use them on the drain pipes from the window wiper recess in the engine bay!

I hate those clamps they can be a devil to undo without the correct pliers which I don't own. Also seen them on some fuel hoses.

Neil.