What did you do to your P2 Volvo today?

Post by **steve850** » 08 Sep 2023, 18:59

In the last week or so I've done all the fun jobs on my 04 XC70. Throttle Body. Pads and discs on all 4, rear calipers, master cylinder and booster. I haven't worked on my car(s) in years, haven't had the time. I think this has been the most theraputic few days I've had in a while (other than the fact that I still have no brake boost, but that's in the forum and can wait another day!)

Nice to be back on the site, as great as it always was!

02V70 · Post by **02V70** » 08 Sep 2023, 21:53

Nice, I feel like I have just as much fun working on my car as I do driving it.

yanga001 · Post by **yanga001** » 11 Sep 2023, 18:45

had a fuel leak code come up the other day. Cleared it today, no indications of a leak. Will monitor to see if it comes up again.

Post by **P80GLT** » 12 Sep 2023, 03:02

I managed to get hold of a boot/trunk mat for the V70, I had a nice drive through to Edinburgh last nice to collect it.

Looks like it's not been abused and only a couple of light stains which I hope will shampoo out, bonus is it's never had a dog sitting on it.

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The carpet is a heavy texture

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Mat is reversible

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Shampooed this morning and in the process of a blow dry with the carpet snail. I won't know how the stains are until it dries

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Post by **abscate** » 12 Sep 2023, 04:48

That carpet snail will need a 55 gallon drum of Guinness to catch….my Goodness

Post by **P80GLT** » 12 Sep 2023, 06:07

All dried in the Scottish sunshine and fitted into the car. The mat scrubbed up better than I expected, it looks brand new

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Post by **vtl** » 12 Sep 2023, 06:56

abscate wrote: ↑12 Sep 2023, 04:48 That carpet snail will need a 55 gallon drum of Guinness to catch….my Goodness

I'm lining up for that 55 gallon Guinness carpet snail!

Post by **P80GLT** » 14 Sep 2023, 08:03

Ouch!!! an expense I didn't think I would have when I bought the V70. I noticed before I bought the car that it had a new alternator fitted and thought it would be all good for a long time.

However I had noticed a few times when I started the car the dash lights sometimes (not always) pulsated so I fitted a volt meter to keep a watch on things. All seemed good with the car charging between 13.8 and 14.7 volts depending on what the battery required.

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On Monday driving back from Edinburgh I noticed my headlamps pulsating ever so slightly and not all the time, at first I thought it was my imagination, then wondered if it was my eyes playing games. Once home and a search online and the most likely culprit for pulsating lights are either a bad battery or alternator. With more in-depth research I discovered that the alternator fitted to the V70 was a Eurocarparts special RTX piece of crap that famously only last a short time before leaving the owner stranded.

I have a local alternator shop who didn't have anything in stock for the car but could build one for me, but as I don't have the original and didn't know if it should be 140A or 160A I decided to buy a new alternator from a long established company who have a great reputation. We discussed the option of a rebuilt Bosch alternator or one of their own custom built new units and I've opted for the new custom build which is built with Bosch regulator and freewheel clutch pulley therefore parts are readily available should they ever be required. The only difference is the rotor/stator and they very seldom give problems so I would need to be extremely unlucky for that to break.

I just need to pluck up the courage to swap them over now...

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Post by **ZionXIX** » 14 Sep 2023, 14:18

I didn't realize there were companies doing custom alternator builds. Is this all new parts? I would much rather have that than a rebuilt alternator.

Post by **P80GLT** » 14 Sep 2023, 15:05

Yes, all brand new parts with Bosch regulator to future-proof repairs in years to come

30 minutes to get the alternator almost out, only to find out I needed to remove the top radiator hose.

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I drained 3 litres coolant to allow me to remove the top hose

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All zipped up again and engine started. Just need to burp the coolant and it's good to go.

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Went for a drive in the dark and can confirm the pulsating lights are no longer. I managed to burp the cooling system but sill have a little more that I took out, so in theory it should go back in. Hopefully by the morning the level will drop enough to top it off.

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Anyone looking for an alternator would be advised to give the Eurocarparts RTX series a wide berth. This one is less than a year old and on its way out

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What did you do to your P2 Volvo today?

Re: What did you do to your P2 Volvo today?