Oh dear, what have I done...?

macaroni · Post by **macaroni** » Sat Apr 28, 2007 8:25 pm

Hello all,
I have just purchased a Volvo 480 from ebay.
It is a black turbo, 1995M with 93,00 miles and I haven't even seen it!
This goes against all my car buying principles, but I had Ã‚Â£500 burning a hole in my pocket from the sale of my last car.

It has MOT till June and tax till Feb 2008.

Have I just bought an interesting, useful and fun hatchback or a complete money pit?

What is the cambelt interval on these and is it a bad job to do for a reasonably competent mechanic?

Any help and advice gratefully received.

Cheers,

Antony

VanDerGraaf · Post by **VanDerGraaf** » Sat Apr 28, 2007 8:31 pm

So it was you! I was watching that.... I think that looks like a good buy for the price. Never saw any mileage or service history mentioned for that one but it looks fairly clean.

Yes they can be a money pit but not if it's been looked after in the first place.
Cambelt change is meant to be every 60k for later cars like the one you just bought. Do it every 30k for peace of mind.

Welcome to the forum, hoope your new car is a good one and brings you lots of fun and considerably less grief!

Rohan

macaroni · Post by **macaroni** » Sat Apr 28, 2007 9:15 pm

Thanks for the reply.

I had spoken to the owner at length beforehand about it and he seems quite genuine. He has no record of a cambelt change, so that will be an imminent job.
I assume, if you suggest to do it every 30K, that it isn't a very difficult job?

There is a guy very local to me with an auto turbo for spares/repair and I thought about offering him Ã‚Â£50 for that. Especially as it has a working infocentre.
I thought I could use the ecu from that for a "Richmod", whatever that is. assuming the auto ecu is the same as for the manual.

Cheers,

Antony

catgroom · Post by **catgroom** » Sat Apr 28, 2007 9:26 pm

You mean M*** SUD??

Mate thats one nice looking first 480.

Id buy that blind myself.

Are you in Kent then???

Cambelt intervals are 48k but I do mine at 36k usually.Just do it for peace of mind.Do have an assistant though,took me hours on my tod!

Let us know what immediately strikes you as wrong with it and read this forum using search functions.This way if its beyond the pale it'll soon a)show itself and b) be back on ebay for me to use as a body shell swap!

Steve

jonhanks · Post by **jonhanks** » Sat Apr 28, 2007 9:37 pm

Congratulations on buying your 480! I to have done the exact same thing today - bought a 480 blind of ebay for Ã‚Â£440 (The kind seller knocked me some money off for taxi journey and the info center not working). Its metallic black and is on an m reg.

Car came with full service history and has all the extras ie full leather, cruise control, sun roof, air con etc. Took the dash board apart today and looks like its just a dead bulb in the info center so its straight to Halfords in the morning!!

Its sure great to be back in a 480 - they have there problems but boy they are MUCH more fun than a peugeot 306 diesel!!

see ya

VanDerGraaf · Post by **VanDerGraaf** » Sat Apr 28, 2007 10:05 pm

Pretty sure Volvo say cambelt is 60k but earlier recomendation was 48k.

I really hope it's a good one.

Rohan

macaroni · Post by **macaroni** » Sun Apr 29, 2007 6:13 am

Cheers guys, funny you should say that Jon, I sold my 306xsi to buy this.

Yes Catgroom, thats the one. I live in Tunbridge Wells, are you local?

Well my Dad is a mechanic of some 40 years so I may have to extend an invitation to him to visit his son. "Oh by the way Dad, do you have a spare hour or two to help with this cambelt change?"

Exciting day ahead, off to Brands Hatch for the A1GP and then having my first 480 delivered.

Later dudes!

martinholmesuk · Post by **martinholmesuk** » Sun Apr 29, 2007 7:31 am

Welcome to the club, 480's can be a money pit and your find me outside Tesco later today begging.

no really welcome and enjoy

macaroni · Post by **macaroni** » Sun Apr 29, 2007 8:01 pm

catgroom wrote: Let us know what immediately strikes you as wrong with it and read this forum using search functions.This way if its beyond the pale it'll soon a)show itself and b) be back on ebay for me to use as a body shell swap!
Steve

Well, took it for a quick spin and it seems pretty good. Turbo spools up well and gives good boost. The handling is good and the roadholding excellent even though it is on cheapo tyres. Brakes are very good.

Things immediately noticeable as wrong are:

Gearbox hard to engage and clutch bites very low down so I assume (hope!) that the clutch just needs adjusting.
Infocentre not working. Where is the ecu for this? Behind the knob? I'll also check the bulbs behind the dash.
1 x day running bulb not working.
Tailgate struts are weak
Drivers seat won't tilt, I assume cable is broken.

I'll start searching through some threads for info on this stuff.

Cheers,

Antony

macaroni · Post by **macaroni** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 12:00 pm

So, the gear change is now much better, having adjusted the clutch, and the daylight bulb has been replaced.

Just got to fix the front seat cable and get the infocentre working.

Oh, and I quite fancy fitting an MBC...

pol · Post by **pol** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 12:18 pm

Ello!

I was watching that one too. Looked a beauty, congrats.

By the way, i'm in Crowborough so i'll be lookin out for it!
Mine's the errr Black turbo one!

pol

jonhanks · Post by **jonhanks** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 12:21 pm

Looks like my info centre has gone as well - tried changing the bulb (which was blown) and cleaning all the plugs, contacts but nothing!! Anyone have one for sale?

catgroom · Post by **catgroom** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 2:01 pm

@ Macaroni No mate but I know that area fairly well!

OK,info centres not working.Find the red and grey thin power lead behind the stereo and see if it connected properly.The power lead for the radio is same source which provides power for the info centre you see.

Try fuse for it also.Even......try a different Info Centre!!!

Steve

jonhanks · Post by **jonhanks** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 5:32 pm

Thanks cat groom - going to have another look now.

Incidently, which fuse do I check? The cigarette light is working as I'm told this is shared by the same fuse.

thanks
jon

macaroni · Post by **macaroni** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 5:54 pm

The radio is working fine, so does that mean the red and grey lead is OK?

muddyfox470 · Post by **muddyfox470** » Mon Apr 30, 2007 6:45 pm

Have a look at my thread here:

http://volvo480.dragons.org.uk/forum/vi ... hp?t=13724

In the end I had to transplant the PCB and it worked

Hope you manage to get it working, I've made sure most of the things in that thread are easy to follow

Ian

macaroni · Post by **macaroni** » Tue May 01, 2007 8:42 pm

OK, so I have checked the wires behind the stereo as best I can, by wobbling them, to no effect.

I have checked the contact of the brown earth lead on the alternator, to no effect.

I can't seem to find a fuse for the Infocentre, can you tell me where it is?

Other than that, I guess it is a case of replacing the PCB from behind the instrument panel.

catgroom · Post by **catgroom** » Tue May 01, 2007 9:21 pm

The fuse for the radio,and other items it shares circuit with,are shown on a sticker inside fuse box lid.

I'd swap the whole info centre myself,with one from a scrappie,test first to see if its problem though!

It does seem that when you fanny around with items up the back of the dash for example,you disturb something which never really is clear.You just know it works when it finally does and youre usually happy at that!Sounds naff and vague,but this is a quirk of the 480!

Steve

macaroni · Post by **macaroni** » Wed May 02, 2007 9:25 am

None of the stickers say "Infocentre", but the radio still works, so I guess it isn't that.

I'll get another PCB from a scrapper I think.

macaroni · Post by **macaroni** » Sun May 06, 2007 9:25 pm

macaroni wrote: Things immediately noticeable as wrong are:

Gearbox hard to engage and clutch bites very low down so I assume (hope!) that the clutch just needs adjusting.
Infocentre not working. Where is the ecu for this? Behind the knob? I'll also check the bulbs behind the dash.
1 x day running bulb not working.
Tailgate struts are weak
Drivers seat won't tilt, I assume cable is broken.

I'll start searching through some threads for info on this stuff.

Cheers,

Antony

OK, latest update.

Clutch adjusted giving a very sweet gearchange.
New infocentre installed, working brilliantly.
Daytime running light fixed, at the expense of the sidelight, more work needed.
New tailgate struts fitted, tailgate would support an elephant now.
Broken seat belt holders replaced.

This car is getting better evey day!

Volvo 480 Club Europe

Oh dear, what have I done...?

Oh dear, what have I done...?

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2nd 480!

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info centre

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