Blinky 51/480

[dcwalker]

I have a few questions that hopefully you can help me out with.

The A/C doesn't seem to have much of a blast from the vents, if you press the buttons the air doesn't change just sort of comes out the floor and screen. Where should I start with this one? on the diagram is appears to be controlled via the CEM. Also maybe connected and maybe not. The fan speed switch has been rigged up. there was a fault and it is now running from a permanent feed and not via the ignition. I reckon there is a connection here.

Central locking, I like to lock the doors when driving in some areas. Is it possible to lock the car and still drive or does the alarm kick in. Did volvo not fit a dash button to lock the car?

The tyres look to be on the small size (185/55HR15), could anyone tell me the correct size for the standard celebration alloys.

In reverse order:

The tyres are correct at 185/55HR 15, although you can fit 195/55 to the Cetus 6-spoke alloy.

No, there is no switch on a 480 to centrally lock the doors when inside. Pressing either red tab back in only locks the door in question, too. Just have to avoid driving in certain areas, I'm afraid

A/C - the amount of blast should increase with turning up the fan, which is always on at least speed 1. If it isn't altering the direction it blows in then you probably have a fault VEM - search on this and you should find some guidance. The fan switch set up has definitely been fiddled with, though, which may well be the problem. Note that it has two fuses, a separate one for the top speed. If you press the A/C Max button it should blast at top speed.

David

[arthuy]

I wonder if the blower direction doesnt work because the blower motor has been bypassed and works independently. There speeds dont seem to work beyond the 1st position and goes off on max. First check is the fuses and try and see how the blower was bypassed.

If I press A/C max should that come on full regardless of the rotary switch?

[eye of ra]

If you push the red button in by the door lock from the inside when the door is closed it will lock both doors without setting the alarm. At least it does on my 1989 ES.

Edit

Beaten by dcwalker and also completely contradicted him.

My ES has central locking operated by the key but no remote maybe when they introduced remote central locking things changed.

It also only works from the driver’s door not the passenger's.

[dcwalker]

If I press A/C max should that come on full regardless of the rotary switch?

Yes, it should.

David

[dcwalker]

If you push the red button in by the door lock from the inside when the door is closed it will lock both doors without setting the alarm. At least it does on my 1989 ES.

Edit

Beaten by dcwalker and also completely contradicted him.

My ES has central locking operated by the key but no remote maybe when they introduced remote central locking things changed.

It also only works from the driver’s door not the passenger's.

Oh! Interesting! I am sure on my GT (which is 1994 and doesn't have remote locking) pressing the driver's tab in doesn't lock both doors, but I am not so certain now. I am sure I tried it once out of curiosity...perhaps I should check again!

David

[WRDendy]

Interesting discussion about central locking from inside, as eye of ra says, I recall both doors locking when I pushed the red tab in my ES, but I've never tried it in my GT. Having taken 480 door locks apart in the past, I would have thought that manually locking the driver's door from the inside would lock the passenger side as well, since (as I recall) locking the driver's side just actuates a switch that triggers the motor in the passenger side (there is no motor on the driver's side, so in other words doing anything to the passenger's side won't affect the driver's side).

On the subject of air con, if the push buttons aren't doing anything then I'd suspect the VEM itself rather than the rotary switch, since air flow should be controllable independently of the fan speed (except when on 'AC Max'). I actually transplanted the rotary switch from my ES to my GT as I like to be able to switch the fan off completely when I want to. Dry solder joints on the VEM are very common, particularly on the relays, which just work themselves loose over the years. It's a pretty easy fix, if you don't mind taking the dash apart to get it out! The details are in the FAQ on the main site: http://www.volvo-480-europe.org/volvo480/faq/index.php
Go to 'Electrical System -> Ventilation system sometimes doesn't work'

EDIT: I've just re-read the FAQ page and it actually mentions a bypass mod on the rotary switch causing problems in the first paragraph. Worth checking that too!

[brinkie]

I have a few questions that hopefully you can help me out with.

The A/C doesn't seem to have much of a blast from the vents, if you press the buttons the air doesn't change just sort of comes out the floor and screen. Where should I start with this one? on the diagram is appears to be controlled via the CEM. Also maybe connected and maybe not. The fan speed switch has been rigged up. there was a fault and it is now running from a permanent feed and not via the ignition. I reckon there is a connection here.

Central locking, I like to lock the doors when driving in some areas. Is it possible to lock the car and still drive or does the alarm kick in. Did volvo not fit a dash button to lock the car?

The tyres look to be on the small size (185/55HR15), could anyone tell me the correct size for the standard celebration alloys.

- A/C is controlled by the ventilation module (not the CEM) which suffers from the same problems as the instrument cluster: soldering failures. Can be repaired but taking the unit out is annoying (fan speed rigged: oh dear... hope somebody didn't make a mess)
- Central locking doesn't control the alarm, turning the key in the lock does. Just push the lock (red button) on the drivers side and the passengers side will lock. Volvo did envisage central locking with a button in the center panel, but in order to cut cost, both this button and the driver's side central locking motor were omitted!
- Standard size is 195/55-15. My Paris Blue 480 came with 185/55-15 all-season tyres on Volvo alloys when I bought it, the speedometer is a bit off because of that, but they had excellent tread depth so I'm not replacing them.

[arthuy]

Think the website didnt like me trying to post multiple photos, gave me a unauthorised message and seemed to lock me out.

[arthuy]

rear arch

[eye of ra]

If you push the red button in by the door lock from the inside when the door is closed it will lock both doors without setting the alarm. At least it does on my 1989 ES.

Edit

Beaten by dcwalker and also completely contradicted him.

My ES has central locking operated by the key but no remote maybe when they introduced remote central locking things changed.

It also only works from the driver’s door not the passenger's.

Oh! Interesting! I am sure on my GT (which is 1994 and doesn't have remote locking) pressing the driver's tab in doesn't lock both doors, but I am not so certain now. I am sure I tried it once out of curiosity...perhaps I should check again!

David

I checked my car and they do both lock when the driver’s red button is pushed. So I checked the wiring diagrams it would appear that up until 1990 central locking was controlled by the driver’s door locking mechanism and from 1991 central locking was controlled by the CEM.

So from 1991 it looks like you lost the ability to lock both doors with the red button but you gained the ability to close the windows using the key as well as auto-down.

[arthuy]

Def no cover on this?

[arthuy]

Rear lamps arent great but are intact. I got a spare on which is beyond repair but practised some polishing so will get them sorted out. I have done a bit of plastic resurfacing in the past with good success.

[arthuy]

The one rusty front wing, odd that it is the drivers side and not the passenger side. Will be looking for a rust free wing to replace.

[arthuy]

lights arent bad but I will strip them and clean them up.

[arthuy]

photo from the original advert, body is quite straight.

[arthuy]

I have tried to reduce the photo size but the site does seem to reduce them.

[dcwalker]

Def no cover on this?

Definitely no cover on that.

It is protected from bits going into it by the vertical grille alongside it.

If you have the pollen filter fitted (hen's teeth find) then that sits on top but it still not covered, as I described.

David

[dcwalker]

lights arent bad but I will strip them and clean them up.

Do some searching on here - replacement lenses are available.

David

[eye of ra]

Looks like mine. I think the rubber seals and the plastic grille to the left were supposed to stop bits getting in the fan. They don’t.

I have found an old pair of tights and an elastic band helps.

Edit.

Beaten again.

[arthuy]

When I pull the dash clocks out I will get the VEM and have a look.

I really hate bad elecctrics and bodgery so will be going through the car end to end. It is often the first task to pull out anything which isnt orginal and get the car back to factory spec.

Other that the electrics I will replace the brakes and suspension, I have managed to source some parts already and will spec to one of the good local motor factors to see what they can provide I have seen mintex brake parts on ebay for a decent price but not 100% if they are correct so will do a bit more research.

I have a few things on over the next few weeks so hands on jobs will be limited but the to do list has already grown.