Volvo 480 Club Europe

Happy New Year to all!

Hello folks and Happy New Year!

Well, my absence from the world of wedgie lasted only a few short months. Inspired by the sterling efforts of fellow enthusiasts here on the 480 Club forum, I've agreed to take on a late model ES, which appears to be basically sound with the usual gremlins. I will of course be looking to you all for assistance in sorting out the issues over the coming months,focusing on:

1) Replacement or repair of saggy headlining
2) Perennial ingress of water at the back end
3) Pop ups permanently popped
4) Moon roof non operative

Other things needed to be done rightaway include replacement of handbrake cable / overhaul of rear calipers, replacement of rear discs, and MOT

I'm hoping to use her as my daily driver in due course, and will post updates as these are completed.

Definitely looking forward to any mini-meets or other rallies with 480 folks this year!

Will post pictures as soon as I work out what else works other than the defunct Photobucket - what else do folks use these days?

Martin

Woohoo! Can't keep a good man down!

1) Easy job - there's a how to in the how to section, this is the adhesive I'm trying next....

2) All the usual suspects... The rear wiring seal, the boot lid seal and the light seals. Get rid of the damn sponges too!

3) May just need a relay clean?

4) Well, whilst the headlining is out, it's the perfect chance to sort! the parts that have probably failed are available as 3d printed parts (or brass ones from a facebook guy in Portugal IIRC)

Happy New Year Martin!

Excellent news - although it does make me feel a little bit bad as I am currently using a certain Celebration as my daily driver...OK, it's after a lot of work which is ongoing (reminds me, need to update my thread) but even so I am mindful you could have been where I am a little while ago.

Look forward to seeing a thread on the new addition - lots of pictures please! Can't really add to what Jeff has already said regarding your immediate issues, other than to say I am sure I have a spare headlamp relay if that proves to be your answer, and at least one spare headlamp motor as well.

Keep us posted!

All the best

David

Some pics











Looking to bring the car home tomorrow (3rd Jan) and MOT on Saturday. Likely to garage her for a few weeks whilst the gremlins are sorted.

Woo Hoo! b

Martin

First question is, what are the loose wires arrowed in the pic below? They come through the bulkhead and don't seem to reach anything to which they might connect. Any ideas?

M

She looks lovely!

At first glance she doesn't look to be too much of a "project", either...

I suspect the wires are for something aftermarket that was added and now removed. AFAIK the only things you find in that area are ABS unit or (lower down), the auxiliary water pump. As a 2.0 you don't have the second, and I guess you know whether you should have ABS or not!!

Perhaps an alarm siren was in there or something?

Silly point, but when you get the car tuck the washer pipe in from the pump - it may be the angle in the photo but it looks to be sticking out almost far enough to catch the auxiliary belt...

Happy days!!

David

Welcome back to the fold Martin. As DC has said it appears in pretty good order. Was it by any chance on gumtree or car and classic? It looks familiar.best of luck may see you at a meet this year.

Nice buy, is that a paris blue? I can never tell which blue is paris blue, because to my eyes that looks to have a purple-y sort of tone to it, and I seem to remember Paris Blue as being a very pure, deep blue:
http://www.volvo-480-europe.org/volvo48 ... s/318.html

Norm57 wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 02, 2020 5:09 pm

by Norm57 » Thu Jan 02, 2020 5:09 pm
Welcome back to the fold Martin. As DC has said it appears in pretty good order. Was it by any chance on gumtree or car and classic? It looks familiar.best of luck may see you at a meet this year.

Hello Norm, tis indeed the car that was on Gumtree / Car & Classic, although I haven't paid anywhere near what was being advertised It has been in Northern Ireland for some years, and doesn't seem to have done more than a couple of hundred per year for the past 5 or so. Bodily it looks sound, and all panels look straight, with unblemished paintwork.

MisterH wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 02, 2020 5:58 pm

Nice buy, is that a paris blue? I can never tell which blue is paris blue, because to my eyes that looks to have a purple-y sort of tone to it, and I seem to remember Paris Blue as being a very pure, deep blue:
http://www.volvo-480-europe.org/volvo48 ... s/318.html

I'll let you know what the colour is, once I've given her a good clean and polish. It is pretty much as it appears in the pictures though - my first blue 480!

Looking forward to the short drive from Liverpool tomorrow evening, ahead of the MOT on Saturday morning. She will fail, of course, but I knew that when I booked her in.

M

Martin Mc wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 02, 2020 6:21 pm

I'll let you know what the colour is, once I've given her a good clean and polish. It is pretty much as it appears in the pictures though - my first blue 480!

Looking forward to the short drive from Liverpool tomorrow evening, ahead of the MOT on Saturday morning. She will fail, of course, but I knew that when I booked her in.

M

Welcome to the club! mine will hopefully be more blue soon that it currently is

MisterH wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 02, 2020 5:58 pm

Nice buy, is that a paris blue? I can never tell which blue is paris blue, because to my eyes that looks to have a purple-y sort of tone to it, and I seem to remember Paris Blue as being a very pure, deep blue:
http://www.volvo-480-europe.org/volvo48 ... s/318.html

Can confirm purpleyness to paris Blue:



equals

I would try and do a headlight popup motor resuscitation first.

- make a short (approx. 20 cm) connecting cable with spade lug connectors on both ends
- open the bonnet
- make sure the popup motors are connected
- open the relay box (use a coin as a screwdriver)
- remove the headlight relay
- bridge relay pin 87 with 30 (see relay bottom for pinout) using the cable with spade lug connectors, the lugs will slot into the relay base nicely
- let the headlight flip (if it doesn't move at all, even with the relay contacts bridged, the resuscitation won't work)
- drink tea
- now place the bridging cable between pins 87 and 30a and let the other headlight flip (same here, if it doesn't move, resuscitation won't work)
- have another cuppa
- remove the bridge, put the relay back in, close the relay box, tighten the screw and close the bonnet
- test the popup headlight operation

In 9 out of 10 cases, the popup motors will be like new again
If the motor does not move at all, even with the relay contacts bridged, you should replace the motor anyway.

jifflemon wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 02, 2020 8:42 pm

MisterH wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 02, 2020 5:58 pm

Nice buy, is that a paris blue? I can never tell which blue is paris blue, because to my eyes that looks to have a purple-y sort of tone to it, and I seem to remember Paris Blue as being a very pure, deep blue:
http://www.volvo-480-europe.org/volvo48 ... s/318.html

Can confirm purpleyness to paris Blue:



equals

Woah, where did you/how do you get those tools?
The Halfords aerosol can for Arctic Blue came out nothing like it should look, but that looks a lot more sophisticated, could you enlighten me?
also, the cars on the main site page look like they have a much more pure blue colour, were there different variations for markets?

brinkie wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 02, 2020 9:49 pm

I would try and do a headlight popup motor resuscitation first.

- make a short (approx. 20 cm) connecting cable with spade lug connectors on both ends
- open the bonnet
- make sure the popup motors are connected
- open the relay box (use a coin as a screwdriver)
- remove the headlight relay
- bridge relay pin 87 with 30 (see relay bottom for pinout) using the cable with spade lug connectors, the lugs will slot into the relay base nicely
- let the headlight flip (if it doesn't move at all, even with the relay contacts bridged, the resuscitation won't work)
- drink tea
- now place the bridging cable between pins 87 and 30a and let the other headlight flip (same here, if it doesn't move, resuscitation won't work)
- have another cuppa
- remove the bridge, put the relay back in, close the relay box, tighten the screw and close the bonnet
- test the popup headlight operation

In 9 out of 10 cases, the popup motors will be like new again
If the motor does not move at all, even with the relay contacts bridged, you should replace the motor anyway.

Hello Robert - Nice to hear from you! As I haven't yet driven the new car, I don't know if I'm going to be needing your instrument cluster expertise, but I will certainly have a go at the workaround you suggest for the pop ups.

All the best!

Martin

MisterH wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 02, 2020 10:00 pm

Woah, where did you/how do you get those tools?
The Halfords aerosol can for Arctic Blue came out nothing like it should look, but that looks a lot more sophisticated, could you enlighten me?
also, the cars on the main site page look like they have a much more pure blue colour, were there different variations for markets?

That's my friends paint mixing system. He runs a bodyshop, so not the sort of thing us mere mortals have access to.

However, our local paint supplier will happily produce something similar and drop it in an aerosol can. Was going to get one made up for a minor thing I've got planned, that can't wait for the full respray, so will report back on colour match etc.

I'd spotted that one - it looked a cracker.

Good look with it!!

Well, we are on board the ferry back to mainland UK, and there is good news and bad news

Good news:
1) Car started first thing and ticks over nicely
2) Clutch and gearbox and steering all seem smooth and well adjusted.
3) Interior is good, with both electric windows working
4) Moon roof working up and down (albeit a little sluggish)
5) Rear hatch stays up when opened & heated window working
6) Bodywork looks great - even before a good machine polish and touch up
7) Big pile of paperwork and history for the car
Both heated seats working fine
9) Toolkit all present and correct
10) Load cover in good condition

Bad news
1) Running lumpy as the sea (I suspect it needs a good run)
2) Speedo, mileometer and info centre inoperative (cooeee Brinkie! Will be in touch if you are still able to help!)
3) Damp as a swamp inside (will dry out in my garage for a few days_
4) No way of knowing how much fuel is on board - will have to wing it on the way home :0)
5) Headlamps pop up and down randomly and not in synchro - looks like Roger Moore's eyebrows on speed! - but at least it confirms the motors are ok

Now, not withstanding it is parked on an open deck, in gear and we are heading into the Irish Sea (hopefully as flat as a millpond), I'm looking forward to getting her back up North. Wish me luck!

Martin

Oh crickey!

And there was me thinking the driver side seat heater was broken from factory.

Forgot to mention, another 'bad' (quite important, this one!)

6) Handbrake at 0% efficiency! Hence my concern about leaving it on deck, on a ferry, in the Irish Sea, secured only by reverse gear and steering lock

My next post may well have a very different tone!

M

Ok, so lets bash them down one by one....

Martin Mc wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 03, 2020 9:56 am

1) Running lumpy as the sea (I suspect it needs a good run)

Never forget MMM. That is, Motors Must Move. A good dose of usage, followed by a sympathetic service (Including things like Cap/Rotor/Fuel filter) will soon have it back on form!

Martin Mc wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 03, 2020 9:56 am

2) Speedo, mileometer and info centre inoperative (cooeee Brinkie! Will be in touch if you are still able to help!)

Check the very obvious (fuse, Rheostat turned down) but I'm sure the lord of dashboards will be here shortly!

Martin Mc wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 03, 2020 9:56 am

3) Damp as a swamp inside (will dry out in my garage for a few days_

Personally, rip the interior out - it'll dry a whole lot quicker as well as help trace where the water is getting in. It's also much easier to clean, and makes the car smell much better too!

Martin Mc wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 03, 2020 9:56 am

4) No way of knowing how much fuel is on board - will have to wing it on the way home :0)

Always exciting is life in a 480!

Martin Mc wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 03, 2020 9:56 am

5) Headlamps pop up and down randomly and not in synchro - looks like Roger Moore's eyebrows on speed! - but at least it confirms the motors are ok

Out of synchro would suggest someones been knob winding and got bored! Like you say, at least it confirms you've got working motors. I use and advanced method of Brinkies previously fix - I run both simultaneously (rather than one at a time). The only drawback is that it means you only get a single cup of tea of course....

Martin Mc wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 03, 2020 1:00 pm

6) Handbrake at 0% efficiency! Hence my concern about leaving it on deck, on a ferry, in the Irish Sea, secured only by reverse gear and steering lock

Pull it apart and reset it. My money says its only ever been adjusted "on the cable" and has gone over centre.

Looking forward to more updates!