Some episodes from the life of my 480

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Van
480 Connoisseur
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Joined: Sun Sep 23, 2007 8:27 am
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Re: Some episodes from the life of my 480

Post by Van » Fri Feb 17, 2012 8:12 pm

Today again worked on the car. Wanted to work out the not illuminating keyhole lights. Also the tweeter in the left door wasn't playing. I could fix that. I have no clue what's with the keyhole lights. When I tried to remove the things from the door I disassembled the lock and had some trouble putting it back together again. I checked the fuses and none of the descriptions is something I miss so I take it they are ok. Again I didn't push it and have to do without illuminated keyholes.

I finished with replacing the wiper blades. I had some cheap blades from Lidl and boy do they suck. They scrape over the window and do not wipe good at speed. Last year I bought a pair of Bosch wiper blades in Germany and I fitted those. I had Bosch wiper blades before and they paid off. I didn't fit them before because it's such an awkward job to remove the old ones.

Before all this I got stuck in mud. I parked my car on some grass to walk my dog. It turned out to be soaked mud where the wheels had no grip. I had to fight my way out using the right floor mat. Afterwards the mat was all muddy so I had to clean it in the shower. No lucky day today.
after over 10 years parted with the 1995 Volvo 480 ES 2.0

User avatar
Van
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Joined: Sun Sep 23, 2007 8:27 am
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Re: Some episodes from the life of my 480

Post by Van » Fri Mar 09, 2012 10:05 pm

Today discovered a burned out headlight. I had replaced the ordinary bulbs with Osram Cool Blue bulbs. They gave more light and a bit cooler to. They lasted several years. I asked for similar bulbs but they would cost 30 euros! That's insane, I paid 15-20 for this pair. Looking on the internet shows a vast amount of these extended H4 bulbs. Even for more astronomic prices. Avoid the cheap fantasy brands, they are worthless. Next week I'll be in Germany and I'll see if there's a reasonable priced pair of bulbs to get there.

For the time being I fitted a pair of generic bulbs. Pop-up the lights, unmount the cover, then dismount a frame with the lamp. When putting the frame of the right light back on of course I had to drop one screw into the inners of the front. Looked everywhere, under the car, removed the indicator/dlr, from below tried to feel if I could find it but all I got were more dirty hands. Why oh why do they have to make cars so that screws can drop in unreachable areas where they will never be found again? So I had to organize another screw.

I'll also refuel in Germany where it is slightly less expensive then in Holland. Today I poured in a few liters for €1,70 a liter! That hurts!
after over 10 years parted with the 1995 Volvo 480 ES 2.0

User avatar
Van
480 Connoisseur
Posts: 833
Joined: Sun Sep 23, 2007 8:27 am
Location: Ich bin ein Berliner!

Re: Some episodes from the life of my 480

Post by Van » Tue Mar 13, 2012 7:30 pm

Reading back I noticed a lot of my posts start with 'today' so on this one it's only the 12th word.
Well I had the urge to update the wax coat on my paint, it is almost 4 months since I finished the quick and dirty job. Even after this relatively short time I saw some marks from the sun and the weather on the paint. Anyway, I thoroughly washed the car and dried with a towel, and got to work. It looks better now, and I want it to because it has to look good when I am off for the weekend.
after over 10 years parted with the 1995 Volvo 480 ES 2.0

User avatar
Van
480 Connoisseur
Posts: 833
Joined: Sun Sep 23, 2007 8:27 am
Location: Ich bin ein Berliner!

Re: Some episodes from the life of my 480

Post by Van » Sun Mar 25, 2012 6:27 am

We had a great week off. In Germany I refuelled for 95 euro, that was also a great....
While driving back home and accelerating onto the motorway I heard a loud bang coming from the rear. The rear muffler had exploded. It looked to be in good shape but the top hidden under the floor was bad and ripped open. It has been there for about 5 years I think and this came unexpected.
I drove straight to the workshop and the next day they fitted a new muffler. Concluding it has been an expensive weekend, shopping and fuelling in Germany, replacing the muffler.
after over 10 years parted with the 1995 Volvo 480 ES 2.0

User avatar
Van
480 Connoisseur
Posts: 833
Joined: Sun Sep 23, 2007 8:27 am
Location: Ich bin ein Berliner!

Re: Some episodes from the life of my 480

Post by Van » Tue May 29, 2012 6:19 pm

I'm struggling to better my economy record. After another Germany trip, driving to friends the average went down and down because of good weather conditions and speed limits. At my friends the average saw 6.5l/100km or 70mpg and I wanted to keep that value. It took very, very restrained driving to keep the average on 6.5. Close to home, it even dropped to 6.4. The past weeks I've been fighting to keep that. Last Friday went wrong due to the use of air conditioning and driving in the city. I came home with 6.5. But today I managed to get down to 6.4 again even when it meant I had to drive at 60km/h or 37mp/h. Yes, Captain Slow on the wheel. The average fuel indicated on the info center is slightly optimistic, but I aim for a real 68mpg or 1 op 15 in Dutch when refuelling.

Also gave the car interior a big cleaning. First vacuuming it, then cleaning everything with soap. And that means everything, from the roof lining through knobs and switches down to seats and interior lining and seat belts.
after over 10 years parted with the 1995 Volvo 480 ES 2.0

User avatar
Van
480 Connoisseur
Posts: 833
Joined: Sun Sep 23, 2007 8:27 am
Location: Ich bin ein Berliner!

Re: Some episodes from the life of my 480

Post by Van » Mon Jun 04, 2012 8:57 am

In the weekend, I had business to do in the city, and I knew I wasn't going to keep my average. So I filled up on Friday, and calculated the desired average of 68mpg (1 op 15). Which really isn't a realistic figure unless you are driving very restrained. I would be very hard to better this, maybe when driving all day long on flat roads with 50mp/h and no traffic or city driving.
So for now, back to normal driving.
after over 10 years parted with the 1995 Volvo 480 ES 2.0

User avatar
Van
480 Connoisseur
Posts: 833
Joined: Sun Sep 23, 2007 8:27 am
Location: Ich bin ein Berliner!

Re: Some episodes from the life of my 480

Post by Van » Tue Jun 05, 2012 6:52 pm

Well, this has nothing to do with my 480. Last night viewed parts of the Queen Elizabeth Jubilee Concert. I'm not a royalist but you Brits know how to celebrate. A great concert! Although I could not understand why Sir Paul sang Beatle songs rather then his own songs which are just as good.
after over 10 years parted with the 1995 Volvo 480 ES 2.0

User avatar
Van
480 Connoisseur
Posts: 833
Joined: Sun Sep 23, 2007 8:27 am
Location: Ich bin ein Berliner!

Re: Some episodes from the life of my 480

Post by Van » Wed Jun 27, 2012 11:14 am

Since the last coat of wax on March 13 the paint has suffered terribly. We had lots of rain, and rainwater is dirty, and it washes away the wax. So I started to work on the right side, using Scratch-X to remove oxidation. I was able to do the side except for the front wing, when I ran out of Scratch-X. Since I also had not yet replaced the Deep Crystal Paint Polish work is halted until I get into town.

I have bought a car cover and wrapped the car inside it. Using extra ribbons to fix it for the wind. Well today it's a rainy day and my work from yesterday should be protected now for rain, wind and sun. I never leave my phone in the car, but now I did, so no phone calls :bla:

Previously I worked on the center brake light but not yet fixed. I should be able to pull out the wiring loom from under the roof and find a connection but it didn't come easy and I didn't want to push it. The wiring looks poor though.
after over 10 years parted with the 1995 Volvo 480 ES 2.0

User avatar
Van
480 Connoisseur
Posts: 833
Joined: Sun Sep 23, 2007 8:27 am
Location: Ich bin ein Berliner!

Re: Some episodes from the life of my 480

Post by Van » Sat Jul 14, 2012 9:04 am

Saturday, the 14th

Had to fit new light bulbs in the headlights and thought today would be a better day to do it then Friday, the 13th. How wrong could I have been! When re-assembling the right head light, the plastic thingies that adjust the light, snapped. As they are fitted firmly onto the headlight frame, I saw no other way to fix it as to replace the entire frame. Of course, my clumsy fingers dropped lots of screws, a nut and even an Allen key into the depths of the head light compartment. Took me two hours to get the job done.

While I was at it thought I also put in the new battery. Here the plus connector snapped when turning on the screw, not very tight really. The age of the car shows, with things getting weak.


Fuel consumption

After some normal driving with 130kph on the motorway I filled up and still scored 13.2km/l
When returning home, after another 130kph drive, I was very surprised to see 6.6l/100km indicated on the average fuel. Well, I had wind from the back, it makes a difference.
The coming week has some more motorway driving, so I'm expecting that figure to rise.
after over 10 years parted with the 1995 Volvo 480 ES 2.0

User avatar
Van
480 Connoisseur
Posts: 833
Joined: Sun Sep 23, 2007 8:27 am
Location: Ich bin ein Berliner!

Re: Some episodes from the life of my 480

Post by Van » Mon Jul 23, 2012 9:48 pm

Bad luck

In the car park of the apartment building where I live, apparently someone has reversed a tow bar into my front license plate. There's a substantial dent in it and the car cover is damaged. No message was left.
after over 10 years parted with the 1995 Volvo 480 ES 2.0

User avatar
Van
480 Connoisseur
Posts: 833
Joined: Sun Sep 23, 2007 8:27 am
Location: Ich bin ein Berliner!

Re: Some episodes from the life of my 480

Post by Van » Tue Aug 14, 2012 7:41 pm

Been off for the weekend. Refueled in Germany, calculated 13,75km/l
While driving to a family member and applying full throttle, the rev limiter came in at 5600rpm. Is it the rev limiter or the rev counter I wonder?
While driving back to my parents from a family visit, the heater control lights went out.
While driving back home at night, the right part of the heater control panel got illuminated again.
Weird car.
after over 10 years parted with the 1995 Volvo 480 ES 2.0

User avatar
Van
480 Connoisseur
Posts: 833
Joined: Sun Sep 23, 2007 8:27 am
Location: Ich bin ein Berliner!

Re: Some episodes from the life of my 480

Post by Van » Fri Sep 28, 2012 6:45 pm

Short update, the rear window wiring is fixed, as can be read elsewhere on this forum. I applied some very expensive silicone on it to protect for water and movement.
The heather controls lightning stays intermittent, will have to work on that some time.
Wanted to wash the car today but the wash was occupied.
Checked the V1000 and the outcome is the rev counter is indicating lower then actual revs, not much I can do about that.
after over 10 years parted with the 1995 Volvo 480 ES 2.0

User avatar
Van
480 Connoisseur
Posts: 833
Joined: Sun Sep 23, 2007 8:27 am
Location: Ich bin ein Berliner!

Re: Some episodes from the life of my 480

Post by Van » Mon Oct 08, 2012 8:44 pm

As just written in Body and Interior, worked today on the water leakage in the boot. Due to the water, the antenna cable connector has rusted, and the connecting cable was rotten, and finally totally broken. I just had no time today to fix that. Not a big issue to me, as I rarely listen to the radio. Will fix it maybe another time but it involves removing interior trim so I am not very keen on the job.

In the weekend, we had a family meeting in a cottage in the east of the country. It had a large shack with accommodation for six cars so my car was at least parked dry. Several visitors asked about the nice Volvo that was well...nice. I had the boot fully packed when leaving home and could feel it in the ride. I decided to make a short stop and distribute some weight to the passenger foot well. That sorted the ride.

From the cottage I had planned to drive through Germany for some shopping and fueling. In Emmerich, I got stuck in a huge traffic jam. I found an alternate route through town and arrived at the local Lidl, to see another huge 'stau' from there. When I inquired, it turned out the bridge over the Rhine was inspected and traffic was guided with traffic lights over one single lane, for both ways. While the jam hardly moved I decided to drive to the Autobahn and return to Holland to take the painstaking route. Lots of traffic lights, speed limits, a busy city and aggressive drivers make it that way.

The Autobahn stretch was only about 2 miles before entering Dutch restricted area, and busy, so no possibility to explore the unrestricted speed and potential of the 480.

I was able to fill up just before going on the Autobahn and calculated an average of 13.25km/l, about 37mpg since last fuel stop in Germany about two weeks ago. So most of my distance was Dutch motorway. I'm ok with that average.
after over 10 years parted with the 1995 Volvo 480 ES 2.0

User avatar
Van
480 Connoisseur
Posts: 833
Joined: Sun Sep 23, 2007 8:27 am
Location: Ich bin ein Berliner!

Re: Some episodes from the life of my 480

Post by Van » Fri Oct 19, 2012 6:13 pm

Today, finally a dry afternoon. It even became sunny! I used the opportunity to wash the car and had time to give the roof a full treatment. That means Scratch-X, Deep Crystal paint cleaner, polish and Carnauba wax. While applying the wax a few minuscule drops appeared so as soon as finished the car went undercover. Not long after that it began to rain a little. Later it rained a bit more.
after over 10 years parted with the 1995 Volvo 480 ES 2.0

User avatar
Van
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Posts: 833
Joined: Sun Sep 23, 2007 8:27 am
Location: Ich bin ein Berliner!

Re: Some episodes from the life of my 480

Post by Van » Wed Oct 24, 2012 5:05 pm

Cloudy but dry, not cold. Ideal weather to continue work on the paint. This time finished the bonnet, headlamps and nose cone. The bonnet had suffered badly from the oxidation, went over it with Scratch-X two times.

With the ventilation openings, curves, shapes and headlamps the bonnet is a tough piece to work on. While I had finished the roof in an hour, this took me two and a half hours.
after over 10 years parted with the 1995 Volvo 480 ES 2.0

User avatar
Van
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Posts: 833
Joined: Sun Sep 23, 2007 8:27 am
Location: Ich bin ein Berliner!

Re: Some episodes from the life of my 480

Post by Van » Tue Oct 30, 2012 6:41 pm

After many rainy days finally a dry day and made the front wings and doors bright and shiny in 2 hours and 45 minutes of hard work.

But I'm having a problem with my car cover. It's getting holes and rips everywhere. I bought it four months ago and actually used it only two months. It wasn't expensive and I didn't have high expectations but I thought it would be good for at least a winter. Well, it's not even going to make it to the winter.
after over 10 years parted with the 1995 Volvo 480 ES 2.0

User avatar
Van
480 Connoisseur
Posts: 833
Joined: Sun Sep 23, 2007 8:27 am
Location: Ich bin ein Berliner!

Re: Some episodes from the life of my 480

Post by Van » Wed Oct 31, 2012 5:11 pm

A dry but rather windy day. Two and a half hours to get the rear sides, back of the car and top of the rear bumper done.
after over 10 years parted with the 1995 Volvo 480 ES 2.0

User avatar
Van
480 Connoisseur
Posts: 833
Joined: Sun Sep 23, 2007 8:27 am
Location: Ich bin ein Berliner!

Re: Some episodes from the life of my 480

Post by Van » Tue Nov 06, 2012 8:46 pm

I've returned the car cover and got a voucher for it. My neighbour had a cover lying around he gave to me. It fitted nice, but, it wasn't water proof. And a lot of water came down since I put it on the car. So, back to the drawing board.
after over 10 years parted with the 1995 Volvo 480 ES 2.0

User avatar
Van
480 Connoisseur
Posts: 833
Joined: Sun Sep 23, 2007 8:27 am
Location: Ich bin ein Berliner!

Re: Some episodes from the life of my 480

Post by Van » Wed Nov 14, 2012 9:01 pm

I had the car go up for the APK (MOT). There were two problems: handbrake cable and right front spring broken. Looking back, I remember a weird cracking noise from the front right and an understeer situation where I should have made the corner. I thought I was pushing it to hard -maybe was anyway.
But now the Volvo is one more year road legal.
after over 10 years parted with the 1995 Volvo 480 ES 2.0

User avatar
Van
480 Connoisseur
Posts: 833
Joined: Sun Sep 23, 2007 8:27 am
Location: Ich bin ein Berliner!

Re: Some episodes from the life of my 480

Post by Van » Mon Nov 26, 2012 7:26 am

Van wrote:...I had the boot fully packed when leaving home and could feel it in the ride. I decided to make a short stop and distribute some weight to the passenger foot well. That sorted the ride...
Now that the right front spring is replaced I think I know why the ride was affected. Actually I never experienced the load like that before.
I've been away last week with lots of luggage again and no issues this time. Car was solid and stable on the road.

While I was in the area I went to Estate Services in Obdam. They are an independent Volvo specialist. I purchased one rear window gas strut. In the winter, or with heavy wind, the current struts can have just too little support, and I think I can solve it with replacing one strut. While I was there I asked them about shipping parts abroad. They will ship parts abroad with GLS. Customers can send an email to make an inquiry about the costs.

Another Dutch independent Volvo specialist is Nordicar in Heerhugowaard. They also have parts and ship world wide.
after over 10 years parted with the 1995 Volvo 480 ES 2.0

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