Blinky 51/480

Here you can talk about the joy owning a Volvo 480 brings. Non-technical discussions take place here, like what is the difference between an ES and a S version.

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arthuy
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Re: Blinky 51/480

Post by arthuy » Wed Aug 02, 2017 9:10 pm

The lamp film I ordered arrived today.

Cut a small sample of the clear and light smoked film.

This is spare lamp which I had tried polishing. The clear film wasn't worth the effort but the light smoke could be winner. Smoke is vertical and clear is the horizontal patch.
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Took the 480 for a spin to walk the dog at a local 'beauty spot', it really stands out amongst the youngsters.

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Last edited by arthuy on Tue Feb 05, 2019 11:02 pm, edited 1 time in total.

arthuy
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Re: Blinky 51/480

Post by arthuy » Fri Aug 04, 2017 5:24 pm

New tyres are fitted.

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Happy to have a set of 4 matching tyres and they seem to be good.

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Last edited by arthuy on Tue Feb 05, 2019 11:03 pm, edited 1 time in total.

arthuy
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Re: Blinky 51/480

Post by arthuy » Fri Aug 04, 2017 5:26 pm

I will need to address the lazy eye.

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arthuy
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Re: Blinky 51/480

Post by arthuy » Sat Aug 05, 2017 3:12 pm

Tried the film out the better rear lamp.

Would be best done in doors off the car with a pre cut template.

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Not too bad for a first attempt.
Last edited by arthuy on Tue Feb 05, 2019 11:04 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Alan 480
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Re: Blinky 51/480

Post by Alan 480 » Sat Aug 05, 2017 3:55 pm

arthuy wrote:Tried the film out the better rear lamp.

Would be best done in doors off the car with a pre cut template.

Image

Not too bad for a first attempt.
looks very smart and easier than polishing :wink:

I must have missed the location you bought the film from . .. . .
Alan

480 ES 2litre 'Celebration' ? , C30 1.8ES, SS1

arthuy
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Re: Blinky 51/480

Post by arthuy » Sat Aug 05, 2017 4:30 pm

Image

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Bought the film from the one stop shop that is ebay. I bought a 30cmx100cm for £4.25 inc p&p, it actually came in 2 50cm sheets. I did manage to do the 3 sections with one piece.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Car-Headlight ... 2749.l2649

I had sanded and polished the left hand one but thought I would give the film a bash rather than trying to remove the lights and risk them breaking to lacquer them.

The right hand lamp has two cracks and all I did was clean it down with a baby wipe.

The search is on for a set of lights that arent broken.
Last edited by arthuy on Tue Feb 05, 2019 11:05 pm, edited 1 time in total.

jifflemon
480 Is my middle name
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Re: Blinky 51/480

Post by jifflemon » Sun Aug 06, 2017 8:25 pm

arthuy wrote:Would be best done in doors off the car with a pre cut template.
Most interesting... Presumably, you'd only need one template as the lights are a mirror image of each other.

PDF template so that you could guarantee sizing when printing.

Did you use extra tape to go over the edges, or cut it flush? Does it mould with some gentle heat?

I know, a lot questions for the sake of a fiver! I should probably just buy a roll to test!

arthuy
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Re: Blinky 51/480

Post by arthuy » Sun Aug 06, 2017 10:09 pm

jifflemon wrote:
Most interesting... Presumably, you'd only need one template as the lights are a mirror image of each other.

PDF template so that you could guarantee sizing when printing.

Did you use extra tape to go over the edges, or cut it flush? Does it mould with some gentle heat?

I know, a lot questions for the sake of a fiver! I should probably just buy a roll to test!
I didnt go to exacting standards with this attempt. I used a spare lamp and roughly cut the shape on the generous side which I trimmed on the car. One side of the film is tack so need to cut the right way round. A flat template would be fine and also wrapping but with my lamps having bits missing on the edge the film may have lifted.

It is mostly cut flush and a few area I tried wrapping which is difficult to do when fitted but prob easier when off. You put some soapy wated on the film and push it out with the air bubbles. Using a hair dryer help and the film does soften. I cut the reflector area out after the film was in place.

One thing though the lamp which I didnt polish or sand doesnt quite pass light as well so definatley worth sanding with 2000grit to get rid of some marks. Also sanding down the raised markings on the lamp so the film sits flush.

Definitely worth getting some to try out.

I was a little worried that the lamps were now too dark and I want to avoid helping the police with their enquiries. I just happen to have a stock of bulbs so changed the clear indicators for amber and this is much more acceptable. I have ordered some red stop/tail bulbs to see if they improve also.

ImageClear indicator bulbs

Image Amber bulbs

Image Lamps at night

Definitely better than they were.
Last edited by arthuy on Tue Feb 05, 2019 11:06 pm, edited 1 time in total.

arthuy
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Re: Blinky 51/480

Post by arthuy » Mon Aug 07, 2017 10:40 pm

Todays task was to have the wheel alignment done and do some DIY for my brother which is a good excuse to put some miles on the 480.

I discovered I have headlamp washers which prompted me to read the handbook about the other interesting features like the lights which stay on until you get to your front door.

The car did well and certainly feels better with the new tyres.

The fast fit place I use 'farmers' (only for tracking) are actually pretty decent. I wont bore you with the many tales from the fast fitters but one firm with 4 wheel laser machine did my brothers car with a track rod so worn that it nearly came out of the cup when I changed it.

Anyway these guys are actually ok, I watched the other customers coming through and the level of honesty and reasonable charges is impressive. The guy did spend a lot of time faffing prior to doing a test drive, not sure what he was doing maybe just looking for the switches etc. When he came back he had the wheels off the ground and was checking for play, did all the tyre pressures then put it on the ramp with the alingment kit. Again the guy seemed to spend a fair bit of time looking at the underside of the car before getting stuck in to the adjustments.

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I suppose it must seem a bit odd that a car recently MoT'd comes in with brand new tyres, new brake pipes, hoses, pads, disc, calipers and handbrake cables. They maybe thought it was a trading standards test. Pretty thorough though which is why I have used and recommended them to others. The only thing I wasnt so impressed with was the spirited post work test drive he took it on.

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Drives fine and almost 100% centred the steering wheel for £29.

A couple of things I need to sort out though are the rear wiper. when switched on it does partial wipes and stops not sure what is going on there. It does operated normally when in reverse so any suggestions welcome.

The other thing is the headlamp, it does eventually go up or down but would like it to have it working as it should. I have a motor for the other side, are they interchangeable? or is there a simple fix?

Next job I will do is probably refresh the grille, spray and re-silver.
Last edited by arthuy on Tue Feb 05, 2019 11:07 pm, edited 1 time in total.

eye of ra
Can tell where the 480 was built
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Re: Blinky 51/480

Post by eye of ra » Tue Aug 08, 2017 6:39 am

The first place I would check for the rear wiper issue is the wiring that goes from the top of the rear window into the roof its prone to damage because of the continual opening and closing of the boot.
Current:
480 ES Auto 1989
480 Celebration 187
480 ES Auto 1991
CLK430 Conv 2001
Hyundai i10 2015

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dcwalker
480 Is my middle name
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Re: Blinky 51/480

Post by dcwalker » Tue Aug 08, 2017 7:36 am

Yep, as Eye of Ra says, the rear wiper is almost certainly the boot-lid wiring loom.

Headlamp motors are interchangeable - they just sit the opposite way up on the other side, if you know what I mean! You could also check the relay but I suspect a sluggish motor is indeed your problem.

Really good to see how this is coming on!

David
Current: 1994 480 GT, 1996 460 CD & 1997 440 LE with lots of optional extras & 2007 V50 SE Sport
Previous: Celebration 331 (re-homed with Richard S), Celebration 467 (returned to Martin Mc); Celebration 346 (re-homed with Alan480); Celebration 269 (scrapped abandoned project), Celebration 73 (sold on after 6 years), 1992 ES, 1988 ES - and numerous other non-480 Volvos!

jifflemon
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Re: Blinky 51/480

Post by jifflemon » Tue Aug 08, 2017 12:02 pm

ah tales from a fast fit centre.... I've one or several we could trade! :rofl:

I'm working from home today, and thought I'd be able to sneak a bit of work in on mine. So far we've had nearly 2 inches of rain.... Clearly the weather is on the side of my employers!

arthuy
Advanced 480 rookie
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Re: Blinky 51/480

Post by arthuy » Wed Aug 09, 2017 6:29 pm

Is the a loom plug to disconnect the wiring for the tailgate?

The 480 has went to work with my Gf the past couple of days, she is getting a feel for it. Plus points are that it goes round the hair pin bends on the way home with ease.

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Need to try the Volvo garage again to book it in for a timing belt. It is a very good independent called VolvoMax. The have serviced my s60 and they are always busy but don't always answer the phone but cant fault their work.
Last edited by arthuy on Tue Feb 05, 2019 11:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.

jifflemon
480 Is my middle name
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Re: Blinky 51/480

Post by jifflemon » Thu Aug 10, 2017 4:37 pm

arthuy wrote:Is the a loom plug to disconnecct the wiring for the tailgate?
I don't think there is :(

Mine needs doing also - No symptoms yet, but it certainly doesn't look healthy!

eye of ra
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Re: Blinky 51/480

Post by eye of ra » Thu Aug 10, 2017 6:29 pm

There is a plug just inside the hole in the roof. Sadly the wires then go round the window and connect to the heater and motor there is not a plug just the other side.

What I did was unplug it from the roof and then cut out the damaged section, solder in some new wire, wrap it in electrical tape, replace the grommet in the roof (before soldering at both ends) put it all back then use black sealant around the grommet and where it goes into the hatch.

Unless you are really lucky and can find a replacement loom.

I’ll take some pictures while its all out again over the weekend and post them.
Current:
480 ES Auto 1989
480 Celebration 187
480 ES Auto 1991
CLK430 Conv 2001
Hyundai i10 2015

arthuy
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Re: Blinky 51/480

Post by arthuy » Thu Aug 10, 2017 9:14 pm

I think that the tailgate has knackered the loom, I had a quick look and at least one wire is worn to the conductor.

What I will probably do is rewire it. Cut the loom side back, fit a multi-plug and rewire the tailgate to the motor.

I have been waiting for a few bits to arrive one of them being the boot release handle. I take the dog out most days in it so the boot is in uses 2 or 3 times everytime. I thought what could I use a a stop gap.

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I thought perhaps a cap from a tooth paste tube would do the trick but I just happen to have a travel size bottle of shower gel going in the recycling bin. It is on the large size as is but I can fill the inside with epoxy putty and make it fit properly. Though I will swap it for the correct item when it appears.

Photo of the car in the wild, I tend to take photos of rust or parts so nice to get a shot of the car now and again.

Image
Last edited by arthuy on Tue Feb 05, 2019 11:10 pm, edited 1 time in total.

arthuy
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Re: Blinky 51/480

Post by arthuy » Thu Aug 10, 2017 9:35 pm

The red stop/tail bulbs arrived although 1 of the 10 was broken on arrival.

Hard to tell from the photos.

Both right hand have red bulbs and the left hand has one white and one red the outer is still white.
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All red.
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Quite a hard thing to take a photo of, this is the lamps with 2 red bulbs in each. I think that it does make a bit of an improvement with the slight tint and faded original lenses.
Last edited by arthuy on Tue Feb 05, 2019 11:11 pm, edited 1 time in total.

arthuy
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Re: Blinky 51/480

Post by arthuy » Fri Aug 11, 2017 6:52 pm

Good shout on the wiring where it comes out the roof into the tailgate.

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It looks like 5 wires and 2 are broken and others are exposed. I May piece a bit in until I get round to rewiring the tailgate.

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This little beauty arrived today all the way from France. According to the box it is a collectors model, not a toy and not suitable for those under the age of 11 years :rofl:
Last edited by arthuy on Tue Feb 05, 2019 11:12 pm, edited 1 time in total.

eye of ra
Can tell where the 480 was built
Posts: 355
Joined: Tue Dec 04, 2012 7:33 pm
Location: Derbyshire

Re: Blinky 51/480

Post by eye of ra » Sat Aug 12, 2017 9:20 am

Volvo in their wisdom decided all the wires should be black so it can be tricky to know what goes where if you have more than one broken.

Also once the outer covering is damaged it is another place water gets in and ends up in the boot.

EDIT
From memory some of the wires maybe different thicknesses so may give a clue.
Current:
480 ES Auto 1989
480 Celebration 187
480 ES Auto 1991
CLK430 Conv 2001
Hyundai i10 2015

eye of ra
Can tell where the 480 was built
Posts: 355
Joined: Tue Dec 04, 2012 7:33 pm
Location: Derbyshire

Re: Blinky 51/480

Post by eye of ra » Sun Aug 13, 2017 8:27 am

There are actually 2 connectors. You need to get the round one out first or it won’t fit through the hole, my hole is bigger as I could not find a replacement grommet the correct size so enlarged it.

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This was my first attempt at a repair it has lasted a couple of years but was done with the hatch in place, now it’s off the car I intend to do a better job.

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Place a screw driver at the green arrow and prise off the end of the cover. Once started it will pull off quite easily except by the blue arrow where I would suggest loosening or removing the hinge.

The red arrows show the position of each repair under the cover as the channel is quite small so repairs cannot be done in the same place.

The yellow arrows are where you will need to make a good seal or water will end up in the boot and is much easier to do properly with the hatch removed from the car.

The pink arrow is also something to watch for, mine has obviously been rubbing.
Current:
480 ES Auto 1989
480 Celebration 187
480 ES Auto 1991
CLK430 Conv 2001
Hyundai i10 2015

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