Got myself a V70 2.5T SE

[4x4]

There's always something that breaks and needs to be repaired/replaced on these cars

When I went to fill up with petrol on my way to Glencoe on Sunday my petrol cap retaining strap decided to part company. Once home an online search and £6.06 later two straps from eBay were winging their way to me. They arrived this morning and it took a couple of minutes to fit one and the other will go into my parts bin. They are supplied with new metal pins but I decided to re-use the original plastic pins

Original strap broken


2 new straps from eBay


Plastic pins to be re-used


Pins in place and retaining strap attached


Sorted

[4x4]

Clocks go back on Sunday so winter is officially upon us therefore I decided to put the winter wheels/tyres on even though it's a toasty 13°C today.

Thor wheels with 225/45R17 Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance 2 removed ready to be cleaned and stored.


Replaced with Mimas wheels with 205/55R16 Continental WinterContact TS 870.


I've not driven the car yet with the winter tyres so it will be interesting to see if there is any difference between 16"/17" on the rough roads around here. Both tyre sizes are the correct Volvo recommended size for my car and the overall diamater difference is minimal so speedo should be almost spot on

[4x4]

The MOT for the V70 is due next February which would mean anytime from 21st January onwards it could be done. I decided that I would rather loose a few MOT months this year and have an October MOT next year avoiding having to worry in the middle of winter if anything was needing repaired.

A straight pass was issued and tester said it was the best V70 he had seen in years

[Roy V70 850]

Interesting that you should wind your MOT back. I've done the same with mine in 2 years. Wound it back from December to August. I hate having to work on the car in winter.

I got some strange looks as if why would I not use the full time. Such is my confidence that it will pass. Or at least need minimal work.

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2004 V70 D5 163bhp 177k miles manual

[stuart bowes]

I didn't think you were allowed to do that ? had thought it would be useful in the past

but now mines bang in the middle of the year which is perfect anyway I guess

[4x4]

@ Roy: I don't see the point in trying to get a car through an MOT in the middle of winter for the sake of £16 worth of MOT time. My XC90 was a December MOT and I was always going to change it but never did so was determined that the V70 wasn't going to be done on the darkest days of the year.

@ stuart: Yes you can put a car through an MOT as often as you want, there are no rules to stop you doing it every day if your pockets are deep enough.

New Hella pump has arrived, £426 saved over the Volvo dealer's price, just waiting on the switch arriving from Sweden

[Roy V70 850]

I think the illegal thing you're thinking about Stuart, is the bit where if you move the MOT forward , people think they can keep the anniversary date. No, your anniversary date moves forward to a month after you MOT'd it.

And after all, why should there be any objection to you getting your car safety checked say every 6 months.

[4x4]

It’s alive…
The new Hella pump arrived in the post today so I decided to fit it to the car and my plan was to wait until the new switch arrived before replacing the fuse. However I got to thinking about the switch and how it works so I connected my Ohms meter to the two terminals and then blocked off the 2 ports where the vacuum hoses go into the switch. I then sucked on the bottom port where the pump would go onto the switch and created a vacuum, the switch clicked on and off numerous times.
I refitted the switch, put in a new 20A fuse, checked to 12v at the plug and then plugged it in. The pump came to life and put vacuum into the brake servo. Pumping the pedal numerous times the pump cut in and out as it should and without any problems.
Once the new switch arrives from Sweden I’ll fit it and keep the old one as a spare.

+ YouTube Video

[4x4]

My parts have arrived from Sweden via Volvo Dundee so will fit them today



Left to right
Clip to hold the air filter box (one of mine was broken so might as well replace it). Vacuum switch.Vacuum switch retaining clip to hold vacuum switch (mine was broken) Grease for brake servo seal (preventative maintenance)

[4x4]

When applying Gummi Pflege to my door seals in preparation for the winter a few weeks ago I noticed the driver door seal was starting to look its age so I ordered a new seal which it arrived today. 10 minutes later it was fitted and given a coat of Gummi Pflege

Old seal


New seal part#30779419


Fitted ready for the winter