V50 Engine 2.4 : General advice for a new old car owner

[Lancee]

Originally Posted by demeaux

I'm nearly 50 and can remember all sorts of terrible cars and situations.
This is a car to get kids to places and all of us on holidays.

The only _real_ problem is the hot one side/cold the other and the "why is my misty windscreen not clearing as fast as I like".

IMHO:

A new pollen filter may help with the demisting until you sort the airconditioning. It's something many owners overlook because it can be a challenge for some to change. Do of course make sure the heating is not in recirculation mode.

The air diverter flaps in the heating system may need resetting (and if not faulty also the outside temperature sensor) to equalise the distribution of air to left and right and the screen etc, but I think you may well need Vida diagnostics for that/these.

In my experience Volvo OE brake parts are usually the least troublesome, most certainly the handbrake shoes in the cars to which they apply (not yours). But you will pay a premium for Volvo parts. Many manage well with pattern parts.

If you intend keeping your Volvo you ideally need Vida diagnostics, it will save you a fortune both now and in the long run, but that's another matter.

[andy_d]

Originally Posted by demeaux

I wish I had the confidence and time to do that!
Thank you for linking to it though!

it really isnt that difficult just the screws out swap unit, screws in
hardest bit is not dropping the one screw , then spending 10mins playing shake the screw out the headlight,,

[canis]

Originally Posted by demeaux

I've got new discs on and after a week of driving around listening to them "bed in" and them not "bedding in" it's off to the garage to be looked at (as there's also a passenger side rattle when I go over bumps).

Be very careful with garages who claim faulty brakes are "bedding in". If they are not stopping the car properly, they're not "bedding in" they're improperly fixed. I'd like to say bedding in is a myth, but it isn't quite. Yes, if you're on a race track trying to shave off tenths of a second around bends, yes bedding in will affect your result. But in normal road conditions bedding in is a myth.

Or are we claiming all new cars with their new brakes can't stop for their first few miles? It's bullsh1t, utter rot of the highest order, but old-wives-tales are hard to shift.

This has been p1ssing me off for years, actually. There are garages around who are sending customers out with brakes which frankly do not work, and "bedding in" is always their excuse.

Look, I've been fixing my own brakes for decades. My brakes work from the moment the car comes down off the stands. Bedding in or not, my cars have real stopping power right from the off. If they're not stopping the car, bedding in is not the cause.

Don't let them fob you off.

[demeaux]

So the brakes have stopped making their noise (perhaps a stone?), garage recommended getting the tracking sorted and new drop links.
A/C seems to be fixed by following the "put the windscreen clear on, punch the head button, set to a temperature rather than "lo""

What's the deal with bulb swapping? Are there new ones that will be better than what I have? They don't seem to be as bright as I'd like, it's not to be seen it's more they're not "punching" through the dark. It's very similar to bike lights at night, I don't want to dazzle people I just want to see ahead of me.

[Teddy1975]

Make sure your headlights are adjusted to the correct height. I had problems with my lights as well and bought super bright halogens that burnt themselves out in 4 months and didn't really solve the issue.

I then asked my local garage to please adjust the lights. Now I use Osram Ultra Life halogens with 3 years warranty and no longer feel like there's a problem with seeing the road ahead. Of course, you won't get the LED or HID brightness but you won't dazzle on-coming traffic either.

[Kev0607]

Originally Posted by demeaux

So the brakes have stopped making their noise (perhaps a stone?), garage recommended getting the tracking sorted and new drop links.
A/C seems to be fixed by following the "put the windscreen clear on, punch the head button, set to a temperature rather than "lo""

What's the deal with bulb swapping? Are there new ones that will be better than what I have? They don't seem to be as bright as I'd like, it's not to be seen it's more they're not "punching" through the dark. It's very similar to bike lights at night, I don't want to dazzle people I just want to see ahead of me.

Bulbs query has already been answered on the last page... Go to Halfords or a parts supplier.

Originally Posted by Kev0607

Bulbs can be sorted fairly easily. You can buy brighter Halogen ones that are more of a white colour than yellow. They allow for better visibility at night, but don't be expecting them to be great either... Its an old car with halogen lights. Its not going to have bright lights like some of the new cars do. I suggest you go to a local parts store, give them your reg and tell them what you want. For a fee, they may fit them (Halfords definitely do).