Tuesday night I was presented with some pretty coloured lights on the dash of the 240 on my way home from work. The combo of battery, parking brake, brake failure and bulb integrity sensor.
That combo of lights means the alternator isn't charging. And they were showing intermittently, but I managed to get the car home, and even start it the next day to return to work.
Luckily for me, there's an auto electrician next door to my office, because the lights stayed on for the last 5 minutes of the drive into work and the volts gauge dropped into the red, in the 10 volt zone.
It was a cheap and easy fix, the voltage regulator had died, but luckily Volvo had the foresight to use a Bosch alternator, which are really easy to get parts for, so after $80 for supply and fit of the part, things are back to normal.
Today the 240 is in at the local Volvo specialist, having rego check done, the reverse lights fixed as well as a C service done, plus a look at a leak and why the gearbox is suddenly doing weird stuff (hoping an ATF change will stop the problems getting out of 2nd when it's cold and the overdrive disengaging at random times). Either way the guy is not cheap, so I am not looking forward to his bill.
Friday, July 23, 2010
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Sunday DIY: Change rear shock absorbers
Well this morning was very cold, so I held off until after midday to change the rear shocks on the 240.
I am used to just taking the car into the mechanic and letting them deal with anything mechanical, whilst I kept an eye on the electrical side of things, because I feel more comfortable working with electric / electronic stuff. So armed with the Haynes manual and some info on changing shocks from the Mobil web site, I went forth and attempted the changeover.
It was fairly straight forward and took all of about 90 minutes. My ratchet handle broke though, which made things a bit tricky, but I found a way around it. So I will be off to Repco or Auto Pro on pay day to get a new one.
The shocks I bought were off eBay, for $75 including the shipping for the pair. They're non genuine, but are made in the USA for AC Delco (yes the General Motors subsidiary). They're a little stiffer than I am used to, but I sure that's got a lot to do with them being brand new.
The old shocks were very spongy and very easy to manipulate out of the car, and when compressed, never sprang back out again.
I am used to just taking the car into the mechanic and letting them deal with anything mechanical, whilst I kept an eye on the electrical side of things, because I feel more comfortable working with electric / electronic stuff. So armed with the Haynes manual and some info on changing shocks from the Mobil web site, I went forth and attempted the changeover.
It was fairly straight forward and took all of about 90 minutes. My ratchet handle broke though, which made things a bit tricky, but I found a way around it. So I will be off to Repco or Auto Pro on pay day to get a new one.
The shocks I bought were off eBay, for $75 including the shipping for the pair. They're non genuine, but are made in the USA for AC Delco (yes the General Motors subsidiary). They're a little stiffer than I am used to, but I sure that's got a lot to do with them being brand new.
The old shocks were very spongy and very easy to manipulate out of the car, and when compressed, never sprang back out again.
Here's the new shocks:
The old shock still on the car (left side):
New shock on the car (left side):
New shock on the car (right side):
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
