It’s been to the moon, will it come back? No it’s fucked a month after purchase, great buy.

[Tamworthbay]

New cap fitted, hopefully it will stop losing coolant now! Fingers crossed. It’s a genuine Febi one but not marked Volvo or the release pressure but all part numbers match up so confident it’s the right one. The one on there appears to be the original but also seems to be holding pressure well. Time will tell.

[Tamworthbay]

The new stereo is sadly no more, much as I love the idea of a reversing camera I could not cope with the loss of AM. So I set about trying to fix the CD player in the old one to keep the nipper happy on longer journeys. I forgot to take any pics of the process unfortunately but I opened it up and gave everything I could a damn good clean and a blast here and there of contact cleaner. First impressions are that it is working properly now, but it has been intermittently dying anyway so only time will tell if it’s a proper fix. In the mean time I am on the look out for the multi changer that was an option on these.

[purplebargeken]

Clive, how much was the new stereo?

[Tamworthbay]

Clive, how much was the new stereo?

Just under £40 all in, yours for £20 if you want it mate including the reversing camera.

[Tamworthbay]

Not a good start to the week, after checking the coolant and fitting a new Cap yesterday I didn't expect to see the coolant light on this morning as it hasn't moved or even been run. Tank was empty but there was a puddle by the drivers side wheel. I topped up AGAIN and drove to work, coolant is frothy but no sign of oil. No sign of coolant leaking that I can see. And to top it off the door wouldn't close properly but sorted that.

 

Any ideas on the coolant leak guys as I really can't afford to have the car off the road.

[Richard]

Puddle by driver's wheel could be water pump, have a look for drips from the timing cover. It could also be the radiator separating, it was both on mine.

[Tamworthbay]

Oh shit, can't afford either of them at the moment. Had a look and can't see anything at the moment, bottom of rad is dry, area around bottom of timing cover is mucky but doesn't feel wet. Would the water pump leak that bad when not running? Its lost a litre overnight.

[Tamworthbay]

The frothy coolant is worrying me as well.

[purplebargeken]

Deep breath mate, you'd be telling me to try the basics, fill up with coolant, run it and check the hoses/hose clips first of all. It's sensible and free!

 

Then check things such as is the heater pumping out cold, warm or hot air?

 

Then check the obvious places for leaks, coolant bottle, rad, water pump.

 

Be systematic and have a good look.

 

Am sure more knowing heads will be along shortly mate.

[purplebargeken]

Always happy to bring tools and cleaning products on Sunday.

[Tamworthbay]

Always happy to bring tools and cleaning products on Sunday.

thanks mate, ok for tools it's the prospect of doing it that is depressing. I have had a look and can't see where it's coming from but the tank had a residue in that is suspiciously like k seal so someone may have been there before. I have booked it in at a local independent on Wednesday but if its anything serious I will be off the road a good while as it couldn't have come at a worse time. Fucked off big time at mo

[Tamworthbay]

Bottom of sump is wet, so at least a water pump by the looks of things

[Guest Hooli]

Is it a cambelt driven pump on these? I can't remember.

[Tamworthbay]

Yup, cam belt was done two years ago but looks like the pump is leaking now.

[Guest Hooli]

Bugger then.

[Jim Bell]

Arse. Thats bad news man. Could be worse though. It could be French?

[warninglight]

Is there something in the paperwork saying the cambelt was done 2 years ago? If there is I missed it, I reckoned it was coming up on due now.

 

I put some UV dye into the system when it had a small weep before, which was the jubilee clip on the rad top hose, that dye may explain the residue if it's green. I never added anything stop leaky to the coolant, but the owner before me may have, as when I bought it he did mention the slight coolant weep.

[Tamworthbay]

There is a sticker and date for the cam belt at 216,000 which was 2 years ago according to the records. The stuff in there is not dye, It's got the slimy slightly metallic look that I have seen with k seal in the past but time will tell. Is just a bad time as have put every penny into trying to get self employed in the future so don't have much reserve but that's always the way,I only live two miles from where I work and have legs so it's not the end of the world just yet.

[Tamworthbay]

Another short run and can't see anymore frothy stuff so if I am 'lucky' it's about £400 for pump and belts. Fuck cars.

[purplebargeken]

2 years on belts is okay, could we do the pump on Sunday??

[Tamworthbay]

2 years on belts is okay, could we do the pump on Sunday??

Sadly not mate, it’s a pretty big job by the looks of it but massive thanks for the offer. Belt has to come off so may as well do that at the same time. Really not sure what is going to happen with it yet. Will wait for the place on Wednesday to diagnose then make a decision. Worst case scenario is HGF and the bridge but hoping it’s just the water pump in which case it will get done, when is a different matter though.

[purplebargeken]

Hopefully it is just the waterpump mate. Shall we reschedule?

[Tamworthbay]

Hopefully it is just the waterpump mate. Shall we reschedule?

Can I let you know on Wednesday? hopefully by then I will have an idea of what’s what. Would be good to see you mate, will lift the spirits and that is much needed at mo.

[purplebargeken]

No problemo buddy

[Shirley Knott]

If the belt was done 2 years ago you'd imagine they'd have done the pump at the same time surely? 2 years seems a bit young for a pump to leak/die but you never know I suppose...

 

Do you know what antifreeze is in it? I'm not familiar with this particular VAG lump but IIRC their stuff of this era used G11 (blue but different from other blues in composition allegedly?). I know with the 1.9 engines using anything other than G12/13 seems to cause various seals to shit themselves and leak, I've personally seen it happen

[Tamworthbay]

That’s my thinking as well but could have been done on the cheap (but why bother?). I have dropped it off at the specialist and have never been asked so many questions when handing a car over. They are snowed under though so might not get onto it tomorrow. Theyseemed very non commital over possible issues which is hopefully just them being cautious. Weird thing is that it has been back to normal since, so it shits a litre overnight without moving then no problem beyond a tiny drop the next four trips and two long stands. Make sense to you? Nor me!. Just hoping it’s not the H bomb.

[Jim Bell]

A specialist!?

 

Fuck man. That sounds expensive. Hope the news back is good news.

 

Ill have my fingers crossed for you and the Volvo.

[Richard]

People on Volvo forums advise against changing the pump with the belt, the logic being that the original pump is likely to be better than the new one. I think that advice was probably fine when they were all coming up for the first change but should be ignored on any examples that are out there now.

 

I had the belts done on my 850 and the pump was utterly fucked, despite the belts looking quite new. 

[Tamworthbay]

A specialist!?

Fuck man. That sounds expensive. Hope the news back is good news.

Ill have my fingers crossed for you and the Volvo.

They are a local and very well respected independent Volvo specialist, but yeah, cheap it won’t be unless it’s a case of K seal it to death and bridge when it dies but that prospect doesn’t bear thinking about at the mo. Hoping it is ‘just’ water pump and therefore cambelt, still looking around £400 which is a hard pill to swallow but can just about do it, any more and I genuinely have no idea what to do.

[Shirley Knott]

This video may help to diagnose OMGHGF...

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlmPRsGWjAM

 

Hopefully not that though, fingers crossed.