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440 xi ( 1994 )
My biggest problem thusfar was with the 440xi - the timing belt snapped at 106,000 miles! I was extremely lucky. At the time I was doing about 5 kph. and approaching a roundabout - I simply pulled in at the other side of it, and called the recovery guys. I presume that either a/ it was a freak event, or b/ the timing belt was never changed at 60,000 miles as was stated on the cover.
That has been my only problem with the 440xi in the mechanical sense. The rest have been electrical, and most memorably with the glove - box courtesy light. For months I was finding my battery going dead after a couple of days. This involved involved removal via the recovery truck a few times, but alas no one could figure out what the problem was.
One night I happened to be fumbling about looking for something under the passenger seat ( probably a stray spanner - aren’t they always?! ). I looked up towards the dash, and noticed a chink of light coming from somewhere. On closer inspection, I realised that it was coming from the glove - box. The light was not going out when the lid was closed, so out came the bulb and that was that problem sorted!
More recently, I got the car back from a ‘convenience’ exhaust centre ( fast and sloppy, in other words ). They completely messed up the bracket over the exhaust box, leaving the exhaust to ‘bob’ up and down on top of the rear axle. Talk about an eye for quality.
I have been back to them 3 times. On the last visit, it was suggested that the bracket be re - welded. Of course they were quick to point to the fact that around the bracket was rusty, and had been partially dislodged from the chassis. Of course the reason for this is that the monkey who took off the old exhaust pulled it DOWN while detaching it from the rubber suspender, rather than OUT.
I decided I didn’t want these guys getting their hands on my car any more. I decided to just have a go myself ( see also ‘B-log’ section ). It took a day and a half, but I managed to screw on a plate with the bracket attached instead. My new attitude is this: “have a go”. After all, whatever I lack in skill has got to be made up for by the fact that I actually want to do the job. On the other hand there are a raft of folk who have the skill but don’t want to do the job. Honours even I would say ( oh, and D.I.Y. costs comparatively nothing ).
460 GLE ( 1991 )
The 460 GLE is such a lovely car - the only thing it does that has ever caused me concern is warm up - a lot! Around 2000 I was working in Dublin, and I would swear that I lost about 20lb. with sweating due to driving in traffic with the heater on full blast to keep the engine cool. If you saw me you would realise that this is serious: I’m not a heavy guy.
480s ( 1993)
Leaks are such a Volvo thing that I have given them a section of their own - I will therefore refrain from my massive urge to talk about leaks. The main problems with the 480s have been electrical ... come to think of it, all of them have been.
The ‘Blaupunkt’ Toronto CD / Radio ( ‘face off’ model ) is weird, but it is hard to know if this is the problem of the set itself or the dampness that permeates my 480s. Sometimes it works, sometimes not. The electric aerial shoots up unexpectedly when it decides to work. I know Blaupunkt ‘face off’ music systems are unreliable anyway - I know one person who went through three on one set alone. Like my Volkswagen, more ‘Deutsch qualitat’ obviously.
Other than this, the 480s develops electrical faults at random, but these have never affected the performance of the car / lights so I am somewhat complacent and casual about it at this stage. Besides, there’s a certain stimulation involved. Forget screensavers that change every day - with the 480s it’s the thrill of finding something that didn’t work yesterday working today!
Saab 9000 Carlsson 2.0 ( 1990 )
I only have the ‘Carly’ since July 2007, and at that I have only driven it a few thousand miles. In that time a few things have become apparent though, so here goes. It’s not a Volvo I know, but a cousin of a Volvo.
The headlining is currently held in place at the back with safety pins. Apparently headling falling down is a SAAB thing, though in my case I think it had to do with an idiot previous owner ( sans skill ) trying to fit a Nokia car kit. All of my cars have been messed up with these cursed phone kits at some stage.
The gearbox whines, and it gets louder with speed. I have been reliably informed that the gearbox bearings are screwed. Gearbox rebuild beckons. Lovely gearbox though.
The headlamps tend to stick on ‘full beam’. I met another 9000 owner who has the same problem. If the headlights are turned off and back on again, it clears the problem. Taking out the relay and putting it back in helps too. Sounds like a minor problem, and it is in a sense, but it really is a nuisance.
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