Problems and solutions to some faults caused by low usage

Post by **jtbo** » 20 Dec 2004 08:44 pm

My car stood still over 2 months in a parking lot, fuel disappeared on that time. Here is problems and solutions what I faced.

Car would not like to start. After putting fuel into tank there was not enough power in battery to suck it into fuel pump and into carburettor. Solution was to use starting spray, 8 times it was needed and then car started.
Next problem was that carburettor frozed, so I needed to put some fuel antifreeze into tank. Problem solved.

Next problem was that blinkers did not blinked, but illuminated, solution was to use hazards few times and that got solved like that.

Only problem still existing is that rpm gauge is not working, needle moves few millimetres, but no more. This one I'm going to look into next weekend, some connection problems maybe, nothing that good old CRC won't take care of.

So if you are needed to hold your car at one place, make sure it is garage or there will be certain problems, specially when temperature goes from -10 to +5, raining almost any stuff that it can rain from the sky.

Post by **5lab** » 20 Dec 2004 08:46 pm

wd40 the coil contacts, and your revgauge should be much happier

Post by **jtbo** » 21 Dec 2004 06:31 pm

I did use CRC that is little better stuff than WD40 for that kind of use. Rpm needle now turns to 1400rpm from 0, but there it stop like there would be a wall or something. Maybe I need to disassemble instruments and make sure every connect is ok and also there is nothing uknown objects inside ?

Post by **5lab** » 21 Dec 2004 07:40 pm

does it get up to 1400 rpm as quicky as it should? sounds like something inside is bust, but shouldnt be hard to replace/fix

Post by **jtbo** » 21 Dec 2004 08:09 pm

Yes, it works normally between 0-1400rpm, it worked just fine before car was not used for few months, inside of car was not very dry because of weather, that caused these problems. Next weekend, if I have enough energy, I will take instruments out and disassemble them. Maybe I will find little piece of rust or something from there = cheap repair

At least I hope that it is so simple.

Post by **5lab** » 21 Dec 2004 08:24 pm

replacing a rev gauge is quite cheap and easy to do too..

Post by **jtbo** » 21 Dec 2004 08:27 pm

I have changed it a bit, I don't want to lose it

http://janiervast.com/gallery/main.php? ... itemId=187

Post by **petefarrell360** » 21 Dec 2004 09:37 pm

I like it mate, very effective. I can see why you don't want to lose it. How did you go about that? I remember seeing the graphics somewhere before, probably on this site!
Pete

Post by **jtbo** » 21 Dec 2004 09:43 pm

Here is images that were made by Zimba that is member of finnish Volvo forum. I'm just hosting these

http://www.janiervast.com/gallery/main. ... _itemId=63

My dials are printed with HP Color Laserjet and paper is 210gram thick if I remember correct.

Post by **petefarrell360** » 21 Dec 2004 09:51 pm

Cheers, very interesting, how do they look when illuminated then? And how are they fixed in place. Are they just laid ontop of the existing dials, or do you need to remove anything to allow the light through? As I thought it was printed on a plastic, possibly with coloured lenses, look very impressive in the picture in daylight, be interesting to see at night and illuminated. You don't have the econometer and ambient temp gaugues then?
Pete

Post by **jtbo** » 21 Dec 2004 10:11 pm

Econometer and temp gauge are very very rare accessories in here, I think only 1 or 2 member of finnish Volvo forum has those and there is almost 4000 members.
At that time, when 360's were sold, all accessories were heavily taxed and that is reason why almost all cars are very basic models.

Here is partly assembled dials:
http://janiervast.com/gallery/main.php? ... _itemId=12

I just replaced those black parts with my printed ones. Original screws attach these printed ones also.

Here is instrument lights at full power during day:
http://janiervast.com/gallery/main.php? ... itemId=185

Some coloured plastic could do nice touch also, but I was in hurry to go and test, temporary installation from last summer, lol.

Post by **petefarrell360** » 21 Dec 2004 10:29 pm

Thanks for all of the info, I must say they look really good, even with the illumination, which to be honest I thought they'd be hard pushed to illuminate through the paper. I've not actually taken the unit apart yet, removed one complete, but not taken it apart. Coloured plastic may spread the light more evenly, but it still looks really good.

It's interesting how rare you say the ambient temp and econometer gauges are in Finland, and the taxes that were imposed upon accessories. I said this evening on another post, out of the 6 360 GLT's I have currently in the garden and all the previous 360's my parents have owned, only one had the extra gauges, and they were removed before I got the car! So they appear to be rare to me, but Foggy James the gauge guru has managed to find plenty.

Pete

Post by **jtbo** » 21 Dec 2004 11:01 pm

I do have one generic amp meter lying around, Im going to test if it would be possible to install that generic unit into original economerter slot. Then if it fits, I'm going to buy generic econometer and install that

One other rare thing is differential lock, once there was 2 of them available for me to buy, but I had not enough money. I think that I will never find that kind of equipment again

Post by **petefarrell360** » 21 Dec 2004 11:28 pm

Sounds like an interesting project mate, keep us updated. With our cars you have to get things when they're available, as you never know if you're going to be able to get them again, or as cheaply, though lack of funds is a major problem! Many things I wish I had bought and kept rather than declined, then at a later date wish I had bought.
Pete

Post by **340vario** » 22 Dec 2004 06:38 pm

I've since 3 weeks the owner of a volvo 340 1.4 vario from 1988, and whenever I stop i fear that the engine shuts down. It runs smooth, but with this cold weather I don't thrust the engine to keep running.

The former owner (79 years old) has driven it very slowly, but now I've already 2500 km motorway km underneath...

I cleared the carburators. No effect. Every 10.ooo km my car has seen the garage... but if it's still worth it??

Anyone an idea what the problem can be??

Thx,
Jeroen
HOLLAND