Just joined the club, good to see all these other people who like looking around at other 300 series Volvo's - but i don't, or should i say my 340 doesn't, ..well, what i mean is, she'll look left - even on her own accord, but look right..?? OH NO!! NO WAY, she just doesn't like turning to the right!
I've got a 1989 340 GL, milometer stopped at 16'000mls, so i expect truth to lie around 60-80'000mls.
Left the sellers house, went well, in fact very well, around the sweeping country lanes, ...then approached a medium right turn and...and... "WHAT THE..!!." It's like trying to steer the blinking TITANIC..... BY HAND.... And at this late stage in the bend, i'm getting a distinct sinking feeling!!
....'By The Stars.... I've made it!!. I pullover for a well earned intake of breath..!
For some reason, the Volvo just fights back when turning right - and this is eccentuated at lower speeds. Now, yes, i know powered steering wasn't around in the Volvo factory at the time of production, so one has to accept a certain amount of difficulty when trying to point this baby where you want her to go,.. but i mean,.. I'm an ex-biker and training Pilot, - quite well built ... and i'm honking on the wheel to turn right like a 5 yr old's first time in Daddies car!
So i approach the local wheel tyre whole balancing deal garage place, in my home town. I pay £30 for a full computerised
4 wheel alignment,.. well actually two wheel, because you can't adjust the rear wheels on a 340 i'm reliably informed, but they can give you Camber, slant, and i'm sure i even got my ECG readout from this thing, when i accidentally leant on it, to speak to the guy.All done, dead excited, off i trot and approach the first right hand bend - i now stop, count to 10, engage reverse and slip back (backwards) into the lot i had left in the trye place car park - problem still there.
They try everything, and i mean EVERTHING to get this thing to behave, tyre changes, wheel changes, re testing, 4 men sitting on the r/h side of the bonnet to induce drag to the right - everthing!! AND IT STILL WON'T PLAY!
So i leave, through a veil of tears, and approach a Mechanics Garage. 10 minutes later i have described my problem and he in turn, has descibed to me as near as damn it, how to blue-print the front end of a 340 which will cost me the price of one of Branson's 747s, JUST to diagnose the problem..
So i leave..... by every available left hand turn.
Can anybody please help?
