The lower front ball joints on the W220 and W211 chassis can take a real pounding, and are often the first thing to fail on the front-end suspension. A creaking noise is the usual giveaway but you...
One of the more annoying “features” of Mercedes automobiles between the 70's and 90's is the use of an external fader switch for the radio. Specifically in the W124 model, the radio only has one left and one right channel, which are split front and rear by the fader in the center console. While...
Inevitably, light bulbs burn out. As you may have read in my recent post about diagnosing failed lightbulbs, once you figure out which bulb is out, it’s simply a matter of replacing the bulb. This post will guide you in replacing the external bulbs in your RWD Volvo. This does specifically relate...
An important part of keeping an Audi or Volkswagen well-maintained and operating correctly is the vehicle's wheel alignment. This is one of the few repairs that must be performed by a professional, and with good reason. Performing an alignment will make sure the wheels are “square” with each...
I picked up a set of wheels for my brick a couple of months back. I had been keeping an eye out for this exact set of Volvo wheels, 16” Meteors. If you know about the abstract naming scheme of Volvo wheels, then you’ll know these are essentially baby 17” Comet wheels, in my opinion, some of the...
The fill port - notice the special tool on the right and fluid pouring out on the left. The plastic piece above the tool can be an issue if you're not careful. Remember back in the day when you used to check your transmission fluid with a long dipstick? Have you looked for one on your...
What actually happens when an alternator stops charging? Does it mean the whole alternator is trash, or can it be fixed? Volvo 850, S70, and even 960 alternators are pretty stout units - I've even heard of one lasting past 400,000 miles. Here's a quick way to reduce the cost of a potential...
Battery keeps going flat? It could just be the battery is damaged, and unable to maintain the proper charge, or it could be the alternator is not working properly and the battery is not getting recharged as it should. There is another potential cause, one that is much harder to diagnose and...
Passing a state inspection isn't usually very difficult for a late model vehicle. What's the first thing to usually go? In my experience, bulbs like to start popping after a few years, giving you the inevitable fail. Gareth will show you the best way to replace a Mercedes C300's license plate...
Image courtesy of Master Muffler The Catalytic Converter may not seem it, but it's much more than a piece of metal under your car. Hot exhaust gasses exit your engine and head down the exhaust system to the cat. Inside this there is a honeycomb structure made from ceramic and different...
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