Volvo Problems

WINDOW aerials aren't as effective as the old type and it seems the reception is always worse on the AM band. I'm not aware of any solution to the problem.

IT SOUNDS like a vacuum leak, and could be associated with the brake booster. Call Volvo specialist John Johnson at Voldat Automotive, ph: 9553 1091, for more info.

FORD has owned Volvo for more than five years. If you hadn't noticed, then I guess you won't be expecting any dramas. The C30 is a nice little car with unique styling, good quality and excellent Volvo back-up.

YOU have to look behind the rate of depreciation to find the cause. The Range Rover is a big, heavy car with a very thirsty V8 engine, so it is best suited to someone who wants to tow a fairly big trailer. It also had engine reliability issues that can be expensive to repair. You need to do homework on the car you are thinking of buying and find out what goes wrong with them. If you buy carefully you can get a well-designed, well-built car for a fraction of its original price. Your idea of buying an old Volvo isn't a bad one, but it's getting hard to find good examples of those models. Their best years have long passed. But again, if you do your homework you might just find a gem that will serve you well for years.

A SECOND-HAND car will be a better model and have more equipment than a new car for the same price, but you are buying a car that has done quite some mileage in the hands of someone you don't know. There are risks buying a used car because you don't how previous owners have treated it. If you're prepared to take them, buy a car with a known service history and have it thoroughly checked by a specialist in that brand.

VOLVO specialist John Johnson, of Voldat Automotive, recommends you start by cleaning the throttle butterfly. If there's a build-up it may not be properly returning to idle and sending an incorrect signal to the computer. If that doesn't work, try resetting the idle switch. Beyond those, you could check the idle motor to make sure it's operating correctly.

THE P1800 was a stylish car, driven of course by Roger Moore in the 1960s TV series The Saint. The best place to start is the Volvo Car Club, where I'm sure you will find members happy to help. Being old, the cars are in various states of repair from rusty wrecks to beautiful restorations. Rust is a problem, and parts are getting hard to find. You'd pay up to $20,000 for a good example.

GENERALLY the 360 is a reliable car that gives little trouble, but fuel consumption can be high. Volvo specialist John Johnson says he's tried just about everything he knows to improve mileage . . . without success. Potential trouble areas are the electrics, and the trim can give niggly problems. Use regular unleaded because the 360's engine has hardened valve seats.