New motor + couple of noob questions

Mr.Stu · 2 Aug 2010 at 14:45

Picked up this yesterday:

1997/R
v40 1.8i (non-gdi)
113k
Full Volvo main dealer history
12m MOT
£675
£340 to insure! Getting old seems to have some perks...

Ok so its not a proper Volvo but it should do the A to B with crap in the back job that I bought it for. I did have my sights firmly set on a Mondeo but I could not find anything within 30 miles that was on decent condition for a similar amount of cash.

Couple of questions:

a) Aircon regas - As far as I can see the compressor is fine, I guess there could be a leak somewhere. Whats the best way of approaching this? I assume Volvo main dealer would be a pants down job, and kiwk fit are best avoided, so where to look in the middle? Local garage perhaps?

b) The laquer has come off the alloy centre caps, am I safe just to bodge it with some cheap best-match silver laquer from halfords?

c) A part from the coolant hoses popping off, I don't recall any major problems with this model. I've checked the rad hoses clamps and they are clearly new so I'm not worried about them for now. Anyone had a v40 before?

d) I'm never going to use the towbar, is there any point even thinking about removing it?

Relentless81 · 2 Aug 2010 at 14:47

Yeah tow bar off they are ugly and it serves no purpose and then trat the plastics with some auto glym gel

Six6siX · 2 Aug 2010 at 14:48

Awesome shorts.

That is all.

Matt82 · 2 Aug 2010 at 14:48

those trousers!

Mr.Stu · 2 Aug 2010 at 14:50

Lol, owned, shorts indeed! I'm not a chav, honest, they were cool when I lived in Whistler

DM · 2 Aug 2010 at 14:50

Iv got shorts like that, **** all wrong with them!

iaind · 2 Aug 2010 at 14:56

Mr.Stu said:
a) Aircon regas - As far as I can see the compressor is fine, I guess there could be a leak somewhere. Whats the best way of approaching this? I assume Volvo main dealer would be a pants down job, and kiwk fit are best

What a pair of trousers!!!

Take it to an AC specialist who will fill it with gas and a UV dye. Dont take it to kwik fit. It may have just depleted over time, in which case there's nothing to worry about. If it leaks out again, they'll be able to track down the leak under a UV light.

The place I've been using charges £30 for this

markweatherill · 2 Aug 2010 at 15:05

Matt82 said:
those trousers!

Perhaps some seat covers can be found in that same pattern.

SeatIbiza · 2 Aug 2010 at 15:27

i'd leave teh tow bar on. Useful for when/if someone rear ends you

There is no such thing as silver lacquer. Get some silver paint and then lacquer that. Will do the job. They do a paint match service too...