No longer need welder for Volvo: car is a lemon :s

[boost monkey 0]

My mum has got a lovely V40, latest of her Volvo collection! Unfortunately, the garage recently showed concern over some corrosion around the both rear suspension links (that is, the horizontal bars that run from the rear knuckles inboard to the chassis). I've stuck some pics up below, and I'm wondering what you guys think about it?

 

I think it's weldable although I'm not great with a MIG plant. Obviously I'd need to drop the tank off, but if you have any specialist advice I would really appreciate hearing from you. The tank drops off without needing to move the rear axle, I'm just worried about fuel vapour etc. The garage want £1000 for the job :cuckoo:

 

Thanks a lot,

 

Jon.

 

One side:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other side:

 

 

 

 

 

Can't remember if coil spring is before or after the link, else I would label each side specifically.

 

Seems like there is a bracket that the arm bolts to which is welded onto the inner skin of the chassis (can be seen in some pics) which is why I have let my mum keep driving. If anyone knows otherwise, please post. Thanks.

 

Update: I've currently got the car as mum has replaced it with a newer Volvo. It's really nice:

 

Air conditioning,

full leather interior,

heater front seats,

cruise control,

6 CD changer,

multi-trip computer.

 

so basically, if I can get it welded on the cheap (MOT is due on 10th Jan) it would make a real good workhorse for the time being.

 

If anyone on here is willing to do it, I can pay in C parts (new G60 calipers for example) or real life currency (including ham or twixes). It may get put up for sale very very cheaply otherwise, and someone may get a top of the non-turbo V40 line very cheap!

 

Thanks,

 

Jon.

[boost monkey 0]

This has been up on the Volvo V40 owners forum since October with no replies.

 

I'm hoping the CF will be more friendly especially to one of their own! :D

[CazzaVR 0]

:tumbleweed:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seriously though- wish I could help, but don't know the first thing about welding. Sounds like a great car though- defo worth saving if you can!

[boost monkey 0]

I'm taking it to my local garage on tuesday, they're goot with chassis and welding stuff. I'm hoping they will be able to weld it with the tank in place by insulating the edges with leather or something. The skin that needs work is the one with the underseal on so there's a few other layers of steel in the way before the tank. FIngers crossed!

[CazzaVR 0]

Is it a common prob on Volvos? What year is it?

[boost monkey 0]

It's a 1997. It has a towbar, and apparently the rear suspension can suffer on those from what Parkers tells me, so it could be a common problem.

 

My guess is that it's been used for caravanning or something like, and left in a field for long periods of time.

[boost monkey 0]

Going to take it for a pre-MOT check at my local garage tomorrow. They're pretty good, kind of place that will change a bulb instead of fail the car for it.

 

If they say it's gonna cost £300+ to get it through I think I will put it up for spares or repairs.

[shaunVR6 0]

Boostmonkey the volvo owners club and forum is full of p..... as are a lot of sites they are about as much use as a tin of milk lol :D

[boost monkey 0]

yeah it's a shame. That V40 forum is really dead.

[boost monkey 0]

It's officially a kipper :brickwall: guy couldn't even quote me a price to do the work, and spotted a number of other things wrong with it whilst it was up on the lift.

 

So, it's spares or repair I think. coming to an ebay near you soon :nuts:

[CazzaVR 0]

That's a shame, Jon :( You should be able to make a bit from Ebay though...

[boost monkey 0]

Yeah possibly, The leathers go for about £80 a set plus it has all the panels and glass plus air con etc.

 

Just spoke to mum, asking her what she wants me to rob for her new Volvo :lol:

[davidwort 0]

oh dear, I know nothing about welding but those pics did look pretty nasty, thought the old volvos were pretty good on underbody protection, being from Scandanavia and all :shrug:

[boost monkey 0]

Yeah they normally are pretty good. I think this one may have spent a lot of time in a field as a caravanner's car (poor thing) and as such got very muddy and damp underneath.

 

Oh well, least it doesn't draw focus from the plum :)

[Supercharged 2]

oh dear, I know nothing about welding but those pics did look pretty nasty, thought the old volvos were pretty good on underbody protection, being from Scandanavia and all :shrug:

 

My mates C70 had virtually nothing, just primer - awful but reminds you how good vw's are!

[boost monkey 0]

I think a lot of the brands have taken a turn for the worse during recent generations. Even VW have been noted to having bad paint/bodywork circa Mk4 era.

[boost monkey 0]

I really can't understand how a P reg volvo with leather interior, heated front seats, air conditioning, trip computer, little bolstery things in the rear seats for kids (build in kids chairs) and 6cd changer can be written off due to corrosion.

 

My H reg Corrado is the newest car I have ever owned. Fact. The thought that I will be using this 1997 vehicle as a runaround for another 6 days then it's getting scrapped just seems so crazy.

 

:shrug:

[davidwort 0]

ah, right, if wikipedia is right the S40/V40 is/was made in holland and is based on the mitsubushi charisma, so it's not really a proper volvo anyway, that might go some way to explaining why it's built to last 10 years unlike the old tanks they used to make.

[boost monkey 0]

yeah you're right, it is Carisma esque. Volvo even had a GDI V40 which used a Mitsubishi engine.