Hi,

Thanks for the advice for my `88 340, it is running well now and I have ordered a new themostat from the UK to get the operating temperature up. It is

I have been ordering parts from Simon at Brook Volvo and get really quick service and pretty much UK prices because he takes the VAT off before he sends them, which pretty much covers the cost of the postage out to New Zealand - this, coupled with the info in these forums, is keeping the old fun bus on the road which is unusual enough to turn a few heads out here.

I have another question about what sort of chinese finger trap mechanism locks the radio cassette unit (VC 608) in place please. I have looked through the forums and have tried poking about with coat-hangers (which I guess are the same as UK) as suggested, but it stays in there rock-solid. I guess this was one of Volvo's ways detering people from nicking them - I do have a jap replacement unit but would prefer to fix the Volvo unit.

Can anyone could tell me please, or post a diagram, about how the locking mechanism works and/or any other further hints about how to get it out. I might then be able to have a go at releasing it using a few sharp instruments before I start resorting to the blunt variety and letting the japs win the war.

cheers

First, take the little plastic lugs off either side. Then stuff something in the four holes. You can buy a tool for a few pennies, but something like four watchmakers screwdrivers do just as well. This should release the catch. You can then put your fingers into the tape slot and pull the unit forwards.

Cheers,

Gavin.

Brilliant, thanks for that. It's out and the Jap all singing flashing light unit is in while iI get the VC 608 (as it turned out to be) fixed.

I missed getting an order in for a set of radio removal keys put in with my consignment of hoses/thermostat from the UK, so (figuring if jewellers screwdrivers would work) I used sawed up sections of long peg board holders (with about the max diameter as the holes), pushed sideways and gave it a bit of oomph and out it came. superb. I understand the locking system now that I have seen where it catches just in behind the plastic facia plate.

Interestingly, two autopart supermarkets out here do not stock spare removal keys as they say they would be bought by thieves. I'm not sure what they would say about the `find your own' Volvo radio code CDs I saw on UK ebay when I was looking around for radio removal keys.