Newbie here with no boot and no radio...

[Olga]

Well, I have moved over from the dark side... former VW Beetle owner just purchased my first 340... and slightly ripped off! almost 700 quid, G reg automatic with only 31 000 on the clock, generall excellent condition, but never checked the boot! When I got it home and opened it I founf half the inner lip of the boot was rusted away...

Damn...

But the garage did say they would cut it out and replace the rusted metal...

Taking it back in on Saturday... God!

However, it is such a pleasure to drive! And SOOOOOOOOOOOO warm compared to that bloody 73 Beetle!

Anyway, to my question: the radio cassette only works on radio... the tape player motor has gone I think... how do you get the whole radio OUT, and will a bog standard ARGOS cheapy radio cassette just slide in? Also, if I got a second hand one off ebay to make it look 'original'... where would I get an unlock code for that new radio, as all the Ebay listings say 'without' code?

Thanks for any help guys!!

[Chris_C]

I'm guessing you got the grey ebay one then Looked a nice car.

Radio will just slide out, and yup, you can fit a new one in rather than another Volvo one if wanted. If you get the reg no of the car the radio came from, ringing up Volvo customer services normally will get you the code...

Good luck with the boot repair, fingers crossed they do a good job.

[macplaxton]

Hello and welcome Olga.

Anyway, to my question: the radio cassette only works on radio... the tape player motor has gone I think... how do you get the whole radio OUT, and will a bog standard ARGOS cheapy radio cassette just slide in?

If it's an original Volvo radio, you might need a fascia plate to fit a standard DIN E slot radio. I'd be inclined to just bag a cheap LIDL or Aldi radio next time they're on special. Last one I got had loads of features and cost £34. And whilst they aren't exactly posh, they do the job and have a 3 year guarantee (and a pointless remote control )

Also, if I got a second hand one off ebay to make it look 'original'... where would I get an unlock code for that new radio, as all the Ebay listings say 'without' code?

Ask down the local car accessory shop, they'll know someone who can do the business (Lock up a radio in a mates V440, because I didn't punch the code in right three times ) cost me £20 to unlock it. Hence the Aldi/Lidl suggestion.

Shame about the back panel. Pictures?

Variomatic goodness. If you hear a big bang, like a cannon going off, don't panic, it'll be a drivebelt. If it seems to rev all the time around town at 30mph and sqwark from every moderately quick standing start, then the belts are very, very slack.

Try and find a garage that knows their arse from their elbow for working on these autos if you can't/won't do it yourself. Your average spanner monkey won't have a clue.

[Olga]

Oh my God - variomatic hell... Are variomatics rubbish then? Slipping belts... big bangs...

Can you still get the belts?

Olga

[volvosneverdie]

Oh my God - variomatic hell... Are variomatics rubbish then? Slipping belts... big bangs...

Can you still get the belts?
Olga

Welcome to the forum!

Varios are not rubish at all.
They're just different. And a bit rare.
i.e. A lot of mechanics don't have much (or any) experience with them.
It's a cool system and they're good cars, if you can find someone local that understands them, all will be well.

Might be worth you signing up with the Daf owners club forum too.
There's a wealth of vario related knowledge and advice also available there too. Should you ever need to tap it.

Good luck with the welding. At least it's not the heater channels!

And get some pics up when you get the car back.
It really did look lovely on eBay.

[SteveP]

Could be worse... £700 for a car with such little use isn't thaaaat bad. Shame about the rust though but if you're used to older cars then I guess that's what happens! Pics

[macplaxton]

Oh my God - variomatic hell... Are variomatics rubbish then? Slipping belts... big bangs...

Variomatics aren't rubbish. I didn't mean to cause alarm but If not maintained, like most unmaintained things, they will go wrong. I've got three. Every twist 'n' go moped/scooter has smaller version belt drive and they zip around fine.

I had (well still have, but it's in bits as some scumbag stole/trashed it) a 1973 DAF 66 with is as good as the same transmission. I never looked under the car much and it was vibrating a lot at certain speeds. I got the car at 24k and one of the belts went bang at around 27k at 60mph. It's loud, but it doesn't stop you moving (as there's two), but I needed to stop to remove the remains of the dead belt as it was flapping off the floor. Once removed, it ran fine back to the house (over 20 miles) where I was able to get it sorted. If I done my maintenance, I would have probably prevented this.

I also have a 27 year-old 343 auto that I bought with only 14267 mile. I was under the car last month (15700) to check the belts and they were very slack (symptoms as described before). Looked at the belts, they were ok, but noted that to tension them correctly, I had to use nearly all the adjustment available. The pulleys which the belts run on are chrome plated. They should be nice and smooth. If there is any corrosion on them (from lying idle), then that will cause roughness that will cause the sides of the belts to wear quicker. So I plan to change the belts for a new set soon.

Can you still get the belts?

Yes

There is plenty of Variomatic info both here and on the DOC forum, the site search function is very good

[trabitom99]

Congratulations on your buy! Variomatics are great fun, a completely different driving "feel" compared to a "normal" automatic. For an introduction to the system check out this superb article:

http://www.volvo300mania.com/forum-uk/v ... =39&t=3803

Cheers

Tom

[Olga]

Thanks for all the information guys - very useful - I wonder if there is a garage with variomatic knowledge round Stockport?

[Olga]

Oh, and I'll get pics up as soon as possible... in the meantime here is a pic of the rust I sent the garage when complaining!!!

[volvosneverdie]

How did rust get in there????!!!!
Thats the 1st 300 ive seen with boot floor rot.
And ive seen like, eight.

[macplaxton]

boot floor rot.

That's not the floor, it's the rear inner panel top edge, along from the tailgate striker plate or whatever it's technically called. It's an unusual place alright.

[volvosneverdie]

boot floor rot.

That's not the floor, it's the rear inner panel top edge, along from the tailgate striker plate or whatever it's technically called. It's an unusual place alright.

Dude, youre right!
I was wondering what was causing the 'cut off' in the pic between the boot carpet and rust area was. I though it was a fold in the carpet or something.
But its actually the top edge of the rear panel!!

Mad.
it mustve been parked with its bum out to the wind and rain for ten years?
Poor vario.

[volvodspec]

seen it before, not with these kind of holes in it though!

[trabitom99]

My GLi has this:

... which needs fixing soon.

Tom