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frankhoffy

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
My car has never been dirtier than it was just before I washed it this weekend. I couldn't wash it for weeks unless I wanted to do it in the dark or the pouring rain. I'm not going to drive it through the car wash because the car is low and it has an expensive, unique paint job. It wasn't ideal washing conditions, because the wind was blowing so hard that it dried the car and left some water spots.

I don't know what they put on the roads here, but there was black crud in the middle of both of the rear passenger doors. Also, the back part of the trunk lid got so dirty it almost looked brown. It was embarrassing.

We just got over a cold snap, so I'm thinking it might be the de-icer that's doing it. There is nothing but rain in the forecast, so I'll see how dirty it gets after a week of driving in this stuff.

I wonder why the rear end gets so dirty. Where is the spray coming from? How did that black crud get half way up my rear passenger doors?
 
Re: This car gets dirty quick (frankhoffy)

Mudflaps Frank. Not really for yours though I am kidding. Most black crud is from car lifts http://********************/smile/emthdown.gif

Now I can ask you a question

With your powerchip was it a flash or a soldered chip.? Powerchips says we have a surface mounted chip that is only flasbut then when Kurt had problems they needed a whole new ECU because it apparently was soldered.
 
Discussion starter · #3 ·
Re: This car gets dirty quick (Helmut Ranff)

Yeah mud flaps aren't going to work with the body kit. However, I am having them put on my truck, which also has a body kit. It will be interesting to see how the dealer figures that out. They claimed they could do it.

My chip was flashed. Did Evolve solder yours?
 
Re: This car gets dirty quick (C70drvr)

Or, you could have a black car in Northern CA. In the Spring, you can get the car covered in pollen just driving back from the car wash.... Nothing like a yellow-green dusted black car. I had someone ask if I had the car painted a special pearlescence, until I wiped my finger on the car to expose the dust.... The person asking the question just walked away shaking their head.
 
Re: This car gets dirty quick (avolvofan)

There is an upside.

Washing car in winter = fear of getting dirty = storing in garage for days on end = not driving = saving money on gas = more money for mods = happiness
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Powerchip desolders the existing chip, 'flashes' the original chip, and resolders it.

By 'flashing', all they are meaning to say is that they erase the original chip and recode it. Not a real flash, though they make it sound like it is....
 
Re: This car gets dirty quick (Helmut Ranff)

Quote, originally posted by Helmut Ranff »
No I believe it flashed but Kurt needed a new ECU so I wondered. When JRL rebuilt the car in order to be "unflagged" it required a new ECU
Powerchips are soldered
 
Re: This car gets dirty quick (frankhoffy)

Will generic V70 mudflaps fit the R? My favorite online vendor for volvo parts (autowebaccessories) says that they won't.
As an aside, can anyone point me to the procedure for adjustment of the emergency brake.
 
Re: This car gets dirty quick (andrewmo)

Yes, regular V70 mudflaps do fit the R, if no body kit.

Before YOU put them on, you can check the contour by putting each mudflap up against the spot they will be fitted. They are very easy to put on, but you will need a special pop rivot tool. It cost me about $30.00. The whole job took about an hour, not including putting the car up on jack stands so I could remove the wheel(s).

Good luck.
 
Re: This car gets dirty quick (Lead Foot 60)

Thanks- I don't have a body kit . I've got a riveter that should work. Does the installation require drilling any holes? Are the rivets provided or do you use standard size aluminum rivets?
 
Re: This car gets dirty quick (andrewmo)

You don't have to drill any new holes, but you will need to drill out 3 or four existing rivets (holding wheelarch liner in place) for each mud flap.

The instructions aren't very precise, so hold the flap in position to verify for yourself which rivets to drill out before starting.

The rivets come with the mudflap kit. I've got fronts and rears on my R, and the fronts also came with clear plastic adhesive strips (think clearbra material) to go under the area where the mudflap contacts the painted metal of the front fender.

On the R you'll have to take the wheels off to install the mud flaps. On my friend's base V70 (2005) we installed them with a right-angle rivet tool just by steering the front tires to full lock on each side.
 
Re: This car gets dirty quick (frankhoffy)

Frank I feel your pain. After the snow melted I washed my car and I swear in two hours it was hopeless again. I am getting my car repainted in the spring so I think I'll save my car washing pennies and hit the mountain slopes.

If you find a touch-free car wash there are no rails you just drive in and stop your front tire on the rest. If anything it is good for a few hours around here in the NW. There is a lot of rain and wind for the next week. You are going to have to decide fast and dirty or clean and cooped.

Good luck with that
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Re: This car gets dirty quick (frankhoffy)

It's Dirty - aah!! This is about 2 weeks of driving to Portland and back to the Bay Area (including two trips to Mt. Hood); driving back during the beginning of that major storm we had the first week of Jan, and then to Tahoe at least once before/after. Even a run through a touchless wash didn't help any.

It's been washed since I took these pics but I've made two more trips to Tahoe since then and now it's not so shiny anymore
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I guess I know what I'll be doing this Sunday, LOL.

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