Just drove the Volvo back home after picking it up from the shop. I stopped by the car wash on the way back as well (sorry, Svend; I will learn how to wash it once things settle down in July). The guy at the shop said there were no surprises and everything looks good in there now, and echoed AMG Tech’s opinion that…

You crabs like this sort of thing, right?

When I brought the V50 in to a local shop for an oil change before the Spring Cruise (I know, I’m disappointed in me too), the guys there advises me that the CVVT hubs (Volvo’s timing adjust system for the cam shafts) were leaking oil. They said it was fine to drive for now, but I should get addressed soon. It has…

Ravna and I went for a hike today, and the FS road to this trailhead is more what I’m used to: an even-surfaced gravel road with a few holes. Only one rock hit the skid plate the whole 16-some miles! Since Ravna was my sole passenger, and she was buckled safely in the back seat, and it was getting later on, I went…

A lovely sight in the grocery store parking lot. Really nice shade of orange.

It’s got a cool makeshift skid plate:

spotted this at my alma mater tonight (stopped by for one particular reunions even). With bonus leopard accents!

Solder leads to these three solder beads on the CD player’s PCB

A few months ago, my (poor, neglected) GMT400 truck started making a new noise on hot starts. Now it does it on a cold start, too. Does anyone have any idea what it could be, and how badly it needs to be fixed?

It looks like an Isuzu of some kind, but I’m just guessing because Isuzus tend to have great greenhouses and I love the greenhouse on this one.

The reason I installed the skid plate earlier this week is because I was going to spend twelve miles on what the Forest Service labels a “high clearance” road, and I wanted a little extra protection given that my Volvo has only 5.2 inches (13.2 cm) of ground clearance. I got back from the trip last night, and given…

Well, it took nearly an hour of me and my Dad figuring out how to brace a nut tucked away on top of the radiator support where we could barely access it, but the V50 is now ready to take on what the Forest Service labels as “high clearance” roads.

The people have spoken, and the fall PNW Oppo Meet will be on the weekend of September 7th & 8th. Mark your calendars!

I actually found this beaut last weekend, held off on posting, and caught it again today close to sunset.

Had a great time at the recent Spring Cruise in Vancouver? Or bummed you couldn’t make it? Have I got good news for you: I’m proposing a Fall Oppo meet in Portland, and everyone’s invited! (Final repost, for weekday crowd.)

Lovely little crapcan. I think the oldest Justy I’ve seen. Surely oldest-looking

My V50 took home the trophy for Only Car to Break Down on the 2019 Spring PNW Cruise: it refused to start on Sunday morning because the steering lock had jammed. What follows is the tale of everything I had to do to get to the point where I feel comfortable driving the car again.

I love how many small 2-door Japanese 4x4s you can find in Portland. This is one I’m not familiar with; did it become the Swift later?

I’ll post a full writeup tomorrow, but the short story is that I no longer feel nervous driving my Volvo around.