When your car shits the bed ...

http://www.edmunds.com/media/misc/98...v70.xc.175.jpg

Today was a sad day. I was out and about, enjoying my day off, and got back in my car to run another errand. The car attempted to turn over, but puttered out. I tried to start it again, gave it some gas and it finally turned over. Moments later, it was dead again. I finally got it started, drove it to the opposite side of the parking lot, and it was dead in its tracks again. No power steering, no power at all.

After going through the drive vs. tow debate in my head, I decided to call for a tow. I sat in my chilly car and waited for the truck. An half-hour later, he showed up and loaded it up. I hopped in "the beast" as he called it, and spent the next 30 minutes going 40mph in 3rd gear, cringing at his blonde jokes.

It was my first time needing a tow, and I have to say, it's mighty sad to see the car you love up on a tow truck. This car has been mine since 1998. It's been through many mountain passes, up and down nasty dirt roads, through the desert, down the strip in Vegas and back home again. In fact, I just broke 101k miles and have enjoyed them all.

So ... now it's in the shop, the mass air flow sensor has shit the bed and I'm left without my beloved auto. Doesn't look like I'll be taking my rental steeze mobile (2006 Impala) up to Stevens tomorrow, but I will be driving it like I stole it! :D

If you do indeed have a Volvo, at 101K your car's life is just beginning. Mass airflow sensor is nothing...sometimes components break. It should not be a reflection of the Volv'. I had a '72 142E that went to 280K miles before I decided to put in an IPD magnetic ingition in the distributor, it never worked right and I lost interest and the car sat...a terrible way to end such a epic run at immortality.

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Originally Posted by bio-smear

If you do indeed have a Volvo, at 101K your car's life is just beginning. Mass airflow sensor is nothing...sometimes components break. It should not be a reflection of the Volv'. I had a '72 142E that went to 280K miles before I decided to put in an IPD magnetic ingition in the distributor, it never worked right and I lost interest and the car sat...a terrible way to end such a epic run at immortality.

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Its life is definitely not over! Just a bit sad to see it on the tow truck, and still disturbed by the blonde boob jokes.

fck it....sounds like outstanding luck for a mass airflw sensor to this point....stop cryin if that's all it is.......have it "adjusted" / swapped and motor on, even it if is an xc.


also my old man insists on getting me AAA every year for christmas....AAA plus acutally, something like 250 towed miles free. if any of you maggots/etts need a tow, jump, etc....and it's not immediate it, pm me and i'll give you the necessary info, it'll save you a ton of doe and then never ask for verification, it's only necessary on the phone to get the truck there........hope this'll help someone out.

AAA saved my ass, that's for sure.

The only time I came close to crying is when I got the bill for the new transmission at 80k miles.

AAA Plus has a $25,000 rescue/medivac component to it that shouldn't be overlooked (I keep meaning to call to see if it applies to any kind of accident on any kind of travel); as well as a hotel reimbursement for getting ill while traveling.

"Yeah, the ski resort was the closest hotel and I had explosive diarrhea for all three days of a giant storm...just ask norbs"

dude, a volvo......are they that bad...a tranny at 80k......??

well the invitation is open to all you mag...z.......aaa that is...



i actually once, got a letter from AAA, when i owned various cj5-7's in high school, college, vail, etc that stated, not verbatim of course that "you should seek a more reliable means of transportation...etc....etc." funny stuff. i was using them for all kinds of shit, battery, tire, tow, gas, you name it, i exhausted it, especially when i spun everyone i knew into the mix....i'm a AAA senior citizen at this young age.

for all of you that don't have it and can manage to not drink for a week, take that weeks worth of drinking money and apply it to something that'll give you a better feeling than the shizznit.....aaa. werd.

At 101k your mechanical problems are only beginning. I also have a 1998 xc and its a great car and has never standed me, but like all european cars things break and they are rediculously expensive to fix. I just got hit with a abs and traction control sensor problem which cost a grand to fix.

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Originally Posted by ccwaskier

but like all european cars things break and they are rediculously expensive to fix.

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In my experience the latter is quite true, the former isn't. If I had a car that needed a new tranny at 80k it'd be on the auction block. My last one I sold at 310k w original engine + tranny.

i was born into poverty, so I've been limited to praying for shopform and spening my loot on jeeps and subarus (due to coolness and my mechanical prowess) but can say that my subaru's...have been stellar....good luck on the V, haven't really heard anything neg.

i was assuming the xc based on the yr....not well versed with euro auto's but good luck....31o as mentioned earlier is a commendable amount....perhaps a small amount of wrenching will get you back on the saddle....if not...sac up.


tonight i think pinot is better than merlot....

a buddy in college used to drive a beater old GTO. if he got too drunk to drive he would pull the distributor rotor out and call AAA to tow his car home.

I think they caught on to that eventually though.

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Originally Posted by LAN

Its life is definitely not over! Just a bit sad to see it on the tow truck, and still disturbed by the blonde boob jokes.

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That's what you get for making us look at some guys ass all the time. :p

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Originally Posted by flabango

That's what you get for making us look at some guys ass all the time. :p

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Oh c'mon! It could be a full frontal shot. Count your blessings. ;)

I thought about ditching the car all together at the 80k/transmission failure, but it wasn't the smartest financial move. Putting in a new transmission on a car that's paid off seemed more reasonable than buying a new car and taking on payments.

I sure wish I had a Starter jacket for when I'm rollin' in the Impala.