Winter is still coming on strong, and rain is still falling. We've written a lot about what to do to prepare your vehicle for the severe weather, but sometimes good preparation is not enough – even...
Now that the US has finally gotten as cold as it should be in the winter, I'm sure I'm not alone amongst Volvo owners that noticed their cars complaining a bit more than usual. In my case, the ABS module just started showing signs of failure by illuminating the dash like a Christmas tree. ...
The fuel filter on the Volvo XC90 is one of the easiest to change in any passenger car I've worked on. It's generally recommended to change the fuel filter every 60k miles or so, but on my XC90 with an unknown service history I decided to change it out at 80k miles when I purchased the car. The...
One of the things most often found in forums and online communities of car enthusiasts is a discussion on horsepower and torque, and their relationships to one another. There is quite a lot of misinformation that travels the circuit, and when posed as fact, that misinformation can be very...
Changing the transmission fluid on your Volvo is one of those jobs you are always ready to do, whether you know it or not. It requires minimal tools, hardly any preparation, and can take no more than 30 minutes if you have someone to help. The automatic transmission fluid is essential to the...
Like religion, politics, and "Ford vs Chevy", there are many with their own set of opinions, so I'll add mine as well. While most aftermarket companies will offer an “OEM equivalent” replacement part, Meyle's "HD" line is specifically a redesign of the original component with the sole purpose of...
There it is. I'm test driving a used Volvo, and it happens. Every.Single.Time. I ease into the brakes, exclaim expletives, and finish the test drive in my usual peeved attitude. Smooth brakes are something I'm very picky about. At 120mph it feels great to stomp on the brake pedal and lock the...
Engine efficiency is a very broad concept, and a very large component of the physical discipline known as thermodynamics. For all engines, there is a calculable maximum efficiency. Since the laws of thermodynamics prohibit 100% efficient machines, we do know how good of an efficiency we can come...
The P80 chassis designation for Volvo cars extended from MY 1993 to 2000 in the US market. Towards the end of its run a rare but useful vehicle was created in the form of the 1997 Volvo 850 AWD. It was essentially an 850 GLT, but featured Volvo's first all-wheel-drive system. As the chassis...
Modern cars have advanced to the point where the much of the concern of pollution is no longer from the tailpipe - modern emissions controls such as catalytic converters, secondary air pumps, and advanced engine control units have advanced emissions control to the point that in some cases, the...