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I am looking at buying car that has a ding about an inch towards the rear of the car from one sunroof side edge. In other words, looking from the top rear of the car, straight back the top 1" from the trim around the side of the sunroof.
I have two questions - if someone has dug in there, is there access to the outer skin of the car, or is it buried under a track or panel reinforcement or something else?
The second question is, will I have to completely remove the headliner? I was hoping it would flex down a bit (once the trim around the sunroof is removed?) I have never even had the sunroof out on one of these so it is all a mystery.
Thanks for any help solving the mystery. The ding is kind of deep and I would love to get it out.
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Don,
That is a nice looking car, and the price was correct. The plastic on the dash is cheaper than the 850 black plastic and shows more dings, not much you can do about that. Paste wax will remove the gray finish, so do not rub too hard, just soap and water.
Keep the ECC controls on automatic for a longer ECC life and fresher cabin air. Speaking of which, check the cabin filter.
The ding on the roof will be a tough one to get out. You will be able to get fingers under it, but probably not enough pressure to pop it out. A dentless repair person that knows what he is doing should be able to do it. A body shop will make a mess of it and charge you for a repaint of the roof.
Keep it waxed and it will be OK.
Put a Mann filter on it, the old fashion kind! The engine will like it just fine.
300bhp! Watch out when the pavement is wet, the front end will break loose and have you sliding towards the ditch :) LOL Fun!
The second set of wheels will be good for snows.
Klaus
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I still miss my 164 and my 854T. Just driving a V70R :)
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I bought one of those dent buster things to take out a couple of hail dings. It works great on dings less than 1 inch in diameter, but park in the sun first to get the metal hot.
You could take off the sunroof, 4 torx screws, and try to pop it back up with a strong finger. If you push too hard, it is easy to lightly push it back down and make the ding invisible.
Klaus
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I still miss my 164 and my 854T. Just driving a V70R :)
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Hi Klaus. I'm not following exactly. Yes, I have done operations like you describe to my '95 with much success. However, what I am worried about is getting to the area in question. As a minimum, the headliner is in the way. From what I understand, there is some foam on the back of the cloth and it is glued to the cardboard like material that is the structure of the headliner? I assumed I would have to get that out of the way or slip a tool in from the edge between the headliner and the metal. Do you think I can press right against the headliner? It is a pretty sharp, deep ding and will take more than a thumb. A tool will be required.
I tried to explain exactly where the ding is in the hopes someone who has had the headliner out could tell me what I might find *between the headliner and the outer skin* of the car. I'm concerned something like reinforcing (metal) or a part of the track structure might be there. As I said I am working from a disadvantage since I've never even removed a sunroof. There was one ding on my 854T rear quarter panel I couldn't get to because an interior piece of sheet metal prevented proper access.
I haven't bought the car yet, and this ding won't make/break the decision. I'm just looking ahead.
Thanks Klaus. Do you think it is a mistake to buy a '98 T5 automatic with 55,000 miles on it? It is extremely clean and you know I have been kicking myself for selling the 854T. I don't seem to need a wagon anymore, so the desire for a V70 has diminished. This car has had the heater core replaced and no AC problems yet. I guess the ABS controller will have to be done. Does this car have an improved tranny compared with the '95?
Thanks, Don
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The tranny is much improved over the 1995, you can actually drive in 2nd gear if you shift to L.
Only 55K miles?? All you have to worry about is sludge in the oil pan and the belts getting cracked with age.
Klaus
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I still miss my 164 and my 854T. Just driving a V70R :)
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I was worried about the belts Klaus - thanks for verifying that. There is the first repair. Can inspection be done for cracks of the timing belt without removal? I haven't been in there. I got 45K out of mine in the sweet spot of the interval (:
Thanks, Don
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Very easy to do. Just one 12mm bolt and lift out the cover. Check both the T belt and the S belt for "large" cracking on the toothed side or grooving on the smooth side. It should be OK, the normal interval is 80K but the belts will last longer than that.
Oh, check/replace all fluids, the car is 10 years old.
Klaus
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I still miss my 164 and my 854T. Just driving a V70R :)
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It is a done deal. You will see my post elsewhere that I bought it, oh heck I'll repost the link on ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=005&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWN%3AIT&viewitem=&item=150275960548&rd=1
The owner did all the fluids, and I'm confident they are up to snuff, if you approve of what he used. He did make one mistake - he put in some hard pads after he painted his calipers a nice red. Squeal, squeal, squeal. But he hasn't driven it with those - the car sits in the garage. I heard it when I test drove it. He is going to switch back to Volvo pads before I pick up the car :D
His shop is meticulously maintained. It is very impressive. He had a current motor project on the bench and everything was spotless. All the tools neatly hung and arranged on the wall, and as clean as new. He is a 240 and 740 graduate, and for some reason he decided to stop tuning this car and sell it.
I guess my winter traction may not be "all it can be." Instead of selling the Volvo wheels, maybe I'll put some M-S tires on them. I won't tell him I plan to drive it in the winter...
Don
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Dont push on the headliner! That won't work.
You said it is only an inch or so behind the sun roof. In that case, you should be able to "flip" up the sunroof and reach in and feel the bottom of the ding - the metal roof, not the liner part.
The steel is very thin and mallable, and pushing up with your finger should be enough.
If you can't reach it, get a ding repair kit for about $25 at an auto parts store and pull the ding out. It is easy to do.
Klaus
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I still miss my 164 and my 854T. Just driving a V70R :)
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This is sharply defined ding, best way I can describe it. In other words there are some angular features to it. It isn't symmetric. That is why I am certain the finger alone won't cut it. However, I did note your note that the metal is quite thin.
This is left edge of the sunroof frame from the top rear, * marks ding location
--------------------- which as I said is about 1" away from the frame.
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---------------------
*
What I was concerned about was there might be something "extra" in that spot preventing access. I've never seen a sunroof hole. I thought there must be a mechanism/mount/rail attached to the roof, something to provide the support/mounting needed. The guy took such good care of the car I can't believe he didn't try to get it out. The paint/finish is flawless otherwise. Maybe he was just busy doing other stuff.
OK Klaus, my rambling is over. What do they have that PULLS a ding? Do you have to make a hole? I can't imagine getting any suction in the ding itself. I'd say it is about 1/4" max overall in diameter.
Thank you again for listening. Don
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The ding buster contraption is nothing more than a small suction cup with hot glue, and a puller atachment. It will NOT work if there is a crease.
If you can get your finger under it, through the popped up sum roof. then you just might be able to get something hard and round under it to push up against it, like a screwdriver handle or wood dowl. If you need more room, take the sunroof off, it is rather easy to do and will also give you a chance to grease it up a bit.
Taking the headliner off is quite a chore for a little bump like that. Make sure you wax it real good.
If you take it to a body shop, they will either put a hole in it to pull it out or slather it with body putty and repaint the entire roof. Niether one is the correct option in my book.
Klaus
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I still miss my 164 and my 854T. Just driving a V70R :)
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