My dealer advised to replace the strut spring seats because its making noise when i drive. How hard is it to do it myself because the seat is only like $35 and the dealer wants to charge $300 for it. Do I need any special tools? If there is a website that has info on this that would be great.

Also, when I turn on my engine, the A/C control's light blink red for like 30 secs. The dealer says the Temp Fan is short circuiting. I cant find the temp fan in the parts list.. is it the same as Blower Motor? And how hard would it be to replace it myself?

Last, its 70K miles and I need to replace the timing belt. You think its wise to do it myself? Or is it too dangerous and I should pay $300 for a dealer to do it? Thanks!

Leo

For A/C blinking 30 secs just blow the dust out of your climate control sensor
next to your rear defrost button. It worked for me. Maybe for you.

RD

With the last two months I have had all of the above mentioned items replaced by the dealer. The spring seat is definitely a dealer or alignment shop repair unless you have a spring compressor and the necessary tools like that to repair and then realign your front end.
The a/c light is from the blower motor short circuting. Usually there is another circut with that that will go out. The parts are about 250 to 300 and labor about 1.5 hours. This is something that I was able to wait on about 9 months before repairing.
The timing belt is something that you local VOLVO independent mechanic can do. If not, try to see if you can get the dealer to give you a package price on all of these repairs or a AAA discount. The belt repair shouldn't be more than $250. The standard price on the belt from the factory is 55 bucks. Labor is about 1.5 to 2 hours.
So in total for all your repairs you shouldn't pay more than :
Timing Belt : 250
A/C : 450
spring seat : 130 per side.

Hope this help. Oh, if you want to save yourself some money, and you only want OEM parts on your car, buy the parts ahead of time from Volvo of Houston and you can save a bunch. They will sell you the parts for about 30% less than the standard dealer. Then bring the parts with you and tell the service advisor that you have the parts. You will save time and money.

i just had my front upper spring seats replaced...and the ride up front somehow felt more supple. anyway, 300 is on the high side, but not unheard of from the dealer...perhaps 200 is more palatable.

as for the temp fan, doesn't sound too bad. lucky it doesn't have anything more serious, which could run up in the thousands.

and the timing belt, not sure on the volvo's, but if u do do it urself, then maybe that serpentine belt remover might be helpful. it was on my friend's old bmw. couldn't take it off without that tool.

Damn! Don't want to be going to your dealer. He's milking you. I'm not sure what strut spring seats are but if you are talking about strut mount bushings, then yeah, I would let the dealer do it. I'm not sure if there are any special tools involved but anything structurally I would let the dealer do it. Besides, you'll get the warranty. I'd definitely go to another dealer. I got my strut mount bushings changed last year and it sure as hell didn't cost me 3 bills, probably not even 2, don't remember.
For the AC, check your manual. I know there is something there about the red blinking AC light. Check that first.
Timing belt - you can get a local mechanic to do it.

Regards,
Mike H.
--
Mike H. - 1998 Nautic Blue C70 - minor mods here and there...and HID!!! -- kickin' again!