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Remember the thermal paste!

posted by  Onkel Udo II on  Sat Dec 29 12:49 CST 2012
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last visit: Fri Oct 24 08:50 CST 2014
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Kind of a PSA here. The first car I looked at when starting my quest for much nicer daily driver than the Dog Car was a 1993 sedan owned by the nicest young lady you ever did meet. The car just stopped one day on her way to the airport for an overseas stint on her job. She had it towed to a shop who gave her terrible advice and said it would be about $800 to repair so she was selling it as non-running for $1000 OBO.

I did not want a sedan but a rust free 1993 240 is just too nice to pass up in this neck of the woods.

I took pitty on the girl and told her it could not possibly be that grave and even offered to do some troubleshooting for her using the parts from my 1990 the next time I was in the city.

Tried all the big 4: Fuses, Fuel Pump Relay, CPS and then Ignition Power Stage. Both her and my 240 were so corroded in place that had to remove the screws with vice grips. Neither had any usable thermal paste left on the back of them. Swapped mine into her car and it started right up. My guess is that the paste has a lifespan of about 10 years in our climate...save your ignition power stage with $3 tube of heat sink paste. Guess what I have to go buy right now!








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    Remember the thermal paste!

    posted by  Will740turbo on  Mon Mar 4 20:08 CST 2013
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    last visit: Wed Oct 22 16:09 CST 2014
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    Aye! In my few years as a computer tech, I ran across a few computers, mine included, with dried up thermal paste.
    The factory paste tends to last about 3-5 years, especially in laptops (not sure why, maybe because they're commonly overheated), and then it beings to get really dry and ineffective, then to completely fail within a year or two.

    The plain white thermal paste doesn't seem to hold up very well - the Arctic Silver 5 does seem to last a bit longer, but so long as it's silverish, it should last at least 4-5 years. I don't know how hot the power stages run, but computers run anywhere from 100-160F with averages around 110-130F.

    Cheers! And thanks for the PSA.








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      Remember the thermal paste!

      posted by  Onkel Udo II on  Tue Mar 5 04:01 CST 2013
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      last visit: Fri Oct 24 08:50 CST 2014
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      "I don't know how hot the power stages run, but computers run anywhere from 100-160F with averages around 110-130F. "

      Well, that is a variable that is almost impossible to answer. The power stage is behind the battery on the 240 (LH drive) so it completely out of the airflow. Ambient temp of the engine bay before the engine is running can range up to about 125-130F when the outside temp is 105F. Our radiators range up to 220-230F so lets just say ambient temps up to 160F running.

      The variable is that I suspect the power stage itself maybe run cooler than (engine running, under hood) ambient due to the heat sink's connection fender. Ever felt piece of body work that was over 130F? I have but it was working in Iraq when daytime temps averaged 118F for 6 months out of the year.

      In the end, I think the elements play as much a role as the temperatures involve. Outside of marine and aviation applications, pretty much nothing sees the application to salt spray, extremes in temperature, etc, etc. Now we understand why Volvo fought so hard to keep so many of the vital electrics inside the cab when others where hanging them all over the engine bay. In the end, Volvo was probably wrong about that but the thought process was sound.








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    Remember the thermal paste!

    posted by  nick 2012 on  Sun Mar 3 17:00 CST 2013
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    last visit: Tue Jul 30 11:15 CST 2013
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    Steve et. al., for the FAQ if you'd like, I just checked my power stage and found the thermal paste was completely gone and took a few pictures of where it was and what the back looked like. Mike - this probably saved me from an unplanned stop on the shoulder of a busy highway.

    The power stage on a 940 is on the fender to the right of the air cleaner. You need to disconnect the AMM and remove the air filter cover to gain access to the power stage (the power stage is in the center of the photo below).

    photo PowerStageLocation_zps05514079.jpg

    My thermal paste was completely gone (photo shows the heat sink for the power stage where the thermal paste goes).

    photo Mypowerstage_zpsc0ab134e.jpg

    After cleaning the contact areas on the power stage and its mounting plate, I applied a thin bead of thermal paste (~$1.50 online) in a z formation on the heat sink. Then, I pressed the power stage back on its mount and I pulled it back off to make sure the paste spread to cover the entire contact area and added a few drops where it didn't cover. Finally, I re-mounted. A little bit of thermal paste goes a long way and you don't want to have the stuff oozing out of every size when you screw it back down.








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      Remember the thermal paste!

      posted by  Steve on  Mon Mar 4 19:41 CST 2013
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      last visit: Fri Oct 24 07:16 CST 2014
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      Nick, thanks for the tip and the photos. Well worth doing on older cars. To the FAQ!
      --
      See the 700/900 "FAQ" at the menu bar top screen left side.








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      Remember the thermal paste!

      posted by  Onkel Udo II on  Mon Mar 4 08:43 CST 2013
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      last visit: Fri Oct 24 08:50 CST 2014
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      Good to know it helped someone. Sad part is I still have not done it on the 244 for which this story was written. It is a garage queen at the moment but when the first whiffs of spring come along, it is one the to-do list.

      The young lady who prompted the story successfully did the replacement herself, proved the boyfriend wrong in the process and now has decided to keep the car. I did make her promise to have the car look over by pro Volvo mechanic so she can have a list of PM items to do as funds allow (I am really worried about the CPS).








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    Remember the thermal paste!

    posted by  TONY H on  Sat Dec 29 13:57 CST 2012
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    last visit: Fri Oct 17 16:39 CST 2014
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    Is she keeping the car now?

    Or did she raise the price to $2K? : )
    --
    '75 Jeep CJ5 345Hp ChevyPwrd, two motorcycles, '85 Pickup: The '89 Volvo is the newest vehicle I own. it wasn't Volvos safety , it was Longevity that sold me http://home.lyse.net/brox/TonyPage4.html http://cleanflametrap.com/tony/








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      Remember the thermal paste!

      posted by  Onkel Udo II on  Sat Dec 29 14:25 CST 2012
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      last visit: Fri Oct 24 08:50 CST 2014
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      I told her to either keep in until spring and ask $2500 or sell it now an ask $2200 but be willing to take $2K.

      She still has to order and install the part.








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        Remember the thermal paste!

        uid 39451's pic
        posted by  ridesR100RS on  Sat Dec 29 16:41 CST 2012
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        last visit: Sun Aug 10 18:35 CST 2014
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        What do you use for heat sink paste? I keep a tiny tube of Radio Shack "heat sink compound," part no. 276-1372.

        The woman selling that car has a guardian angel. His name is Onkel.

        Chris in VT, '94 945 w/179K miles








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          Remember the thermal paste!

          uid 49372's pic
          posted by  740_dan on  Sat Dec 29 20:49 CST 2012
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          last visit: Thu Aug 28 13:10 CST 2014
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          Yes indeed re guardian. and He was certainly rewarded with finding his new 940!
          --
          Try the easy to search Expanded Style FAQ Index. I own a Volvo or Does Volvo Own Me?








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            Remember the thermal paste!

            posted by  Onkel Udo II on  Sun Dec 30 03:38 CST 2012
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            last visit: Fri Oct 24 08:50 CST 2014
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            Maybe I did put a bit in the Karma bank over the last few months and the 940 is me cashing it out. Never thought of it that way.

            Until I started travelling with my wife, I was always the guy that helps folks broken down on the side of the road. Fixed a new-off-the-lot Caddy with a blown radiator hose in a rest stop when I 18 (with help from a couple of other folks). One of the other helpers followed the couple to the Caddy dealer to make sure our inner tube and duct tap fix lasted all the way. Never forgot how good that felt.

            If I am on the road alone, I still help folks. They tend to return the favor.







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