Greetings

This would be my first posting in the FWD section. Previously I was a RWD guy as I have a 744. I will be soon (hopefully by end of the week) acquiring a clean and nice looking 2004 V40 to the family.

I was doing almost all of my own work on the 740 and wish to continue the same with the V40. I found the brickboard FAQ immensely valuable for my 740 and I was wondering if there exist an equivalent FAQ for the FWD or even better for the S/V40 series? Something to get me going and not having to ask embarrassing stupid questions on the board. For instance I was badgering the used car fellow for the radio code which he had no clue, only to find out later from the dealer that the V40 did away with the radio code security. Both me and the used car fellow looked real stupid :)

Thanks!

www.s40concepts.net

Most of they guys there modify their cars but it has good maintenance&repair, how-to, and R&D sections.

You should find the S40 or most of the FWD for that metter to be pretty good so long as you do your own maintenance. Shops will try to goon you otherwise.

Electronics and rust proofing are more robust than our RWD cars.

Good luck,
mormit
--
02 S40 , 98 V70 T5 Koni FSDs, IPD swaybars and HD Endlinks, 85 245DL 278,000mi V15cam It takes a licking and keeps on ticking

Unless recently added, there is no FAQ for FWD on Brickboard that I am aware of.

Many of us who post here have made the transition to FWD/AWD from RWD so you will find a lot of support and information by both searching and posting.

Volvospeed.com message boards and their Bay13 site (http://volvospeed.com/maintenance.shtml) have some helpful FWD information though not a whole lot that I have seen there are specific to the S/V40. Look at their forums in the "maintenance" section and also at the "pinned" messages listed first on both the 98 boards.

A lot of the 850/S/V/70/60 information is the same or similar for all those models, but I don't know how much of that information would also apply to the S/V/40. Hopefully someone who has already been down your path (S/V/40) can speak up with more helpful information.

Good luck,

Calvin

Thanks Calvin. I have had a look at Volvospeed and Bay13. As you said though a good site, not much specifically to the S40/V40 which leaves me wondering how different they are from the rest of the FWD breed. I guess I'll soon find out when I get my V40.

Volvoclub.uk had a pretty active S40/V40 forum from what I remember. Pity they were shut down.

I bought the Volvo dealer shop manual on CD (VADIS) on eBay a year of two ago and have found it extremely valuable. As I recall, it was about $65. I had good luck as mine was a genuine Volvo VADIS disk and came with good instructions on installation and the seller was happy to provide at least a minimum level of e-mail and telephone assistance getting it intalled. I assume that other ones are like mine and cover all models within a given range of years - so if you are considering purchasing one make sure it includes your model and year.

The interface for looking up things is not extremely intuitive but you get the hang of it after a while. I also find that I continue to consult on-line input from places like Brickboard and Volvospeed to get additional input and hear "real life" experiences, but the VADIS is a wealth of useful information.

Out of curiosity, I looked and the seller from which I bought mine is no longer active. If you are considering obtaining a VADIS, I recommend you post a question asking for recommendations of good current sources or sellers.