I was nearly tearing my hair out trying to explain this to someone once - their problem was, is it left from the top or the bottom? From the nut or from the bolt? From the upper half or the lower half of the head? etc, etc... Explaining rotational direction with linear movement terms was the stumbling block. Try thinking instead in terms of clockwise vs counterclockwise. Looking straight-on at the fastener, turn it clockwise to tighten, counterclockwise to loosen - unless it's a reverse thread, but I can't think of anything on a Volvo that is.
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Chris, Dartmouth NS Canada 70 M-B 280SE, 83 245DL, 84 244 turbo, 90 780 turbo, 92 VW Golf, 90 740 Rex/Regina