Tom,

Thanks for the info. I would have expected that the throttle switch would be for the most part a sealed unit that mileage would affect more than anything (sort of like the air flow meter on an L-Jet VW Bus). Thanks for setting me straight on that.

The gasoline models have vacuum pumps? I'm only used to diesels having vacuum pumps since they produce no manifold vacuum due to not having a throttle plate. I assume it is engine driven? On my old Benz diesel the vacuum pump was engine driven via the timing chain.

Ah, I see you wrote "if so equipped" -- I will check to see if it has one when I go back to look at it (probably tomorrow).

As of course you mention vacuum hoses should all be replaced (fuel lines too). That's par for the course. Is this stuff readily available from dealers or is there a favored mail order parts house? I wonder if it's the same size as VW vacuum hose, I've got some extra of that :-)

I think the VW stuff is 5mm ID with some oddball large hoses that are 12mm ID if I recall correctly.

When I go to look at it I will take care to identify the source of the oil getting onto the exhaust. I think either engine oil or ATF could produce a white hazy smoke, I've spilled a little motor oil on exhaust manifolds in my day :-)

I will take special care to check the transmission for leaks.

Point taken on the tranny maintenance. I am fully familiar with fluid changes but clueless on band adjustments. I know what the bands do and how they work but never adjusted any. I usually have manual transmissions :-)

Is that covered in the manual? I've heard there is a Chiltons manual and I see that Volvo has one available too.

I've tended to shy away from Chiltons ever since I saw their air-cooled VW manual's section on antifreeze. The Volvo one is $75 I believe, is it worth the money? Is the Chiltons any good? Are there any others out there? I checked Haynes and Bentley but didn't see any manuals for this model.

Thanks to everyone for the info. Sorry to be peppering the forum with these questions but I am trying to learn as much as possible in a relatively short time period :-)

Sean Bartnik