a volvo v70 AWD, rear differential does not work

ANSWER : I would need to know what symptoms you are experiencing and how you have determined that the rear differential is not working in order to give you a clearer answer. I cannot say how long you can drive it since I do not know what is wrong with it.

If you’re sure there is a problem with the rear differential, be very cautious of driving the car any further. The differential may be ready to seize up and driving it may do more damage than getting it fixed now. I recommend having a mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, inspect the differential in person to see if it can be fixed or is safe to drive it without getting it fixed.

ANSWER : It only takes a small amount of corrosion to interrupt the flow of current. You probably just have a dirty light socket. If you get a small strip of 400 grit sandpaper and rub it on the contact surfaces in the bulb socket, that will probably get you working. If that doesn’t do the trick, you have to get a test light or a meter and go hunting for the interruption. If you would like to have a technician do this for you, you can contact Your Mechanic and have one come to your home or office and check out your turn signals for you.

ANSWER : As unfortunate as it is, your vehicle would be considered flood damaged. Diagnosing electrical problems in a flood damaged vehicle is nearly impossible. This would take many hours or even days to determine which wiring harnesses and circuits have been affected. Then nearly all of the wiring under the dash would likely require replacement as well as many sensors and switches. On a BMW vehicle, the amount of wires and switches are likely more than that of a lower end vehicle. Due to the inefficiency in cost, you would likely be able to purchase another BMW like yours for less than what it would cost to fix your car. Many insurance companies would consider this type of damage to total out the vehicle unfortuantely.

ANSWER : The problem you are describing likely stems from an intermittent electrical fault in the wiper circuit. The windshield wiper system uses a small electric motor to move the wiper arms that you see on the windshield. That electric motor is controlled through a switch, relay, fuse, and wiring. One, or more, of those electrical components has failed although it is also possible that the mechanical arms are binding (seized, if the lubricant has dried out) thus causing the electric circuit to the motor to overload. Regardless of the underlying fault, if you request a non functioning wiper diagnostic/repair, the responding certified mechanic will get this taken care of for you. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.

ANSWER : Hi there. Usually when both window switches do not work it is due to an electrical fault with the primary control module. There is a center module that relays all electricity from switches to individual window drive motors to open and close. When more than one switch doesn’t appear to be working, it typically due to an issue with that center window control module or electrical relay powering the system. It would be a good idea to have a professional mechanic come to your location and complete a window not working inspection to determine precisely what is causing this issue before attempting any further repairs.

ANSWER : The window motors are a common failure. Sometimes the cable in the regulator can come off track and wrap around the gear on the motor and do some damage. As far as the door lock you may have an actuator failing. Many of the door locks on VWs and Audis were air powered, but your concerns sounds like it’s electrical. Consider hiring an experienced technician like one from YourMechanic who can come out and take a closer look and your electrical concerns and offer a more personal diagnosis.

ANSWER : Hi There,
It sounds like you may have a faulty blower motor resistor. The highest speed setting may still work because in most cars in the highest fan speed settings the current bypasses the blower motor resistor. In some cars, if the resistor is failed, the fan may stop working completely. Another reason a blower motor resistor may fail is when the blower motor has a mechanical problem or when a foreign object jams the blower motor fan blade and prevents it from spinning freely. This leads to increased current through the resistor and causes it to overheat and fail. I would suggest having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose your system to determine what may be causing the fan not to work properly.

ANSWER : The first thing to do is to check the two heater lines under rear of truck to see if both lines are hot when engine is warmed up. If they are both hot to the touch then you most likely have a bad temperature control actuator on the rear blower case. Replace actuator and recheck for temperature control.