Volvo, APU, Steering, Fuel Gauge

[BeauteousRot]

I know nothing about trucks, and I'm not even sure the truck is a 670- but I Know it is a volvo. And I've only been in it for two days so the information I give is the best I have.

There are a couple things I think are wrong with the truck.
The fuel gauge is sticking. Is there anything I can do, or can I reasonable expect maintenence to fix it or just tell me to count my miles and mpg?

I have a rigmaster APU. The first day my 120v outlets worked, now they do not. I called in to ask about it and they said there were breakers everywhere but I'd just have to come into a shop. Nothing else I can do?

I think the steering is a mess on this thing. Bobtail or loaded it is a constant struggle to keep it in a straight line. It feels really reallly loose. I can't even take my eyes off the lines to look in my mirrors without ending toward one side or the other. Normal??

Also, and I'm really showing my ignorance here, trucks have struts or shocks right? Well if you have ever driven a 4wheeler into the ground, you may have driven with bad struts. There is a hollow sound when you hit bumps, like the gas or air is depleted/gone from the strut. I think I'm getting this noise. So I guess I'm asking if they have struts before I go into the shop and sound like an idiot.

Thanks

[marylandkw]

The fuel gauge is sticking. Is there anything I can do, or can I reasonable expect maintenance to fix it or just tell me to count my miles and mpg?

If they don't want to fix it, just run out of fuel once they should fix that no problem but you know companies can be strange sometimes.

I think the steering is a mess on this thing. Bobtail or loaded it is a constant struggle to keep it in a straight line. It feels really really loose. I can't even take my eyes off the lines to look in my mirrors without ending toward one side or the other. Normal??

Not normal and could be a very VERY big problem. Check the tire wear on the steer tires, if it is dramatically different tire to tire or off center wear you could have had a belt shift in a tire and it needs to be replaced ASAP. Or you could have broken springs or suspension components in the rear or steer axles. This could lead to a catastrophic failure at highway speed. You should have this looked at ASAP. Steering problems on a 70' 40 ton combination should never be taken lightly.

[tankyanker]

stick your fuel tanks. if it only draws on one side, stick the side that draws. i use an old red rooster antenna. i have 120 gallon tanks and run regional, so when i get down to around 6-8 inches i start makin serious plans to get fuel. let it get much below 4-5 yinches you run the risk of gettin into problems (pickin up the trash in the tank, running it dry on a incline, running out, etc). it's a better read than the gauge, once you get a feel for it.

[flood]

There are a couple things I think are wrong with the truck.
The fuel gauge is sticking. Is there anything I can do, or can I reasonable expect maintenence to fix it

if it is sticking "as in not going below 3/4" try unhooking the chain on the driverside fuel cap..! thay sometimes catch the fuel gauge and stop the float from going down.

I think the steering is a mess on this thing. Bobtail or loaded it is a constant struggle to keep it in a straight line. It feels really reallly loose. I can't even take my eyes off the lines to look in my mirrors without ending toward one side or the other. Normal??

IT'S A VOLVO most driver that have not driven a volvo do this for a few days it's the truk air-ride and cab air-ride working..... dumb as it sounds it's not the truck it's you...? "don't take that the wrong way" a volvo has a soft ride and what is going on "that your not used to" is YOU are see-sawing the wheel, you feel the truck going to the right so you turn to the left then the truck goes left so you turn to the right. hold the wheel still and see if the truck is realy moving around or does it just feel like it. all the drivers i've talked to say that when thay first get into a volvo thay look like a snake going down the road for a few day's now with all that said as marylandkw said have it in the shop and have it checked to be sure.

Also, and I'm really showing my ignorance here, trucks have struts or shocks right? Well if you have ever driven a 4wheeler into the ground, you may have driven with bad struts. There is a hollow sound when you hit bumps, like the gas or air is depleted/gone from the strut. I think I'm getting this noise. So I guess I'm asking if they have struts before I go into the shop and sound like an idiot.

idiot not at all when you get it onto the shop have them check the ride height if it not right it will bang when you hit bumps or corner, to high and it's to hard and bangs because it can't give and if it's to low then it's to soft and will bang.
hope that helps.

[BeauteousRot]

ok i was wondering if it was just me vs a new truck- ill have plenty of time to evaluate the ride. Its another 1000 miles back to the shop.

And yea the ride was really rough. From what I've heard about the quality of volvo, I wasn't expecting to be jarred around so much.

No one has addressed my apu /120v outlet problem yet. Any ideas?

[pdm]

On your rigmaster if you take the front cover off you'll find 2 belts on the left side. The 1 that runs to the back turns the 110 volt generator. See if its there & if the generator turns if you turn the fan blade a little. The breakers are on the back side under the truck . On the cover back there are 2 small plastic plugs you can remove to reach in & reset the breakers if they are tripped.

[allan5oh]

Steering on a Volvo.. hmm...

My volvo handles pretty good. Get's a little fishy on rough roads, but I can handle it.

On a flat surface, you should be able to let go of the steering wheel and it tracks decently straight. If it darts all over, you have worn components, if it pulls to one side, you need an alignment.

It may be the steering box needs an adjustment. How much play is in the steering shaft without the truck running? It shouldn't turn more then 15 degrees.

[flood]

Steering on a Volvo.. hmm...

My volvo handles pretty good. Get's a little fishy on rough roads, but I can handle it.

On a flat surface, you should be able to let go of the steering wheel and it tracks decently straight. If it darts all over, you have worn components, if it pulls to one side, you need an alignment.

It may be the steering box needs an adjustment. How much play is in the steering shaft without the truck running? It shouldn't turn more then 15 degrees.

i love the way ours rides and handles but most drivers when thay first drive a volvo thay look like a snake going down the road until thay get used to the way thay ride. the same thing happened when freightliner first put air-ride on the front of the centuries, thay feel like thay are flooting all over the road until you get use to it. just like it takes a little time to get use to the way a volvo leans in a turn.