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Looking at a 97 850 GLT wagon, need some help with a few questions 850 1997

posted by  someone claiming to be jwalker on  Wed Nov 23 14:07 CST 2005 [RELATED]


Hi All,

Just looked at and drove this very nice wagon today. One owner 97 850 GLT wagon with 132K.

Questions:

1. Heater fan makes an intermittent squel, does this mean I'm in for a heater fan replacement? If so, is it a difficult job like a 240? Is it a DIY job??

2. After giving it a good, hard run (it ran great!) I removed the dipstick to check for smoke. There was a little. Is this normal or is it a sign that the turbo may be on its way out?

These were the only 2 potential problems I found. However, I will drive it again soon.

BTW - What else should I be checking at this age and mileage?

Excuse my ignorance, I know a bit about the rear wheel drive cars, but not a whole lot about 850's.

Thanks for any info!


Jim

90 244DL 260K :)








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    Looking at a 97 850 GLT wagon, need some help with a few questions 850 1997

    posted by  MadeInJapan on  Wed Nov 23 14:27 CST 2005
    Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS]
    last visit: Sat Oct 2 06:34 CST 2010
    [RELATED]

    A little smoke shouldn't matter. How dirty was the oil, that's more important. Any clatter from the engine? Not a sign of a failing turbo. Does it have boost? It should. The squeeling could mean that heater motor is going. A lot of people take them out and oil them...these last a long time or could die tomorrow, but repair is DIY and not expensive. More of a concern would be service records...complete or not?? and the A/C, which is a weak link with these cars. If the evaporator is bad, it won't cool and to replace the evap., the whole dash has to come out...about $1200 repair job. Since it's cold now, unless you read this you might not have even checked. We bought our '94 850 in the early months of '98 and didn't check the A/C. When May/June came around and it got hot it didn't work. Never thought to check it in the winter time. Back then we paid $1000 for the replacement of the evap. at an indy. Good luck. If if it drives fine and the above is good, then you'll thoroughly enjoy this car!
    --
    1998 S70 T5 Emarald Green Metallic, 2004 V70 2.5T Ruby Red, Previous Owner of Black '94 850 Turbo Wagon. My cars have been running so well lately they've got me worried.








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      Looking at a 97 850 GLT wagon, need some help with a few questions 850 1997

      posted by  jwalker on  Wed Nov 23 15:26 CST 2005
      Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS]
      last visit: Fri Jun 6 08:39 CST 2014
      [RELATED]


      No clatter, very quiet.

      Oil was a little dirty, not bad, but probably due for a change.

      Tons of boost, threw my head back into the seat when I stomped on it! Ran like a raped bear!!

      It was cold today, but the AC seemed to work fine. Any other way to check the evaporator?

      What can I expect for mileage? Close to 30 on the highway, maybe??? The 240 has been getting 25 lately, but has done 27-28.

      Records through 85K at a Volvo dealer. Then some indy receipts. Just had a $1000 brake job at a Volvo dealer. New calipers, rotors, pads and a MC.

      Dealer is asking $5500, too much? Edmunds gives exactly that price....


      --
      90 244DL 260k :)








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        Looking at a 97 850 GLT wagon, need some help with a few questions 850 1997

        posted by  MadeInJapan on  Wed Nov 23 15:58 CST 2005
        Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS]
        last visit: Sat Oct 2 06:34 CST 2010
        [RELATED]

        Actually a very fair price. See if you can get it in a heated garage over night and then go back and see if the A/C works. Where are you located? If it's cold outside, of course you're going to get cold air. I'd ask for him to sell it for $5K and settle for what he's asking for if you really want it. Find something, anything that is wrong with it...scratches on the paint, anything for leverage to get him to come down $500. Good luck! No lights on the dash, I would hope...if there is/are, then read the codes and use this as leverage too. Check engine light is not a good thing and could mean many, varied, and possibly expensive things. Oh, and make sure the Timing Belt was changed at 70K and that the temp. guage is setting exactly at 3:00 when the car is warmed up. Another weak point o the car is the ABS module, but you can have it rebuilt for $140 including shipping to a guy who posts here on this board who does a great job so that's not something to be concerned about.

        An after thought...Get a mechanic to check out everything including worn suspension...especially struts which at these miles could be pretty worn out...but still not really that expensive to replace.
        --
        1998 S70 T5 Emarald Green Metallic, 2004 V70 2.5T Ruby Red, Previous Owner of Black '94 850 Turbo Wagon. My cars have been running so well lately they've got me worried.








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          Looking at a 97 850 GLT wagon, need some help with a few questions 850 1997

          posted by  jwalker on  Thu Nov 24 02:01 CST 2005
          Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS]
          last visit: Fri Jun 6 08:39 CST 2014
          [RELATED]


          I'm in Mass. It was about 30-35 degrees yesterday. I'll follow up on the AC. Maybe I can get him to put it inside before I drive it again.

          One small dent. Going to use that and the fan as leverage.

          No check engine lights or anything else unusual that I noticed.

          Temp gauge right at 3.

          Timing belt done at 70K. Do these need to be done every 70K?

          Tight suspension with very few rattles.

          This seems to be a well-taken care of car. One female owner from a wealthy town. Most servicing at a Volvo dealer. I've driven a few 850's and S70's and this one drives the best by far....

          Thanks for your help!

          Jim
          --
          90 244DL 260k :)








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            Looking at a 97 850 GLT wagon, need some help with a few questions 850 1997

            posted by  MadeInJapan on  Thu Nov 24 03:40 CST 2005
            Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS]
            last visit: Sat Oct 2 06:34 CST 2010
            [RELATED]

            Yes, the TB is at every 70K miles. Don't let this one go past 140K for the next one. Once they break there's all sorts of engine parts that get slammed together resulting in you needing a completely new engine or the engine rebuilt...very expensive...about $4K...so it would be worth the total price of the car itself. When you change the TB next, replace tensioners, pullys along with the service or Serpentine belt and it's tensioners as well as the water pump. Guess that's about it. Rule308 is right on the mark with his comments! Good luck and I hope you join the 850/70 series club!
            --
            1998 S70 T5 Emarald Green Metallic, 2004 V70 2.5T Ruby Red, Previous Owner of Black '94 850 Turbo Wagon. My cars have been running so well lately they've got me worried.








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            Looking at a 97 850 GLT wagon, need some help with a few questions 850 1997

            posted by  Rule 308 on  Thu Nov 24 02:41 CST 2005
            Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS]
            last visit: Tue May 8 09:20 CST 2012
            [RELATED]

            If you really want to know you should take it to a local Volvo independent and have it looked over. Most places charge an hour labor and it is money well spent. Short of that you might want to consider giving a call to or going by that independent shop that she has receipts from and asking them what they think of the car and if you could see the vehicles repair history. I seen far too many people that come in and get the POST purchase inspection done on their new used car only to find out that they either paid way too much for what they got or should have not bought the car at any cost. From your description it sounds like a fairly solid car but having it looked over by a proffesional is the best way to go.

            Good luck,
            Mark







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