I am about to buy a '95 850T for reasonable $ with 148,000 miles. It has pretty good records since 68,000 miles (current owner), and was serviced by dealers until 130k, certified Volvo mechanics since.

A lot of the typical wear items have been done (spring seats, control arms, axles, PNP, wheel bearing), tranny fluid and brake fluid flushed. AC cold, brakes recent, no oil leaks.

So I am pretty confident, EXCEPT, there is no record of what has ever been done about belts. Now, hard as it is for me to believe Volvo mechanics would let this go without ever having a belt change, I suppose it is possible.

1. Is it possible with the VIN to get the service records from the original owner, and if so would I have to go to the actual dealer that was used? (I find it very hard to believe they would keep this stuff)
2. At 150K, what would you do in terms of pulleys, tensioners and water pump? Seems like I should change the water pump. Does the other stuff give warning signs (noise) before failing?

Thanks, Don

Sorry - question - at FCP I see a pulley, a tensioner, and a tensioner dampener. Is the dampener a part that should be routinely replaced with the pulley and tensioner? Thanks, Don

Interesting replies, Bill and Klaus. I was surprised, because I thought conventional wisdom was to go for the water pump if it hadn't been done by 140K (in my current car it was done around 110K). I will plan for the tensioner and pulley. Yes Bill, I am planning to do the serp also since I can't document it. The current owner (since 68,000 mi) is not a DIY guy, and doesn't seem "tuned in" to the car (his wife drove it). I gather from Klaus' post that I may be able to see degradation (cracking) of the TB in the same manner you inspect other belts. If I go that far, and plan to do the pulley and tensioner, maybe I'll just do the whole thing. Unless the belt looks new? Klaus gave me a teaser, because I don't even know where the darned thing is. This will get me on my back and "into it" (unless you do this from the top side).
Thanks for your advice, folks. Don

BTW, Klaus, I put the new mast in and the antenna works great. I did that exercise on my '83 280Z, and it was the same. In my case, I couldn't get the end in to engage the drive gear, without pulling the cover off the assembly and manually threading a few teeth by pulling the tensioner out. I had done that on my Z also. Works perfectly now.

When I picked up my V70, I called the Volvo dealer in Kansas City. The car wasn't serviced there, but he would have given me the history over the phone. The indy guy would only give me service records if the PO agreed, which happened.
Most dealerships do not "share" maint records, but maintain their own database. Mine will share that info over the phone with a vin supplied.
Pull the cover off the TB and check the belt. You will probably have to replace the tensioner and a roller.

Klaus
--
1975 164 w/174,800mi (Sold) 1995 850T w/91,000mi, 1998 V70R w/129,000mi

More likely they did the belt at 70k if the book is stamped, and haven't done the 140k belt change. Do it fast. Do the serpentine belt too, that's just another $20.

In addition to the belt, I did rollers and tensioner at 140k, the consensus was to skip the water pump and leave it for the 210k change unless it's leaking. Look at the inside of a Volvo water pump. These are serious water pumps.

-BTC