Hi,
Has anyone been sucessful in repairing/rebuilding a volvo air pump? Mine has started to get noisy as if the bearings are running dry. The part is about $350 plus a $100 or so SAS valve.

I have also heard that there is a VW air pump that can be used (much cheaper)

Any ideas?

You might also search Volvospeed.com I remember reading somewhere where a person re-greased the bearings and solved his problem. It was not a simple job, but replacing the motor with a VW one is also a good workbench exercise.

Klaus
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The 164 has a new home, all I am left with are a 95 854T and a 98 V70R :)

Thanks Klaus,
I am trying to obtain a VW one and a BMW one. I intend to rebuild mine with the parts. I'll let everyone know how it goes shortly.

Ok. I purchased a used VW/Audi air pump for $41. To adapt the pump the following was necessary:

1) remove old pump from car
2) swap motor caps with electrical connections [requires cutting an soldering of one connection due to dissimilar spade connectors]
3) drill out 6 alminum rivets and swaw front half of case.
4) cut off portion of blower output spigot with dremel cutoff tool
5) swap mounting bracket to "new" pump.
6) drill small hole in bottom of case for water to drain [optional]
7) re-install in car

celebrate savings of $300 or so over new volvo pump.

My mechanic gave me a dead one to disassemble and see if it was repairable. After removing the cover, I drilled out the center spindle until I could knock it off. then I removed the aluminum fan blad, another plastic cover, another fan and finally the back cover. I have photos of all of it.

The part that rusts is the motor bushing closest to the fan. It's inaccessible for r&r in my opinion.. . . unless you're a machinist. I looked for a way to drill a hole through the plastic housing so that you could easily access the bushing with an extension tube on a spray can, but couldn't figure it out.

The one I have in there now is used and a bit noisy . . .

One cheap, steel bushing ruins the whole $300 - 400 blower . . what a waste.
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1998 V70 T5 138Kmi; Previous car: 1985 SAAB 900T, 254kmi

Other than the annoying check engine light, what would happen if you just left it alone? My 1995 850 doesn't have an air pump and it runs just fine.

basically nothing but increased emmissions at start up and problem reselling the car. I, unfortunately live in a urban smog controlled area and the car will not pass emission testing without a clean bill of health form the OBDII reader.