I was advised to stick with OEM or Nissens for an '95 850 NA.
I also read somewhere that Behr's and some other were used by Volvo.
Beside issues of quality, performance, and price, there's the warranty.

FCP is quick to match price with anyone and provide free shipping, but now
they want to tax DIY guys 10% for a lifetime warranty. Their price with a warranty is 220 +- depending on price match.

All the local outlets are cheaper:
Autozone /Spectra Premium 168.99 +tax limited lifetime warranty
Advance /Ready Radiator 169.00 +Tax limited lifetime warranty
Pep Boys SRD CU1851 #9488357 174.99 +Tax limited lifetime warranty
NAPA SPI 170 +Tax limited lifetime warranty

Translation: Limited Lifetime Warranty = a one time replacement for
ordinary failures/ not if you're in a crash or stick a screwdriver through it.

The local boneyard has an 850 radiator asking $75 and a 30 day guarantee.
They don't pressure test, and you get it full of antifreeze.

Another place wants $50 for a radiator and they pressure test.
Maybe I'll go there and see if they have one and see how it looks.
Maybe 4 for the price of one is better, and as one store guy said,
even the new ones can fail early.

I'm glad that this leak is so slow and I have time to shop and consider options.

Bill

Bill

From first hand experience, do NOT purchase a Nissens radiator!

While the price is attractive, the Nissens radiators have a nasty habit of failing within two years.

Spend the extra money, and purchase the radiator from Volvo.

While you are at it, you should also purchase a new thermostat, expansion tank cap, and coolant, from Volvo.

If it were me, I would also (at least) replace the upper, and lower, radiator hoses-if not the hoses coming off the expansion tank.

I hope that everyone is having an absolutely splendid Sunday evening! :)

Thanks for the info, and I hope your bad experience with Nissens is a fluke and doesn't jinx me. I put in the Nissens last week and it dropped in fine, and they
supplied the clips for the tranny cooling lines. This was better than the last
radiator I did in a 740 and was from Mr Radiator, requiring some Rube Goldberg
modifications to install.

You've heard of Murphy's Law? Where no matter what you do it's wrong. :-)

Bill

Unfortunately, my experience with the Nissen radiator seems (after having read various Volvo forums) the rule, rather than the exception :(

Missed you. It's been a while since you left other good posts.

"BB" is not far from Tasca Volvo, where he can buy at 10% above dealer cost. I would love to be in his shoes.

Have a good week!

Klaus
--
Always willing to listen, just not able to take direction.

Our 1995 850 turbo sedan had a small radiator leak about 6 years ago (the car has been in our hands for all its 17 years). I used an additive for small radiator leaks (about $7 from our neighborhood store; I do not have its details with me but I could get them for you) and that worked fine for about 4 years. Then, other radiator issues popped up and we had the radiator replaced (at our indy) about 2 years ago.

That's so interesting. My leak is very small, and one of my friends was
yapping at me to try stop leak stuff last night.
When I topped up the expansion tank yesterday and went on a short hop
Maybe a pint or so burped out when I stopped.
Yet today it's behaving OK. I've always been skeptical about stop leak
and muffler repair kits etc.

What was that stuff, It's certainly worth a try.

Bill

It was Bar's Liquid Radiator Stop Leak (http://www.barsproducts.com/C16_R6.htm). Of course, I just realized that you probably bought a replacement radiator.

Good luck anyway.

Thanks for helping. I decided that a new radiator was best for me.

Bill

I replaced one in my 94 850 about 4 years ago. I bought from Erei Vovo at 800-441-3743. When it arrived, it was well packaged, tested and guaranteed. It looked like new and is still in service today. I call Erie Vovo before buying from any other dealer first.
Ron

Thanks for the info.

How does Erie stack up against Tascaparts.

Bill

Erie will be cheaper since they are junkyard. Specifically, a Volvo boneyard..

Check out their website for more info.

http://www.erievovo.com/partsearch.html

Is this the site? I couldn't get any parts prices for anything.

Yup, that's it.

I've never used them, but I believe you'll need to submit the request form or call them to get a price quote.

The $50 one near you sounds like a great deal if it's in good shape. Erie won't be that cheap.

I noticed your in Swampscott. I'm on the Cape. There was a guy named Alex in Bridgewater (I believe, or maybe Middleboro) who specializes in used Volvo parts. I've never been to his place, but he might be worth a try. This was more than a few years ago so there is a possibility that his is no longer in business.

Thanks, and where on the Cape?

One of my mechanic friends told me this AM that he sticks with Behr and Nissens.
He ordered the Nissens for me for $156. Put that in and move on.
I would have had to suffer to get that 850 radiator out, and it wasn't worth
it for a $50 radiator.

Best, Bill

- Falmouth -

Good luck with the new radiator!


Jim

Hi Jim,

OK on Falmouth, been offshore from there several times, coming and going
on sailing jaunts.

The Nissens looks good and they supply new clips for the two tranny cooling lines.
Those are pricey at the local ripoff Volvo dealer and I see most of the retailers
want 2 X $20 for the clips with O-rings that are most likely reuseable.

I got the radiator abt 5pm so had to let it cool and by dusk the old one was out
and the new one is in there. When it stops raining, back to finish up.
There's two little square spacers that showed up ? maybe they belong to the top relay carrier?

There's funky access to some of the fasteners ,and I found the short 3/8 drive swivel sockets to be worth their weight in gold, cuz a straight socket or wobbler doesn't cut it.

I noticed the A/C condenser looks some tired. I suppose that will go belly up
just after the radiator repair?

The poor condenser, sitting in front of everything really gets beat up with the dirt and rocks. I powerwash mine once in a while just to get the dirt out. I gave up trying to straighten out the fins on the lower part, just too many are bent. A used one wouldn't be any better and new costs too much, besides, you would need to evac the system and replace the dryer at the same time.

See, the radiator isn't bad to repl. I wonder why the dealer book times are as much as DIY times? They can put the car on a lift and make it that much faster. But that needs to be posted in the gripe section.

Klaus
--
Always willing to listen, just not able to take direction.

Klaus,

Whats the book time to replace the radiator? Just curious.

Bill

No idea. Probably longer than the average DIY without a lift. I hate 'book'

Klaus
--
Always willing to listen, just not able to take direction.

Hi Klaus, from steamy Boston,

What's the book time for replacing the radiator? There should be a different time for your first time at it and later when you know what to do.
I lost a little torx bit that I was swinging with a 1/4" ratchet wrench.
some of those screws demand just the right tool. A stubby swivel socket will
make you happy when bolting up the condenser to the radiator, can't get on it
with ordinary sockets or wobblers.

The condenser looks nasty but is OK. I just recharged a little bit and the A/C
is working great. I lost most of the coolant in the expansion tank on a short errand, maybe the engine burped out some air and grabbed that coolant?
I'll keep an eye on it.

The PO lost the splash shield under the radiator. I sense that's a good part to put back on. who's got em? besides the junk yards?

Go Bruins!

Bill

Thank you Canada, our heat wave is over.

Just take the cap off the expansion tank, run the engine unitl it gets hot enough to open the thermostat, and then 'burp' the system by squeezing the top radiator hose. Fill to 'max' and button it up.

The air guide has also gone missing on my 1998. Of course it is different than the 850s, so no bone yard for me. The 850 has 3 clips to hold it onto the bumper as well as the 2 10mm screws to keep it up. The air guide helps with mpg and airflow past the radiator, the engine compartment does get warmer at rest.

$tealer or Tasca has them, but shipping might be a problem. You ought to make a list and drive to RI for a pickup? Pays for gas, but then there is sales tax.

Klaus
--
Always willing to listen, just not able to take direction.

Last replacement of my radiator I went junkyard, but I don't plan on driving the car another 6-8 years. Hopefully, I'll be able to replace it within a year or two. So spending $40 on an OEM junkyard one that should last was worth it to me. The junkyards around here make you pull it yourself, which is nice when it comes to diagnosing why the car is there (finding rear damage is nice because most of the engine stuff is in good shape...). Look for a radiator that appears clean/newer.

Most importantly, if you get a junkyard radiator, make sure its OEM.
--
If you're not driving it "like its stolen," are you really driving?