Are the 850s really more complicated and difficult to repair than the older 240s/940s?

I have a 95 850 (110K+ original owner) and a 80 240 (200K+ owned several years ) I have done all my maintenace on both cars. I am the exception and find the 850 easier to work on. I have had less problems with my 850. I have found that the key to working on either car is do not skimp on the tools. You don't need to drop a bundle but have the right tools. Use OEM or comprable parts( ie Bosh , Mann filters etc.) They fit well work well. I have fortunatly not have had any electrical problems with my 850. The 240 makes me shutter when I think about it wire harness, wipers, radio, lights ignition system yadie yadie yadie . The 850...... zero ( oh yea two or three light bulbs.. easy )

Good Luck
Lee

Hi lee,

may be you could help me... so here is my story..

I bought Volvo, 850 turbo, 1996, single owner, with service record at the dealer etc.... I some how came to know the last owner, personally....and she used to start the car and drive... never waiting for engine to warm-up...I came to know now that last year... while she was driving on the highway.. the coolant low lights came on... and still, she kept on driving (because she was on highway.. and her baby was at the back) eventually because of the overheating of engine, the car stopped. She was forced to tow it to the dealer... They found that the :Ex Cylinder was badly warp

And in the dealers service records at the end of the that particular page it was written like this
STORY OF LINE A, VERSION NUMBER 2
12.0 DIAGONISED AND REPLACED EX, CYLINDER HEAD, OLD HEAD BADLY WARP,REPLACED UPDATED CAM POSITION SENSOR, OLD ONE WON'T FIT THE NEW CYLINDER HEAD, REPLACED THERMOSTAT AND WATER PUMP, ROAD TEST, CAR OK


What I want to know is whether by changing the ex-cylinder what ever damage was done to the engine was rectified ( did I gain by the damage or it is that I bought the problems, along with the car) and that the car is as good as it would have been " had it not been for this kind of problem..?

Additional info:

Now this happened roughly march 2001.. when the odometer reading was 100k now it is 135k, the earlier owner does not know whether the engine was burning oil..
I want to know whether this is going to be a problem in the future.... or has it been advantageous to me ...

I will really really appreciate If I could get some really invaluable guidance..

Regards,


Aruna

My experience with several 850 models and several 240 models is that the 850 is more expensive and difficult to repair, but needs repair far less frequently.

Your mileage may vary.


Mike D.

Yes more trouble more headed... but more fun if you willing to learn how to do and with all the freind on this board...


240, 700 much more reliable and easy to work on.... more room too.

But we do love our 850

Hi Juan,

i have a 94 and think mine is fairly easy to work on and i am still learning with the boards helps. Of course there are more electronics these days but from the machanical point of view i think a car is a car i maybe wrong.

uk voc 94 850glt 2l 20v 172k.

I just got my 96 850 7 months ago, drove a 1987 740 for 4 years before, the 850 is more complex and finiky, thank god i kept my 740 for when my 850 is in the shop. the 740 is a true tank that you caint kill, kelly

96 850 glt 100,000
87 740 gle 250,000