Hello everyone

Got my eye on a 95 855glt w/120k. The owner bought the car brand new. These are some things that concern me.

The car has blown three oxygen sensors.He has not fixed the third one. Sounds like the car has not been seviced for the last 6-9 months. They just bought a suburban because the 855 is too small for the dog and two infants. It's been driven from Florida to New England then on to the mid west Green Bay Wi. He's asking 6500. I heard that the 850's have two o2 sensors? the first o2 sensor is the one that goes bad. I'm new to the fwd drive volvos. Got myself a 92 745t and a 90 245.

Thanks for any info.

$6500 is too much for that car.
KBB.com says $5155 for a 850 GLT Sedan in Good shape at that mileage.
I would not pay anything over $4500-5000 for it. The seller is asking too much unless the car is in absolutely fantastic shape. That is doubtful however since eight years of carting around and baby and a dog will have left there mark.
Regular use of fuel system treatment/injector/sensor cleaner should have avoided the fouled up O2 sensor.

I've got a 95 855 GLE in the UK and it only has one oxygen sensor. I bought it immaculate at 100k but it was running rich at around 14mpg and the tailpipe was sooty and surrounding bumper area was darkened. An O2 sensor change cured it. I just used an universal type. The wiring colours are a bit tricky I remember.

Hmmmmm. A Volvo GLT with 120k and a blazing "Check Engine" light.

To answer your actual question, I think the 850 has two oxygen sensors. See the "Bay 13" websitesite, constructed by a Volvo tech who knows 850s well.... http://www.volvospeed.com/Repair/o2sensor1.htm

Does the owner mean that he thinks the car has 3 oxygen sensors, or that the car has destroyed 3 oxygen sensors in succession?

I can't imagine what sort of Volvo experience he could have had if a Chevy Suburban would be an improvement. My wife has an Odyssey, which is - in effect - an Accord that's listened to Richard Simmons' diet advice:-). The Honda Pilot and Acura MDX are "SUV"s based on the same overgrown Accord platform, and have plenty of space for infants, even teenagers and large dogs. My wife used to transport her entire troop of Girl Scouts. Anyway, Honda-Acura reliability is near-bulletproof.

There's also the Volvo XC90 and it's a LOT cheaper than a Suburban. The Hondas and the Volvo XC90 drive like cars. Albeit fat cars. The Suburban drives like a TRUCK, which is what it is.

Anyway, I'd MUCH rather drive a Volvo than an Oddy, and a truck-based Suburban must be much, much worse than the Oddy. Pure hell to park, I'd think.

So I'd have to wonder if there are some really interesting stories behind that Volvo!

Unless the owner can produce some really good service records and the car can pass muster from a good tech who knows Volvos, I'd pass.

My $0.02

-Punxsutawney Phil

http://www.groundhog.org

"Every Day is Groundhog Day!"

Hello fellow B230 fan...

I am in much the same boat as you. I was told to MAKE SURE the air conditioner runs strong, and has not been charged lately. From what I understand, the evaporators go out and require removal of the dash.

As for the oxygen sensors, I have no clue.
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89 764 GLE 150k/ 86 745 GLE 240k