Hi all, I recently rec'd a new member to my volvo family, our first 850 Turbo. It's a 1995 model and my wife and I are addicted to the pick up and go. I guess that comes from driving a 850 GLT since 1994. Anyway, my questions are as follows:

1. I can't clear the AC fault code for a passenger and driver's side temperature sensor seized fan ( i know that doesn't make sense, esp since the AC blows well on both sides, even with thermostat at extreme opposites). So I want to clear those codes from the computer's memory so the lights won't flash every time we start the car, but I can't do it. I've followed 3 different sources for how to clear the memory from the B1 computer socket, and no matter how many times I try it, it just won't let me erase the codes. I'm sure I let all the codes cycle, I've even gone to the extent of letting all the codes for all the different systems cycle and then clearing them, but I could'nt get these to clear. Any suggestions? Do I need a code scanner to erase these fault codes? I was under the impression, that only 96 and later ones needed a code scanner to erase codes.

2. Since we've had the car, we've noticed a really annoying chirping sound coming from the turbo area. It's not there if you drive the car for more than 10 minutes, but it's really loud. It sounds like a high pitch car from the Jetsons cartoons. It is not present at idle, but when you give it a little gas, it gets progressively louder. At first I thought it might be the air pump, but it continues for more than 2 min. The shadetree mechanic inside tells me it might be the turbo starting to go bad. The car has 98000 miles on it so the turbo failing is a distinct possibility. If you have any suggestions on what this might be, or had something like this occur, please let me know. If you would like a sound file of this noise sent to your e-mail just let me know, I think I can arrange it~ just email me.

3. This seems like a strange one but the arm rest in the back seat, that doubles as a child booster seat, doesn't want to lower more than 30 degrees. The thud sound I get when I try to lower the arm rest is quite solid sounding, as if it was meant not to lower for some reason. Is there any reason that the hinge might lock up? I've considered that maybe the previous owner's children got a toy caught in the hinge, but I'm a pretty big guy and I coulnd't get this thing to lower at all, it was solid and did not want to lower. Do you know any tricks to this that I don't? Anyway to get at the hinges withoug tearing up the back seat?

Any advice is sincerely appreciated. This forum and the info provided from this website is awsome. I've used a ton of the info for maintaining my 850 GLT for the past 3 or 4 years. Thanks!!!

For the cabin temp sensor fan seizure try vacuuming out the sensor inlets there above the grab handles in the front seats and there's one on the dash. Put the vacuum up to it that should free them up, dust collects on the little blades like a ceiling fan at your house. Then if they are free you should be able to clear the codes.

For the rear seat arm rest open the trunk and undue the latches that lock the seatback up and fold the seatback down and look for anything that would hang up in there. You're right it might be a kids toy or dead body or something.

For the Turbo noise get a mechanic's stethiscope and listen under the hood in the general area of the noise and see if you can isolate it. Leaky hose would be my guess too.

Good luck.............. Mike '95 850T

1. You make no mention of actually fixing the temprature sensor fans. The sensor fans have NOTHING to do with the blower motor. Get in the car, grab the handle right above the door, and look behind it. There's a small trim plate with a vent: This is the temprature sensor. There's one on the driver's side AND the passenger's side. There's a fan inside to draw cabin air in and over the "thermistor" inside. This means the automatic climate control can't obtain the interior cabin temp, and can't do it's job.

2. Chirpin-to-the-oldies? I'm in if you already have the recording. If not, don't bother on my account. My email address is gabbard@engr.uark.edu .

3. Might wanna take a look at it from the trunk side while opening it.
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Assuming that you're doing it right, you can't clear the ECC fault code because it's a permanent fault. Have you tryed blowing compressed air on the parts fan? If so and if that doesn't cure it, the part is NG.

Turbo area, "could be" a slight air leak (vacuum hose), bushing worn (like related to upper engine mount bushing) or turbo waste gate (linkage) rubbing on something.

I once had a turbo air leak on the high pressure side which made a high piched noise. Check plastic ducts, etc. partucularly at the accordian pleats.

for your child booster seat problem you might want to make sure that the top of the booster seat (held by a snap I believe) is still on the armrest while you pull. The boosterseat ,when the arm rest is down, unfolds when opened. If the top of the booster seat is stuck in the groove then it will try to unfold in the groove and you will not be able to get it down all of the way. I had the same trouble with the armrest when i bought my 1996 850 wagon it is all apart of the tinkering process.