I was overheating after about 20 minutes of driving. My thoughts were to change the t-stat but I couldn't easily fine a 7" extension T40 Torx to get to the bolts. After searching the archives, I see that many were able to do it with a T40 screwdriver bit, 1/4" socket using a 1/4" socket drive extension and some tape for the bit. This worked great. I ended up ordering a T-stat from FCP-Groton, although it was a scan-tech brand, hopefully it will last 50K or more.
Everything went great and the car's running normal again.
Thanks again Brickboard members!

Hello.

I just bought a 96 850 Turbo and it too overheats after about 20 minutes of driving. So I suppose the thermostat is the fix? How much did you spend on the part and how much time to swap it out.

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Harry P.
(Ohio area)

Hey Harry,
I'm guessing you are using the heater at full blast to keep the car temp under control.
I have been using www.fcpgroton.com for parts for the last few years. My thermostat was just $8 and it comes with a gasket. Although it is a Scan-tech brand, it fit perfectly and is working great. I also replaced my upper and lower radiator hoses for an additional $24 plus shipping.

The only difficult part of changing the t-stat is that it uses a 40T-Torx bolt and one of the bolts is obscured by other piping. The recommended tool is a 7" T40-Torx extension that fits on a 1/4" or 3/8" drive socket wrench. I was able to fashion a working tool with a 1/4" socket wrench, 6" extension, 1/4" socket with a T40 Screwdriver type bit taped onto the 1/4" socket. Sprayed some WD40 on the bolts to unfreeze them but still took a fair amount of torque to break them free. Look at volvospeed.com under (repair and maintenance if you want step by step instructions, but once you have a working tool, it's very easy.
Good luck and let me know how it turns out.

I changed my thermostat last night! ...but here is the dilema I had...get the 180 degree or 194ish degree therm?!!? The computer at NAPA said the 194 degree one but they only said that because the computer said the 2.4L was the turbo. The therm. for the 2.3L said 180 degrees. I pulled out the manual and it said the turbo came with 180 degree and the 2.4L came with 194 degree. With that said, I chose the 180 degree because the manual said it and i figured with a turbo, the cooler the better. Was I wrong?

Harry

I'm using a 180 Degree and it's working great. I do believe that the 180 is the stock turbo temp also so you should be in good shape.
Did this fix your over heating problem? How did the replacment go for you?

I feel better now with your 'ok' on the 180 thermostat. The change went really well. I did it in about a half hour. (I should of waited till the engine cooled down a little more, but I wanted to get to bed at a reasonable hour.) I used a T40 that fit on a 3/8 drive and sprayed with a little WD-40 and it came right off. Certainly not worth taking to a shop...it was very easy (a little messy though)

It is running great...I didn't have to put the heat on this morning! It is riding at about the 3:00 range all the time.

Thanks again for the help.

I just put in 2 cans of 134a a few minutes ago...Next project...fix the oil leak!

I've read on Bay13 that the o-rings are what causes the leak...so does that mean no need to replace the hose?
HarryP