I am not a mechanically inclined person but I love this car--- it has 180,000 and I do not know any of its history--- I have owned it for about 2 years-- my specific question is does this car have a timing belt or chain and when should it be changed-- at what milage? and a general good maintenence question--- any thing besides oil changes that I should do for a car of this age and mileage-- I had written before as the dash lights went out but the process described seemed beyond me--- so I am winging it without dash lights-- the car is not my primary ride but my "evenings and Weekends" wheels
Thanks

lots of good advice from the other posters.......one thing you may want to do....is look over the 700/900 FAQ....there are many parts that are the same between 200/700/900......engines,trans,brakes,FI systems,some electrics.....but check it out...there's a lot of info , and even if you don't care to do the work yourself, at least you'll be an informed consumer when it come to repairs.....j.

The timing belt interval is 50K miles. Only the 93 models had an extended life belt, supposedly good for 100K.

They can last much longer than they're "supposed" to... if the engine is leak free. Oil on the timing belt, as with most rubber parts, will drastically shorten it's lifespan, by causing the rubber to break down.

The belt job should not be expensive at a shop- not much for special tools is needed and it's not an interference engine. The belt lists for something like $22 at the dealer: you can get quality parts through online sources for much less. See www.fcpgroton.com for a great foreign car parts mail-order dealer. They have a belt kit, with seals, for this car for less than $15.

I would also do at least two other services. I would replace the flame trap- this is a plastic T or Y shaped piece between intake runner 3 and 4- there are 2 large hoses and a small vacuum hose on it. It's your car's equivalent of a PCV valve. Replacing this breather is essential to preventing seals from blowing out. Costs $3 or so for the kit. Yeah, three bucks.

The throttle body should be cleaned out. You'll need a gasket (80 cents) and a can of carb cleaner ($4 or so locally). 3 13mm nuts, a plug, a clamp, a little linkage rod and you'll have it off for cleaning. Takes some time, some rags and a little patience but the car should run much smoother when it's cleaned out.

I would also assess the condition of the water pump with the timing belt job. Any hint of leakage, it should be changed too. Access requires taking the timing cover off, so it's the right time to change the pump if you're having the belt done.

Good luck with it!
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::: Rob Bareiss, New London CT ::: 92 244 M47 211K ::: 90 745GL M47 273K ::: 88 245DL AW70 190K ::: 84 242DL Project ::: 70 VW Bus ::: 70 VW Pickup Project ::: 71 VW Notchback :::

Don't let this scare you but at around 150K milkes.

You may hear clunking meaning you Rear axle Bushings ( Trailing arm and Torque Rod bushings) are getting tired. You can SEARCH for those repairs.

Your Front Rotors, if they were never changed, may be getting very thin.

Fuel pumps tend to fail around this mileage too.

These sounds scary but these are not things you need to panic and change. Just keep in mind that if you hear a clunking during acceleration, you may need to look at the rear axle bushings.
Next time you do brakes, you may want to check the Rotor thickness before just running out for Pads.

Without knowing the history of the car, I would change all Fluids, Change the Timing Belt and give the car Plugs, wires Rotor and Cap so you have a Bench mark.
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'75 Jeep CJ5 345Hp ChevyPwrd, two motorcycles, '85 Pickup: The '89 Volvo is the newest vehicle I own. it wasn't Volvos safety , it was Longevity that sold me

Do you have the owners manual? Maintenance guide is in there. Perhaps you should pick up a service manual . Bentley, Haynes, Chiltons. Not sure how available they are anymore. Cruise the brick site I saw someone selling one a week or so ago. Well worth the money.
Timing belts schedule change is every 40,000. At 180,000 there are numerous things to do. Change all the fluids, distributor cap, rotor, wires, plugs.

Dash lights. Have you checked the fuse? It is the bottom one #16 and also there is a dimmmer on the dash above the main headlights that will dim them right off.

if you pick up a bentley manual (say on ebay for thirty dollars) you can learn all about the timing belt and probably figure out the dash light problem too. cheaper than tow fees and repair bills.
you don't have to be mechanically inclined really. if nothing else, if you do take the car in for work, the book will help you understand what the people at the repair shop tell you.

It's a belt, and the motor is non-interferance so you won't kill the motor if it snaps.

Greg Mustang
www.volvoclassic.bravehost.com