Dear charlestonmapman,

Hope you're well and welcome to www.brickboard.com!! I stood aside to allow one of the Board's bonafide 960 experts to reply. I don't own/operate a 960. However, I have a copy of Volvo VADIS, a Volvo dealer's superseded parts/service database. The parts diagrams often shed light on questions such as your's.

I believe the airbox opening in question is for a metal tube, that goes from the exhaust manifold to the air box. This tube brings air, warmed by the exhaust manifold, to the airbox. On start-up and for a few minutes thereafter, the warm air promotes more complete fuel combustion, and so reduces unburned fuel.

This metal tube is part #3528418, which costs about $45 at a Volvo dealer. You might also need a hose, part #3547464, which is about #20.

I'd guess that the car can be run safely without this tube, but as it is part of the emissions control system, it may have to be replaced, if your state conducts emissions tests. I'm told that in some states, the absence of an emissions-control part causes a car to fail the emissions test. That is, every factory-installed part in the emissions-control system must be present.

You should consult this site's FAQs (upper left corner of this page), for a list of things that every new 960 owner should do.

First and foremost, if you do not have documentary proof that the timing belt and tensioner were changed - that is, a receipt with date, mileage, and part names/numbers present - you should do this AT ONCE, i.e., within the next 48 hours. Do not drive the car, until a new timing belt and tensioner have been installed.

The reason: the six-cylinder engine used in 960s is of an "interference" design. If the timing belt breaks - or if the timing belt tensioner or water pump seizes - valves strike the pistons. At very lease, bent valves mean a head job, which costs about $2,000. At worst, a valve punches a hole in a piston, ruining the engine.

I hope you do not think me alarmist. I'm not. I've read posts from those, who acquired 960s, and lacking records, regretted that they did not at once change, or get changed, the timing belt and tensioner. By contrast, the B230 engine used in 240s, 740s, some 760s, and 940s, is of a non-interference design. On a non-interference engine, if a timing belt breaks, or if a tensioner fails, the engine simply stops. There's no damage to anything.

Most, who contribute to this board, are of the view that the only "dumb" question is the question not asked. So, if you have a question, it is - by definition - a "good" question.

Hope this helps and that you and yours having a Happy Thanksgiving!!

Yours faithfully,

Spook