Question about '97 850 AWD

Hi,

Considering buying a '97 850 wagon, stick shift, AWD, 146,000 Km (87,600
miles).
AWD is not on my wish list, but stick shift is. This car is in top
condition (one owner).
Should I be concerned about the AWD? It isn't Haldex.

Grateful for any comments.
Andy I.

 

The pre Haldex system was a viscous drive like Subaru has been using for
decades. It is a very reliable system.

The '95 through '97 850 are very reliable used cars. If the original
owner took good care of it, it is a great find.

 

Those 850's were prone to failing rear main oil seals.

Ask me how I know..

 

Thanks Steve.
That's encouraging.

Andy I.


: In article <K1ebj.4667$DP1.1135@pd7urf2no>,
:
: > Considering buying a '97 850 wagon, stick shift, AWD, 146,000 Km (87,600
: > miles).
: > AWD is not on my wish list, but stick shift is. This car is in top
: > condition (one owner).
: > Should I be concerned about the AWD? It isn't Haldex.
:
: The pre Haldex system was a viscous drive like Subaru has been using for
: decades. It is a very reliable system.
:
: The '95 through '97 850 are very reliable used cars. If the original
: owner took good care of it, it is a great find.
: --
: Cheers, Steve Henning in Reading, PA, USA
: Owned '67,'68,'71,'74,'79,'81,'87,'93,'95 & '01 Volvos.
: The '67,'74,'79,'87,'95 and '01 through European Delivery.
: http://rhodyman.net/homevo.html

 

Thanks Mr. V.
That's *not* encouraging! .......... but I appreciate the warning.

Andy I.


: Those 850's were prone to failing rear main oil seals.
:
: Ask me how I know..

 

In <Kwwbj.4834$vd4.1379@pd7urf1no>,

I've had an '96 850, and a '99 S70 - neither of which was AWD, but
they have the same engine as the '97 850. The rear seal never
failed on me.

AC

 

Thanks Aawara.
That's reassuring.

Andy I.


: In <Kwwbj.4834$vd4.1379@pd7urf1no>,
: >
: >
: >: Those 850's were prone to failing rear main oil seals.
: >:
: >: Ask me how I know..
: >
:
: I've had an '96 850, and a '99 S70 - neither of which was AWD, but
: they have the same engine as the '97 850. The rear seal never
: failed on me.
:
: AC
:
: --
: Email: echo 36434455860060025978157675027927670979097959886449930P | dc

 

My '95 850 had a rear seal leak that was fixed under warranty early on
and at 140,000 miles has never leaked again. It was problem at the
factory.

 

Thanks Steve for adding that.
More encouragement!

Andy I.



: My '95 850 had a rear seal leak that was fixed under warranty early on
: and at 140,000 miles has never leaked again. It was problem at the
: factory.
: --
: Cheers, Steve Henning in Reading, PA, USA
: Owned '67,'68,'71,'74,'79,'81,'87,'93,'95 & '01 Volvos.
: The '67,'74,'79,'87,'95 and '01 through European Delivery.
: http://rhodyman.net/homevo.html

 

In <K1ebj.4667$DP1.1135@pd7urf2no>,

Will the owner be giving you maintenance records? A timing-belt change
is due sometime around 70,000 miles.

On my non-AWD 850, I seem to remember getting the transmission flushed
around then also.

AC

 

Thanks for your continued interest Aawara.
I'll certainly look into the timing belt change. On my '93 245 Classic
wagon a sticker was applied under the hood to record the change. It had the
B230F engine which is a non-interference type........... always a relief to
know!

Andy I.



: In <K1ebj.4667$DP1.1135@pd7urf2no>,
:
: > Considering buying a '97 850 wagon, stick shift, AWD, 146,000 Km (87,600
: > miles).
: > AWD is not on my wish list, but stick shift is. This car is in top
: > condition (one owner).
:
: Will the owner be giving you maintenance records? A timing-belt change
: is due sometime around 70,000 miles.
:
: On my non-AWD 850, I seem to remember getting the transmission flushed
: around then also.
:
: AC
: --
: Email: echo 36434455860060025978157675027927670979097959886449930P | dc

 

The owners manuals and maintenence schedules are on line at:

The on-line maintenance schedule is at:

http://new.volvocars.com/ownersdocs/1995/1995_maintenance/1995_800_mainte
nance.html

'93 850 change timing belt every 50,000 miles
'94-'97 850 change timing belt every 70,000 miles

The on-line manuals are at:

http://www.volvocars.us/tools/OwnersInfo/

The 1995 850 on-line manual is at:

http://new.volvocars.com/ownersdocs/1995/1995_850/95850_1.html

 

Thanks Steve for that very useful info. I shall certainly look into that.
You've all been very helpful.

Andy I.


:
: > Will the owner be giving you maintenance records? A timing-belt change
: > is due sometime around 70,000 miles.
:
: The owners manuals and maintenence schedules are on line at:
:
: The on-line maintenance schedule is at:
:
: http://new.volvocars.com/ownersdocs/1995/1995_maintenance/1995_800_mainte
: nance.html
:
: '93 850 change timing belt every 50,000 miles
: '94-'97 850 change timing belt every 70,000 miles
:
: The on-line manuals are at:
:
: http://www.volvocars.us/tools/OwnersInfo/
:
: The 1995 850 on-line manual is at:
:
: http://new.volvocars.com/ownersdocs/1995/1995_850/95850_1.html
: --
: Cheers, Steve Henning in Reading, PA, USA
: Owned '67,'68,'71,'74,'79,'81,'87,'93,'95 & '01 Volvos.
: The '67,'74,'79,'87,'95 and '01 through European Delivery.
: http://rhodyman.net/homevo.html

 

In <K9Rbj.11748$DP1.4379@pd7urf2no>,

Just one last thought from me - the 850 AC evaporator is a known
trouble spot. I didn't have to replace mine, but I know of others who
have.

Make sure there are no evaporator problems in the 850 you're purchasing.

AC

 

Thanks Aawara. That's good to know. Well.......... not *good* but useful.
I'll make sure I find out.

Andy I.


: In <K9Rbj.11748$DP1.4379@pd7urf2no>,
:
: Just one last thought from me - the 850 AC evaporator is a known
: trouble spot. I didn't have to replace mine, but I know of others who
: have.
:
: Make sure there are no evaporator problems in the 850 you're purchasing.
:
: AC
: --
: Email: echo 36434455860060025978157675027927670979097959886449930P | dc

 

Should be a reliable car. But unless you really need AWD why pay
extra for it and suffer reduced gas milage.

 

Good point, "Roadie", but we were looking for a stick-shift wagon about this
vintage ('97) to replace our much lamented '93 240 Classic wagon.
Manual transmission wagons are hard to find here. All '97 AWD wagons were
built with stick-shift. (None with Auto Tran.) We found two decent wagons
with stick-shift, both AWD...... Don't know what happened to the non-AWD
stick-shift wagons!
Anyway the one we're considering is one-owner and in excellent condition.
We're not racking up the miles as we used to do, so I don't think the
reduced fuel consumption will be a problem.

Thanks for your interest.
Andy I.
..

Should be a reliable car. But unless you really need AWD why pay
extra for it and suffer reduced gas milage.

 

Then go for it and enjoy a fine car. My undersanding is that the AWD
used in those cars is a very reliable mechanism. If the car has had
all scheduled maintenance performed I suspect that you will get a lot
mre miles from it. I sent one daughter off to school with a Volvo and
never regretted it.

 

Thanks for the encouraging comments"Roadie".
I'm sure sending your daughter off with a Volvo was a wise move.
Our two daughters got Volvos, and our two sons. One of each has stuck with
the marque. We ourselves have had nothing but, since '58!

Andy I.


..

..

Then go for it and enjoy a fine car. My undersanding is that the AWD
used in those cars is a very reliable mechanism. If the car has had
all scheduled maintenance performed I suspect that you will get a lot
mre miles from it. I sent one daughter off to school with a Volvo and
never regretted it.

 

You have me beat by a long ways...1958!! Wow!! My earliest Volvo was
a 240 Diesel. Although the swedish manager of a store I worked at
long long ago owned a PV544 that I got to drive a few times.