questions of Volvo 850

I bought a used Volvo 850 wagon 5 months ago, year was 96, with only
about 58,000 miles on it. The body looks as if it was a new car, and
it runs great.

That is my first volvo, and I just have a few questions to ask:
1. Every day when I start that car, it takes longer time to be warmed
up, does anyone know why? I have another camry, which takes just about
5 minutes to be warmed up, but for that volvo, it takes may be 20-30
minutes. Anything that I can do about it ?

2. The car is about 60,000 miles, and I am just wondering what kind of
service MUST be done. I do not want to spend too much on the
Maintenance cost, but if it really needed, I think I should do it.


Thanks for the tips,


CJ

 

Congratulations. With routine maintenance, you'll have a car that
will last you a long while.

What do you mean warmed up? Do you mean for the temp gauge to start
moving, or to reach the middle? I little my engine idle for about
2 - 3 minutes, except when it is brutally cold (like 0F outside without
the windchill, when I wait another 2 or 3 minutes).

20 - 30 minutes is really long. In my experience the thermostat on
850s and S70s does fail (as on most cars), and might just be staying
open on your car longer than it should be. It's a $20 replacement,
although you probably want to flush the coolant at the same time.

60,000 - 70,000 miles is a major service point for the 850, and should
be documented in the owners manual. I don't have it here, but from
memory here are the things I remember replacing:

a) Timing belt and tensioner. Check the water pump at the same time;
if it rotates freely and without vibration, Volvo service will
probably not replace it, although it probably isn't a bad idea to
do it.
b) Air filter, fuel filter
c) New spark plugs
d) New drive belt (whatever its called - the one that goes to the
compressor, power-steering and alternator).
e) check, re-pack CV boots.
f) check brake-lines, replace brake fluid

Other sundry less expensive things. This service will run about $600
at a Volvo dealer.

 

I concur with the thermostat response.

Re the maintenance: Another item to consider every 20k to 30k miles is
cleaning the throttle body. And, every year or 15k miles, change the cabin
air filter ... if it does not have one, get it installed. Will help prevent
major $$ or premature AC evaporator replacement. Also would suggest
changing the fuel filter at 60k miles even though service manual says it is
good for 100k.

See this link for a lot of Volvo service info:
http://www.volvospeed.com/volvo_performance.php

 

Your thermostat is likely stuck open, get it replaced as you are putting
extra wear on the engine and using more fuel. It is a cheap job to do.

 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Unlikely on the 850.

 

What is unlikely???

 

Unlikely than an open thermostat will cause a decrease in fuel economy.
Again, specifically on the 850.

 

Because there's more to the internet than hits alone, Bev A. Kupf
wrote:

At first I thought you were just having a sly dig at the 850's normal
fuel economy. As it seems not, you'l have to enlighten us as to how
the 850, specifically, manages not to be more inefficient when it's
not fully warmed up.

On any other car, if the combustion chambers are not kept at around
their optimum operating temperature, then the combustion process can
suffer. If it is very cold, enrichment may be required. In both cases
thermal and chemical inefficiency results. If the oil is at less than
its normal running temperature, it will be more viscous, requiring
more effort from the engine, again leading to greater mechanical
inefficiency and higher fuel demands. Given that the OP reckoned on a
30 minute warmup period, I say this could provide plenty of
opportunity for greater fuel consumption.


--

Stewart Hargrave

Finally visible on www.hargrave.me.uk

I run on beans - laser beans


For email, replace 'SpamOnlyToHere' with my name

 

We had the same problem on the 1993 960 this year, thermostat and replace
the coolant that we found was 100% pure coolant, no proper dilusion with
water.... idiots at the indy shop strike again, it's all dealer now for our
11 year old Volvo, as they are the only competant ones around.

 

It wasn't a dig - it arises out of practical experience with two Volvos,
and an explanation I don't understand.

I had an old 240 years ago with a thermostat that stayed open. I was
really broke at the time (graduate school), so I just a piece of
cardboard, blocked off half the radiator, and fuel economy returned
to normal. About 6 months the thermostat failed on my SO's 850 (stays
open all the time). No change in fuel economy. We replaced the
thermostat, and the fuel economy stayed the same. Some time after
that, I had to get a new gas cap for my S70, and I stopped by our
Volvo service center and I asked one of the service guys why it didn't
seem to matter. I don't recall the specifics of his answer, but he
said something to the effect of the electronic ignition of the 850
compensating for the failed thermostat.

 

Congratulations on your purchase! The 850 is a great car. As for your
questions:

1. Time for a thermostat. Not too expensive and amenable to do-it-
yourself if you're so inclined.

2. While it's early according to the service schedule, I would (did on
mine) replace the timing belt. The book says they're good for 70K but
the result of an aged belt failing is catastrophic. Other than that,
not much else to worry about right now.

Chuck Fiedler
Nothing but Volvos since 1974

 

It should warm up faster than that. My 850 warms up in a couple miles, even
in 5 degree weather. I think you may have an inline heater valve stuck open
or maybe the thermostat needs replacing. Whatever is going wrong, the
coolant is circulating before it should.

 

Almost certainly the thermostat has failed, that's a fairly common problem
with cars in general.

 

But..._age_ is also a factor. If this '96 850 has never had a timing
belt change, it is well over-due for one--even with 'only' 60,000 miles.

I have a very-low-mileage '95 850T (still only 62,000 km (=37,000 mi) as
of today). When I took it in (to the dealer) for its 45,000 km (=27,000
mi) service in August of '01, the mechanic, noting the car's age,
advised me that Volvo says every five years for that belt, regardless of
distance driven. (And what's more, he said that here, in the frozen
north--I live in Finland--the local guys actually recommend every _four_
years, because of the harsh climate.)

Indeed.

cheers,

Henry

 

Thank you, Bev and other folks' help, now I get better understanding
of why this happens. It seems to me that part is kind of mul-function,
since I am living in san jose, and the morning temp is around 40-50
degree now. I will have it changed.


BTW, based on Bev's message, I have found this on the internet.

http://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/tstat.php

Enjoy!


cji

 

Sorry that is incorrect. ANY car be it carb or efi will have greater fuel
consumption if its not able / allowed to warm upto design temperature.

Tim..

 

Replace the engine coolant thermostat. Your 850 should warm up very quickly
and have god's own heater. The thermostat on my '96 850 failed in an always
open condition almost three years ago. Cheap and easy to change. Also a
good time to replace hoses and do a thorough coolant flush and fill. Volvo
specs non-silicate coolant, so most standard US coolant is a bad idea. I
refilled with Dexcool (GM's version of a non-silicate fluid) and distilled
water.

You are coming up on a timing belt change. If you are mechanically inclined
then you might start learning the do-it-yourself path.

Lots of good 850 how to stuff is posted by the nice folks at
www.volvospeed.com.


John

 

BS. 850 engines have a target operating temperature just like any other
engine.

 

The owner's manual will tell you the answer to this question.

 

Replace the engine coolant thermostat. Your 850 should warm up very
quickly

just for information, my 850 warm up in 5 min in -15C(-59F) .. wheater we
have right now
yes, its probably thermostat causing the problems in your case