Hi, First time Volvo owner. 1997 850 Non turbo 174000m?? (on stopped odometer).
Volvo is replacing 1993 Toyota Camry 2.2, good car, 215000 miles. The head gasket blew sometime ago but temp repair with an addative. I was still getting some oil in antifreeze and would seem to over heat on longer trips even though the temp gauge never went up.
I was shopping for a daily driver for a long time. Found this non-turbo on craigslist. Man who was selling owns a detail shop. The car was very clean since it had just been detailed, which scared me a little, but for $800 talked down from $950, I figured I can't go wrong.

After getting home, test driving, and going over everything this is some of my questions or issues I've had.

Issue 1: Lifter started ticking, checked oil, it was a little low. Put in a partial QT and tick went away. Noticed under car some oil spray under car from a leak. Noticed some oil on top of engine in groves (Previously clean after detailing). Took off Plastic SP wire cover and nearly every dip and hole was filled with oil. Checked oil filler cap and noticed crack in seal! Replaced cap and leak seems to have stopped.

Issue 2: When test driving, there was horrible noise from front brakes. Car had been sitting for some time before purchase. Knew that I would have to do brake work so bought rotors and pads. Couldn't move the LF caliper to install pads, so put on old ones (temp). Drove and there was still bad shudder. Have ordered new caliper and lines.

issue 3: I think that the shudder may not be all from the brakes. It seems that the wheel bearing may be bad on LF also. Are these known for going out? And are they hard to replace?

issue 4: Odometer is not working but I have already searched this forum and found the detailed repair for the gear that breaks. If I get a code reader, will it tell me the actual mileage?

issue 5: Power antenna was stuck in the up position. Worked it with oil and is now working great except I can't get any reception. Seemed to have worked better when it was stuck up! Any ideas as to why?

Issue 6: This is a manual and there seems to be a lot of slack in the drive train. Shifting is smooth and clutch seems very good, but say if you are driving in 2nd or 3rd at a normal pace, let off the gas for couple of sec's then give it gas, there seems to be a jolt or slack. Any Ideas where to start? could this be motor mounts? Or is this tranny slack? Any known issues of this type for this model?

I really like the car! I want to fix her up. Other than some minor issues I think she will drive for a long time. I noticed that it was said here that the 5-cyl was bullet proof! I just want to keep her in good shape.

Is there anything I should look into right away for this Model and Yr?

Seems like you got a good deal on that. Not too many problems and the ones you have are minor. Hope you get it back to original condition. Shouldn't cost too much.

Welcome to the forum. I hope you find the answer to all of your questions here

1) lots of lifters will tick at this age especially if they are low on oil or sit for a few weeks.

2 & 3) get the brakes and bearing at the same time maybe have a front end check. (my 850 was noisy/wobbly during hard braking a while back... it turned out to be a drag link, shock, and a bearing, i fixed the link and bearing and the problem is gone except for the slight pull during a HARD stop) a lot of brake shudders and noise can be due to warping glazing of the disc. maybe get the rotors turned also...

4) odometer gear is a pill but it can be a DIY if you are handy. read-up and good luck!

5) most antenna get frozen after several years if not lubricated once in a while.

6) i have an auto-box, sorry. check the motor and tranny mounts/links and someone who knows 850 manual trannys will type in soon.

i attached some pdf's that have some related reading/info.
good luck!

Thank for the reply and the welcome guys...
I will read all the pdf's and put them to good use... can use all the advice and knowledge I can get!

I fixed the seal on the oil fill cap and it appears to have stopped the leak...

I should have ordered the bearing/hub at the same time but didn't think about it... it is next on list...
Have LF caliper, putting it on this weekend, have already installed new rotors and will install pads with caliper.. rotors are cheap anymore, hardly worth getting them turned it seems...

Odometer looks like it will be interesting but I'm up for a challenge.. I won't tackle it until I find some way or find a dealer to read the actual mileage with a scanner.. I've been told on another forum this can only be done by a dealer..

The antenna was stuck when I got the car, I worked on it for at least an hour with some air tool oil after getting it un-stuck, and it now goes up and down with ease... just no reception.. have noticed a some engine interference noise coming through...

Thanks for the info hope to hear from more people on here...

Any chance that you bumped the signal plug near the antenna assembly inside the trunk? Might want to double check it, and if that doesn't help, new masts are cheap and easy to replace.

My car is missing 40,000 miles from the odometer. There doesn't seem to be an easy way to advance it to the correct number even if you can probe the actual mileage out of one of the computers.

I would check the CV Axles and CV Joints first for the slack.

Problem with shudder and front end noise...

I have replaced the following:
Lower control arms both sides
tie rod ends both sides
wheel hubs both sides
Brake rotors, pads, calipers, and rubber lines both sides...
then had the front end aligned..

Car drives great now.. very tight and controled..
still have some vibration when braking from hwy speed but it is from the back brakes..

I have also found problem with idle and solved most of it...
vaccum line was missing that connects to the left side of intake manifold (when looking from front)
this went over to the flame trap and connected to the small connection tube there....
this helped idle and also a problem with nearly stalling after car was warm then restarted...

I have also replaced upper engine mount bushing...

any questions or comments let me know..
thanks everyone..

still haven't figured out reception problem with radio but have checked the connection and can find no trouble there...