Hello to everyone! I'm from Superior WI (right at the western tip of Lake Superior in the USA), and just bought a 1996 Volvo 850 Turbo Wagon. It's black with tan leather interior, and has 126,000 miles on it. As far as I can tell, it's got every option available including TRACS, cd changer, and the third row seat. Paid $4295 USD.

I drove this machine for about 2 hours before I bought it, and everything works well, and it drives great! Still, I'm blind about the service history of the vehicle. The dealer I bought it from bought it at auction, and no service records came with it. I knew well in advance that I'd be up for hefty service charges, but it seemed worth it to me to own a vehicle like this. Iv'e got a lot of experience with Honda's and Volkswagens and Subaru's, so most of the service I can do myself. (hopefully)

This thing drives like a dream!! I was also looking at a 1990 volvo 740 wagon with 200,000 miles on it for $2000, and that one drove the same way. Must be a Volvo thing, and I'm definitely hooked!

Concerns: The check engine light is on. The guy at the dealer said that someone was up to look at it and plugged it in to a computer and said it was running "rich." That's all I know about it. Could it be the oxygen sensor? The dealer did not know the exact code. I know full well that this will cost me, but I think it's worth it. The nearest Volvo dealer is Borton's in Minneapolis MN, but there's always Foreign Afairs in Duluth, MN, just about 10 miles from me.

What's the TRACS all about? Is it seperate from the ABS?

The back hatch moulding (around the brake light, etc) is loose. It appears that the grommets to reattach it are missing. Any idea where I can get those?

Thanks in advance for any replies!

Douglas

Ok, get the codes checked..

the tracs thing is a relatively easy fix.

click on the link in my signature to learn more of what you can do to your wagon.

I'd do the usual tune-up and timing belt/tensioner change, specially if you have absolutely no service history.
- Spark plugs
- Plug wires if the date stamp on the wires is very old (Use Bougicord or Magnecor, don't use crappy wires)
- distrib cap
- distrib rotor
- all the belts including timing belt (look at the sticker on the timing belt cover for date stamp and mileage)
- timing belt tensioner
- tranny flush
- radiator flush
- oil change (Mobil 1 Synth)
- Clean MAF sensor
- Clean O2 sensor/s (does this make sense?)
- Replace vaccum hoses with aftermarket kit

Also have the suspension checked and the car inspected from the bottom. Check for oil leaks and rear main seal leak.

My 2 cents, enjoy the car...

If you're gonna do the Timing Belt, and such, since you have the whole thing taken apart, you should also do the Water Pump since it's behind the T Belt. You should ALWAYS do the Water Pump when you do the Timing Belt, wheather it's good or not. A very inexpensive preventative maintenance, if you consider the damage that could be done.

Yes, I totally agree. Just forgot about it.

Oh, and change the darn thermostat. It costs 8 bucks, and if it gets stuck it will cost you several thousand.

Thanks everyone for the information! I don't see any stamp on the timing belt cover with date and miles. Would all mechanics do this, or just a volvo dealer? The other belt looks good on the outside, but has some cracks on the grooves inside. According to the service manual, it was bought at Borton Volvo in Minneapolis MN, and it has the first two or three services stamped off. It's possible that whoever had this vehicle before me had it done by an independent mechanic, but just to safe I'm going to have it all checked out and re-done. (the saleman told me it was maintained very well, but couldn't verify it)

So far I've put about 300 miles on it, and everything is going just great! Dang, this rides awesome! The computer tells me I'm averaging about 25 mpg - does that sound right?

I have some questions for those that have replied.

Which aftermarket vaccum hose kit?

Which plugs are best? I've read elsewhere on this forum that NGK's are good.

With regard to the TRAC - what is it exactly? Traction control? Is this independent of the ABS?

Synthetic oil? To be honest this makes me nervous. This car has 126,000 miles on it (just broken in), but I've heard that switching to synthetics after 100,000 miles is a bad idea. Seriously I've experienced this myself - had an 89 Isuzzu Tropper with 120,000 miles on it, switched to synthetic and blew the head gasket within a week! Are Volvo's different with regard to gasket material? Also - Mobil 1 vs. Amsoil? Amsoil is made right here in my home town.

What's the best way to clean the O2 sensors? I'll search the forum for the answer to that one unless someone has a quick link.

I've got many more questions, but that will do for now!

Thanks!

Doug

The Continental timing belt sold under Volvo brand comes with a sticker that you put on the timing belt cover. It has space for km and date. Other aftermarket belts sometimes don't come with date stickers. I bought a Gates belt for my car.

25 mpg is ok mileage for 75 mph on a sedan. Don't know the numbers for a wagon. Considering the extra weight I guess your mileage is fine.

Use the standard Volvo platinum plugs. I used NGK IX Iridium on my T5, but for the next change I'll use Volvo (Bosch). That's what the experts recommend. I didn't pay attention to them, though. Change the plugs yourself when you change the distributor cap and rotor, and the plug wires.

Trac is traction control. The brake system has some extra hardware components and the software in the brake computer is different.

http://www.stylinmotors.com/volvo.html for the vacuum hose kit. 850 standard kit should do fine. Only 30 bucks plus S&H.

I use Valvoline fully synthetic 5W30, because Mobil 1 is not available in my country. Most people on this forum recommend Mobil 1. I'd stick to that, unless you can buy Amsoil for a low price.

Look around for a writeup on cleaning MAF sensor and O2 sensor. Try volvospeed.com too and www.matthewsvolvosite.com.

Also get your engine mounts checked. They usually get screwed up since the original factory design is not that great. There are better aftermarket mounts that cost less than the Volvo mounts.

Exactly which light is coming on?

The "ser-vice" light is just a reminder that you've reached a service interval. This is normal and does not a fault or problem.

The greek lambda symbol light indicates a problem with the engine. It can cover things that range from very minor to major. A Volvo dealer is probably the best equipped to properly decipher the OBDC codes.

There is a pinned thread explaining how to read/clear Volvo DTCs.

It's the "check engine" light, not the "ser-vice" light.

Thanks everyone for the information!