I'm seeing this a little late, but in case it helps... I use the Rainex on our V70 (and Miata), which is applied to the windshield itself with great success, although re-applications are periodically needed. I clean the glass thoroughly, then apply the Rainex, polish it off, and may apply a second c...

I had the same problem with our '95 850 Turbo wagon years ago, and it turned out to be a cabin filter issue. The filter was crudded up with dirt, leaf matter, etc. and had blocked the drainage tube. Easy solution: filter replacement after clean-up, and removal of water under floor mats, solved the p...

Many thanks, ozark, kahl and cn90, for your offers and input. Would have voted for the Bosch, but not there to referee, so I don't know what they used yet. She is now on the next 8-hour stretch left of the trip. Will go for the VR suggestion regardless. Checked with my trusted Volvo mechanic here (n...

Thanks abscate - much appreciated. Volvo dealership/repair centre in Dayton ran a diagnostic this morning and concluded that the problem is a bad alternator. Quoted $300 for the part (which must be ordered in) + $400 for labour. Daughter found same part at Smyth Automotive for $169, and dealership w...

Much appreciate your response, Lee. My knee-jerk reaction is a wiring issue. I will ask her to try and take pictures of area behind replaced battery (where worked on, and burnt, melted wiring and some sort of unit was re-placed yesterday) and also around the alternator itself. Car re-checked at gara...

My daughter is en route to Atlanta from Toronto - yesterday, near Lima, Ohio, the battery warning light came on, then SRS, and others followed, then the engine died slowly with warning lights pulsating dimly. Towed to a local mechanic, battery was dead and cracked or "exploded" when remove...

I have had this problem (crank,start, then die immediately, repeat, etc.)with my 1995 850 Turbowagon (390,000Km) in (-20 C) cold weather in the past, due to condensation in the intercooler building up enough ice to prevent any air flow. (I noticed the flexible air intake tube by the radiator collaps...

This may or may not be relevant, but may be worth checking out if you experienced low temperatures in Reading, Pa. recently,as we have had in Markham, Ontario. A few winters ago I had a similar no-start problem with our 1995 850 Turbo Wagon, and noticed the air intake hose would collapse on itself w...

My 1995 850 Turbo has 319,000 km (200,000 miles) on it, with hardly any repairs required to date. It came from the dealer with a set of alloy wheels AND a set of steel wheels,shod with Gislaveds for winter use (5-6 months in eastern Canada). I purchased four Falken 512's for summer use to replace OE...

Wildman - Re: Towing out of the water (Issue 1): Take into consideration: your tire size/profile and condition, the ramp slope, and the type of surface your front tires are trying to get traction on. Any extra weight still relies on a few square inches of rubber for grip, and you never really know h...