Volvo forum + help for owners

I will echo others on her about Moog. I have Moog control arms on m 2007 Ford Escape and have done quite well. I have a cousin who works for Ford and he told me when you purchase Moog, they typically have a O/E equivalent part and a cheaper part. So when I bought my control arms for the Escape, Moog...

Here is a link to some good info about the A/C:

http://m44.wikia.com/wiki/M4.4_A/C_Converison

Thanks Erik. I found one from an automatic s70 T5 on craigslist for $50. Didn't know if it would work or not though.

I have a 98 S70 T5 5 speed and would like to dabble with the ecu now that the software for the motronic 4.4 is free. With that, I'm having a hard time finding an ecu with numbers that match mine. Would another ecu from an automatic 98 S70 T5 work or even from an 850? Any help would be greatly apprec...

I have a 1994 850 n/a manual and can concur that the clip if not compressed properly will not seat properly. Happened to me and had to use a gear puller to yank the damn thing out. With that, when I had to repair the tear on my 98 S70 T5 manual, I didn't take it out. I followed Robert's video and re...

Thanks for the feedback. Looks like I'll stick with O/E.

Thanks for the feedback. As suspected, too good to be true.

Has anyone every picked up one of these aluminum radiators on Ebay? I purchased an aluminum intercooler last year for my 98 S70 T5 manual. The aluminum version is a bit wider than the O/E, but I managed to squeeze it in. Any thoughts or feedback would be greatly appreciated. The $220 price tag seems...

If you want to save some cash, go out and buy the transmission fluid yourself and pay an indy mechanic to change the fluid out for you. I would buy at least 12 if not 14 quarts. I'm not sure of the top of my head which fluid would be correct, it's been awhile since I've done it. You can print up the...

A cheap trick to find out what making the noise is spraying some water on the belt while it's squealing. If the squeal goes away, you know its the belt. If it remains, then you know its a pulley. Then spray a bit of water on each pulley to determine which one it is. Now that belt moving all around l...

If your boot is torn just buy the rebuild kit. Last time I did it I didn't even remove the axle from the transmission. The ring on the driver side makes it a pain. Not sure which side you want to work on, but even for a beginner it's about a job that can be done in an afternoon. You may have to get ...

Welcome to the world of Volvo tankdog. I had a 1994 850 n/a 5 speed that was an absolute blast to drive. Here were a few of my mods: 1. Put in the 960 throttle plate. It's less restrictive. 2. As previously mentioned, I did the airbox mod and later I put in an open air intake. 3. I adjusted the cams...

Don't spend forever trying to find your leak like I did. I ended up taking my 98 S70 to a shop for a smoke test. It took them 10 minutes to find it and fix....$50.

Check out Costco or Sam's Club. They always have great prices on batteries. I picked up an Interstate there a few years back for $79. Also, great place to buy tires, motor oil and trans fluid.

I had the same issue with my 98. It took over 6 weeks for the ecu to show "ready"status. I even did the cycle that you can read about twice a day for weeks. I ended up doing a lot of city driving and it finally kicked in. Call your state EPA and see if they can make an exception for you. When I took...

Check the fluid. It should be a pinkish red. If it's black or dark, go ahead and change it. There is some good instruction on here to do it through the radiator. Pump out 2 quarts, refill and continue until you see the new stuff start coming out. Pretty easy and painless, but very effective. If the ...

In my 1994 N/A I popped in a trip computer from a 1996 and no go. Looks like the only additional feature in the early 850's was the outside temp.

https://volvoforums.com/forum/volvo-850 ... ght-71573/

Volvo had 2 different type of speedometers in 1994. This link can explain much better than I.

Any reason why you would want to convert?

Take a look at your ball joints. Does it make the same noise when you turn left and right, or just in one direction?

Neil,

I had the same thing on my 94 850 and I could never figure it out.

Start by scanning the codes and see what you come up with. When was the last time you serviced the PCV system? You could have broken a cam seal and the oil will leak down to make it appear it is coming from the oil pan. Lastly, since the car overheated a few times, you may have blown the head gasket...

In the world of Ebay, a 98.5% satisfaction rating is pretty bad. I would avoid.

I had that light on my 1994 850 and I took it to the dealer for service and the tech called it the "asshole' light.

Yes, you erased the code. I believe there is away to retrieve it, but it takes a code reader that is very expensive. Looks like you are getting fuel. Check your wire that goes from the center of the distributor cap to the ignition coil. It may look good from the outside, but remove it and inspect th...

I had the same issue with my 98 T5. Turned out I had a bad spark plug wire. Take a look at yours, I believe there is a date code on each. Mine were original to the car, so I replaced them with the 8mm IPD version and replaced the plugs with O/E
Volvo plugs. I haven't had the problem since.

Polska,

I used to mount tires for Sam's Club back in the 90's At that time Pirelli by far had the strongest sidewall you could buy. I'm not sure how they are today. Back then we could easily bend the sidewalls of Michelin by hand, not so much with the Pirelli's though.

I would venture to guess oil is getting past the rings. Take a look at your tailpipe and see if you have any oil residue. I had a 1994 n/a with 230,000 and I was burning about a quart between oil changes. This is just my hunch.

LOL exactly!!! Since my base 1994 did not come with anti theft I had to come up with my own.

I had an alternator die on me and I bought a new battery. It got me home the last 100 miles. Since I had to get to work the next day I alternated batteries. I charged one while I was at work and then swapped it out each day until I put in a new alternator. Turn off EVERYTHING you do not need when dr...

They don't. I have a 2007 Ford Escape I use for rideshare. My Volvo is my fun car.

I don't mind in the winter because I don't like the hot air blowing directly on me, so I always have the air going to my feet and the windshield.

Just curious about your comment " had some more troubles out of it after head job due to sitting before head job" What happened after the car was sitting?

I had an early 1994 850 base with 5 speed and no SIPS. Seats were clothe, not sure if that makes a difference.

I drive for Uber and Lyft, this is the one I use. Just mounts to the vent and holds your phone with a magnet. You need a case for your phone to slide in the thin sheet of metal.

https://www.amazon.com/WizGear-Universa ... B00PGJWYJ0

If ANY of your parts are from URO.....trash them. I made the mistake of going cheap and picked up a URO coolant tank and it started to leak in less than 6 months.

Since the car was donated to you I would bet my paycheck it needs a new PVC system. Before you change the starter, take off the intake manifold and renew the PVC and while you have the intake off replace the starter. It will be much easier. Also, while you are in there inspect your power cable. Woul...

If I had my car up on that jack I would still put jack stands underneath. Can never be TOO safe.

My 1998 S70 T5 was manufactured in 1997. Perhaps Rileyman is referring to this date and not the model year.

Take the spark plugs out, will be easier to turn over. If it won't turn over with the plugs out you have problems. As Neil suggested pour some oil in each cylinder to see if you can free it up. Also, make sure you inspect the plugs when you pull them out. They can tell you what's going on inside.

My 94 base does not have sips.

Sonic, I was in the same boat a few years ago. I ended up taking the seats out (cloth) and essentially powerwashed the carpet and used a shop vac to suck up the water. It cleaned up very nicely. I also scrubbed and power washed the seats. I have 2 cars so I let it dry out for a couple days before I ...

My first Volvo was a 94 n/a 5 speed. GREAT CAR. Here are my observations: 1. Mine came with steel wheels and Volvo factory hubcaps, that were made of a rubbery plastic. Still have them if anyone wants them. My early 1994 had 5 lugs as well. 2. In 1993 I believe all 850's were GLT models and came wit...

Worklist....Welcome to the world of wrenching!!! Don't forget when you order parts that Volvo did not use the same steering rack with all these cars. Not sure of the difference, but a quick search would be helpful. Also, when you attach the new inner tie rods make sure you use thread lock. Here is a...

Back in the day, a good way to test your alternator was to jump start the car and then disconnect the battery while it was running. If the car shut off, the alternator was bad. Wouldn't do that with anything built after 1990 though.

The market value may only be $1,000, but the value to YOU is much more. I would pay to see if its the solenoid and stop there. So one of 2 scenarios will happen: 1. It's a pretty easy fix with the solenoid and if it goes well you have a solid vehicle that will last you at least another 50,000 miles....

Thanks for the advice. I reattached the joint and tightened the lock nut. The lock nut didn't budge but it separated from the tie rod, which made it then easier to remove. The good thing is the lock nut stayed in the same position so I didn't have to worry about positioning. I measured it though aft...

No, the lock not is still on there.

Working on the suspension of the project car I picked up. It's a 1998 S70 and the outer tie rods are original. I released the ball joint fairly easily, but I am having a hell of a time separating the outer tie rod from the inner tie rod. Sprayed a lot of PB blaster on the joint, but it's difficult t...

Your are a better man than me instarx. Axles are a pretty easy, but the time and parts I have to remove to get to it are what spur me to go with rebuilt O/E. I don't remember exactly what brand aftermarket I bought that went south on me in less than a year. If aftermarket works for you, then stick w...

Hate to tell you this, but do NOT skimp on axles. Take the old ones out and rebuild them yourself. Pretty easy and straight forward. Robert has a good video on youtube that helped me out. Anything other than O/E will fail in less than a year (don't ask me how I know).

Is that a banjo bolt?

Same thing happened to me on my 1994 850. Was driving along and then suddenly nothing. Had to buy a new battery to get me home. Never got a warning light.

Been doing a lot of suspension work on the 98 S70 T5 I am trying to bring back to life. I put on a new hub on the driver side. Couple questions about the nut: 1. Can I reuse the old one? When I compare it to a new one, the old version seems to be in 2 parts. 2. What do I torque it to? Lastly, I put ...

I've done the timing belt job 3 times now without ever removing the crankshaft. I was in a bind once though and took my car to the dealer to get it done and I know they removed it. It's a bit of a PIA to get the belt around it, but to me definitely not worth the time and effort of taking it off. Jus...

If you have a 98 you may not have the J hose. The early 98's didn't have it. I spent an entire weekend looking for my leak and eventually I bit the bullet and took it to Car X and they smoke tested it for $65.

Thanks!!!!! Good info.

So whats the bore on the n/a engine? What's the compression ratio on the n/a pistons?

When I used to work for Sam's Club, we used those sticks with our air guns. We had a set of I think 6 or 7 and we had to look up each manufacturer before we tightened them. Eventually, we went to hand torque wrenches. Before every car left the shop each lug had to be torqued by 2 people.

Erik, Can you post the picture on here. The picture at volvospeed isn't available anymore. I'm going to be replacing mine in 2 weeks along with the hub.

Since the GLT uses a 2.4 liter motor, isn't it just the normal n/a motor with a low pressure turbo? I would assume it may already have the n/a cams. Not 100% on this though.

I do not. I have read a few things on volvospeed about it, but looking to see if anyone has some "real world" experience with the swap.

So I plan on digging into the head gasket next weekend with the project car. Is it worth picking up some n/a cams while I have everything torn apart or should I just leave well enough alone? I'm leaning towards leaving it as is, but if the consensus is the n/a cam swap is worthwhile I'll take that o...

Not sure the source of the noise, but I would love to know your fuel rail set up and why you changed out the OE system.

I feel your pain. I had a 1994 850 5 speed with 230,000 miles on it and the straw that broke the camels back was the steering rack. I gave it away to a fellow Volvo enthusiast who recently lost his job. I was in the middle of flipping a house and didn't have the time, plus it was winter here in Chic...

Thanks Robert. Watched your video earlier today!!!

Yes, the thump increases with speed, so it has something to do with a rotating part. I turn the wheel by hand and don't hear or see anything. There is no obvious rubbing, that's why my first thought was a bad tire. I'll swap out the rim for another one tonight and see what happens. I have the origin...

So I picked up a project car and when I drove it home it had a slight thump from the driver side front wheel that gets progressively louder the fast I go. I thought it was the tire or rim because both were in pretty bad shape. I swapped it out for a good rim and tire and still have the same thumping...

Where did you get the axle? If it is made in China, just throw it out, go to a boneyard and rebuild an O/E one. If you ordered a new one, did you make sure you got the right one. The manual and automatics are different part numbers. If you bought it from a non Volvo/European place, then they may hav...

Thanks for all the feedback!

Does the tach go out as well or just the speedo?

Thanks for the info!!!!

So as I'm tearing into the project car the front brake lines have a LOT of cracks in them. I ordered a set of S/S lines from FCP. Couple questions: 1. Whats the best way to drain and replenish the brake fluid. I am sure the current fluid is original to the car 2. What type of fluid should I use? Tha...

Neil,

It's a manual. When you used the chisel I assume you wedged it between the axle and transmission and knocked the axle away from the transmission.

When I said rebuild kit, I mean the boot kit you can buy online and do it yourself. Just watched a couple videos and doesn't look too hard. I'll give it a shot. I remember removing the driver side axle from my 94 850 and it was difficult to remove because of the locking ring. Any suggestions on how ...

So was digging into the project car and the boot on the driver side front axle is in need of replacement. I have gone aftermarket in the past and regretted it like most. O/E axles are over $400. How much can I expect to pay to have this one rebuilt? Lastly, is the rebuild kit different for the depen...

Is it safe to assume that removing the lower bolt to the shock would allow the rear suspension to drop further? Would one need to compress the spring? The last time I did that job I removed the O/E spring and replaced with lowering springs so no need to compress. They just slid right in.

Thanks Bugs. Any suggestions or words of wisdom before I jump into it this weekend? How much did it run you to have the machine shop true up your head? Lastly, burnt valves are an issue with these 850's/S70's, when I tear it apart what should I look for? Just a valve that is completely black?

I agree Zion. Those turbo lines are a PIA to get to when everything is assembled. I'll definitely refresh the PCV.

I picked up a 98 S70 T5 with 230,000 miles on it for $300. It has all the telltale signs of a blown head gasket (coolant in the oil, loss of power, etc. ). This will be my project car for the summer. I was looking at some info on replacing the head gasket and it doesn't look too terribly difficult a...

Robert,

What's the address?

The bolts with the springs on them go with the heat shield that goes on top of the turbo/exaust manifold.

Gunmetal. Copper is very early 80's and white has too much pop. Gunmetal is subtle, yet cool.

Hello Feri, Based on your description, I would be willing to be you have a vacuum leak. What method have you been using in your attempt to find them? The most common would be using carb cleaner. Don't forget to spray around the intake manifold and throttle body. The leak may be coming from somewhere...

I'm assuming since you went to Auto Zone you did not get OE plugs. These cars, especially the turbos are very particular about their plugs. If you don;t want to spend the cash on OE, your 2nd best bet would be copper. Also, check your spark plug wires. If they are original I would suggest replacing ...

Here is a good link for you to review: https://www.ipdusa.com/techtips/10010/wheel-and-tire-fitment-guide-for-1994-2008-fwd-awd-volvo-models That tire is definitely way too wide for you. I had 225's on my S70 and they rubbed in both the front and back. I bought a set of used Canisto rims from a guy ...

Ernie, I had the same issue with my 98 S70. Not sure how it's related, but I also had a large evap leak in my system and it was throwing a code. I had a shop do a smoke test for me for $50 and I had a leak in the evap line under the passenger side near the gas tank. I fixed the line and now my gas g...

If you want to get to 300 HP, the easiest way is an IPD tune and an IPD exhaust system. That will cost you about a little over $1,000 if you buy everything on sale and can easily be done at home. Obviously, before you make these upgrades do a stage 0.

I had no problem passing emissions with my N/A intake. What injectors originally came with your 850R? I thought the whites were stock. Did you get a tune from ARD or IPD yet? Have you noticed an improvement in gas mileage?

As always, thank Robert. Hope all is well with you

He always throws me a few bucks. He gave me $150 + parts for the PCV. I've never replaced a head gasket on a P80, so I'm up for it. When I was a kid my dad and I rebuilt a Ford 289 Hi Po and we dropped into a 1963 Falcon. So I have some experience rebuilding engines. I told him to watch Robert's vid...

I have a neighbor with a 98 S70 T5 automatic transmission with 170,000 miles. The car overheated a couple times and now has a warped head. Now if you drove the car and watched it idle, there isn't any loping and idles right at 900 RPMs with no hesitation. When I checked the oil though there are whit...

Here is another with the low pressure turbo.

https://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/cto/5968297460.html

Here is a link to a fixer upper in Chicago: Anyone ever hear of a t5-R for a 1998 S70? I thought in 98 it was just called a T-5.

https://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/cto/5986613439.html

Not sure exactly which wheel you have, but I put on 15" rims from an S60 on to my 1994 850 and the fit was fine. I put P205/55/r15 tires on them as well, so bit wider than stock.

Not sure how many cars you have, but if you have another daily driver, I would tackle it myself. There are a couple writes up here and a few youtube videos as well. Soak in as much as you can and just take your time, take LOTS of pictures and bag and mark all your parts are you tear it down. If you ...

Well it may be a myth, but engineers get paid a lot of money to figure this stuff out and I tend to put my trust in them before "myths". Of course you can run 245s, 255s etc. on a car with snow tires and you will get better traction strictly due to the more aggressive tread. Here is some info from t...

The only spark plug wires I've used other than Bougicords are the 8mm IPD versions. I will concur with others that the best plug you can get for these cars are O/E, but if you are in a pinch I've had good luck with copper versions as well. Otherwise, expect a lot of misfires.

First and foremost, if you want to use these as snow tires, the last thing you want to do is go wider (195 mm to 215 mm). In the snow you want a narrower tire to cut through the snow. If you ever see a Volvo 850 with the Gislaved snow tires you will notice they are 185's and obviously have a more ag...

Take it from a guy who lives in Alaska!!! I much rather struggle a bit in the spring or summer time.

I saw this today on craigslist and thought I would share it. Not often one sees an 850R with 82,000 miles.

http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/ctd/5957933491.html

I don't know the science behind the "settling down", but initially I did see quite a difference in torque. To get that back you would have to disconnect the battery every couple of days which would be a pain. Perhaps the ecu "learns" the new airflow and adjusts itself. Sorry, can't answer that one, ...

I put the n/a intake on my 98 S70 T5 M and initially, I saw an increase in torque, but after about 2 days it settled back down and was really no improvement at all. I must say though, since installing the n/a intake my highway easily exceeds 32MPG with the cruise set at 70. I also have an upgraded i...

Here is a great website to get diagrams and part numbers:

http://www.volvopartswebstore.com/

Timing corrected? In other words, I #%#!#^ up and now the engine is shot. I want to unload this car because I have no idea what I'm doing and it needs a new motor. PASS on this one.

Does Rain X have the same effect as putting a coat of wax on the windshield?

I am 95% sure that you will need a 17" rim to accommodate the 302 mm discs.

Here is an old link that should help:

http://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... hp?t=28219

I stripped mine and used my handy Irwin stripped bolt remover. I replaced mine with hex heads and haven't had any issues.

I would venture to guess you have the Canisto rims from the C70 on your vehicle with P225/45R17. If so, they will be too wide. I put a set on my 98 S70 T5 and both front and back rubbed. The original tires on the S70 were P205/50R16 and then Volvo transitioned to a P205/55R16. I would recommend a P2...

I have an early base 94 with the 1993 taillights, aluminum control arms, etc. and my tank has a low level sensor on it.

Whatever you do, do NOT buy an aftermarket tank. They last about 6 months and will split and crack right on the seam. Better off getting a used O/E at a pick and pull if you are tight on cash.

I agree with Erik. Something is happening once the engine hits operating temperature. Do you get misfires when the engine is under heavy load? What kind of plugs did you use? Did you use O/E wires? Are the multiple misfires the only codes you are getting?

Have you taken a look at the fuel injection relay?

I racked my brain for weeks Erik, so on a whim I picked up an ECU on Ebay for $50 and she started right up. Is there a way to test the ECU?

So at the end of the day you need air, fuel and spark to run the engine. I was in your situation a few years ago and to verify I had fuel I pulled the rail and placed a 12oz hard plastic cup under each. When I turned the key the injectors I could visually verify all injector were priming as expected...

Have you checked the diaphragm on your FPR? On my 1994 I had a leaking injector as well. I just picked up a used one on ebay and popped it in. You can pick up a FPR at the pick n pull for under $10 I'm sure and grab an injector while you are there. Have you replaced the rubber gaskets that seal the ...

No need to disconnect the fuel line or the fuel rail. Just pop off the cover, remove the #10 bolts and you should have enough space to pull each one. Do you want to replace them or have them cleaned?

I have good luck with Bosch copper. They won't last as long as O/E though.
Good luck.

Check all your turbo hoses while you are at it. Post a video if you have a chance. Good luck.

Eddie G

Pull everything out and powerwash EVERYTHING. The day before you do that pre treat the whole thing with spray on oxi-clean. It is going to take a while to clean all that out so be patient. If you have a power washer at home, connect it to your washing machine hot water supply. Once it dries, go to S...

Is the car throwing any codes. If you had a misfire your CEL would light up immediately. If you have multiple misfires your CEL will flash. I've only had the misfire issue with turbo cars, never with my n/a. Check your plugs and I would recommend either Bosch Copper or Volvo plugs. These cars are ve...

Just a follow up on my P0505 issue. I took out the air idle control valve and cleaned it out. Reset the ecu and got the P0505 after about 10 miles. I sprayed carb cleaner everywhere with no luck. Turns out the throttle body wasn't shutting completely. Adjusted the screw a bit and now I'm good to go....

Cleaned it out when I did the PCV about 2 years ago. Will knock it out tonight and see what happens. Thanks Abscate.

I put some Gabriel shocks on a 1994 850 once. I replaced them the next year. “The bitterness of poor quality is remembered long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.”

I have a 98 S70 T5 that I picked up a couple years ago. When I bought it the previous owner had installed an open air intake. I have an old airbox from a 1994 2.4 n/a 850. I was wondering if I could use that airbox for the bottom piece and pick up just the cover from a junkyard since my S70 has the ...

I was getting the dreaded p0455 code last week and replaced most of the hoses and the purge valve. Of course, I have driven my 98 S70 T5 about 150 miles since my repairs and now code, but now I have a pending p0505. The car idles very steady at 900 rpms and I don't hear any loping. I sprayed around ...

Is there an E code lense available for the S70. Seriously, they are the absolute worst headlights I've ever seen. I leave my highbeams on sometimes and nobody ever flashes their back at me.

I was in an accident with my 1994 850 (early version with the larger headlight lenses). I had to replace my headlight lenses so I went with the E code versions. I have to say that the lighting was excellent, but it was even better with the E code lenses. I wish I could say the same for my S70. I don...

Thanks ESL. Great info!!! I used to be able to do that with my 94 850 with just the punch of a button. I replaced the relay and now I am up and running. Thank you everyone for all the responses. Very helpful indeed!!!!

I just had the same problem on my 98 S70. It turns out my relay was bad. First thing I would do is check to see if your fan works. Get yourself a couple alligator clips and put power directly to the fan. I would assume your fan probably works because of the mileage on your vehicle. From there you ca...

Sorry, I'm a bit confused. When I grounded the relay the fan did NOT turn on. The fan does work when I connect it directly to a power source though. If the fan does not turn on when I ground the relay, I assume that would indicate a bad relay. No?

Thanks Harry. Yes, that hose gets hot once the car reaches operating temperature.

Tonight I hooked the fan directly up to the battery and it ran fine. Also, I grounded the 2 middle prongs on the relay itself and the relay did react. I assume one is speed 1 and one is speed 2 since they reacted differently, but the fan never turned on when I grounded the 2 center prongs. I grounde...

Thanks Sled. So if I jump those 2 connectors the fan should turn on?

Thanks Scot. I'll check that out when I get home tonight. And yes, this is not the first time it has happened. Last time it turned out to be the thermostat.

This morning on my way to work I was sitting in traffic (I'm in Chicago) and my thermostat went from the 3 o'clock position to 2 o'clock. Once I accelerated it would go back to normal. At one point it was borderline red so I pulled over and coolant was being forced through the reservoir tank. I just...

I'm swapping out my spark plugs today and was wondering since I have them out, would it be wise to put a teaspoon or a few drops of seafoam directly on top of the cylinder. I have used it in the past through the vacuum tree, but never on this car I'm working on today. Any suggestions would be greatl...

I had an ECU crap out on my 1994 850 n/a at about 180,000 miles. I was lucky enough to pick one up for $50 on ebay and plug it in.

Have you swapped injectors to see if the problem persists with the injector itself or with the electronics?

I have to be honest with you, I couldn't tell you the exact size tap I used. I reused a fitting from another intake manifold and then just compared the size of the fitting to the taps in my kit. Sorry I couldn't be of much help.

When you see the speed rating on a tire, that is the speed the tire is capable of sustaining, NOT it's top speed. In other words, you could go faster than 120 on an H rated tire, you just couldn't go on the autobahn and do it for 15 miles straight. It was not made to tolerate the heat generated at t...

I've shared this story in the past, but it is relevant again for this post. I used to work for Sam's Club in the Chicago market and the last store I ran had a gas station. We had our annual weights and measures inspection from the State of Illinois and we dispensed a gallon of gas in a container fro...

I was at a local junkyard last week and pulled some aluminum control arms from an early 1994 850. I am planning on installing them on my 98 S70 T5. The donor car had 230,000 miles on it and I'm positive the bushings are original. I'm 99.9% sure these will fit my S70, but I was wondering if anyone ha...

I was having misfire issues with my 98 S70 T5 when under heavy load and it turns out I had a bad boot on one of my cables. I went with the 8mm IPD cables, installed Volvo spark plugs and replaced the cap and rotor with Bosch parts and haven't had a problem since. These cars are very picky when it co...

I live in Oak Park. I have a 94 850 n/a 5 speed and a 98 S70 T5. I have pretty much done everything myself except change the clutch on the 850. I have a lot of spare parts and am always willing to help out a fellow Volvo owner. I live near the Volvo dealer off of Harlem and I-290.

J Dawg....Yes, I'm in Illinois. I know there are ways around the emissions test here since everything is done by just plugging into the OBDII system, but I tend to err on the side of caution. Besides, the catalytic converter is very small and when I read the review on my previous post it does state ...

Check out this link for some great info on the exhaust systems: http://www.k-jet.org/2013/06/volvo-850-exhausts-oem-vs-obx-vs-ipd-vs-eurosport/ I ended up getting an IPD exhaust on my S70 T5 when they were on sale for the holidays. I still need to pass emissions and even though the obx is less expen...

I live in Chicago where our roads are crap and have owned 3 S70's and 1 850 in the past 17 years. My favorite front end strut is the on CN90 suggested...the Bilstein Touring. It is a bit more stiffer than the O/E Sachs but very good on the pot holes. For the rear I like the Koni adjustables at the s...

Have you notice a difference in performance since you installed the SNABB intake?

For the past 2 weeks my fuel gauge has been acting up. When I actually had about 6 gallons in the tank earlier this week the need would suddenly drop to E and when I looked at the miles to empty screen it just displayed 2 dashes. What I also find weird is that when it drops likes that the low fuel l...

I am looking to pick up another Volvo. I currently have a 95 850 M n/a and a 98 S70 T5 n/a. I would like to pick up a S70GLT with AWD. Does anyone know what model years the S70 came with AWD? I know these cars came with nivomat self leveling shocks. Can you swap these out for the normal shocks or ar...

Follow Lee's instructions and look at the T joint under the insulation in the hood. A lot of times those fail. It's failed on both my S70s and my 850.

I bled the system about 2 months ago, but I did NOT replace the fluid. This weekend I'll replace the fluid and bleed the system. Which brake fluid is recommended? Also, no I do not smell any brake fluid when in the car.

Eddie G

Have a weird brake issue I need some help with. My brakes have been working great, but as of Monday they started getting soft. I live in Chicago and I have a 45 minute commute sitting in traffic to work everyday. The weird thing is my brakes feel great when I pull out of the garage, but after about ...

Last night I couldn't sleep, so I pulled the switch out of the column and cleaned it up. I drove it to work this morning and so far so good. I must say it is still in pretty good shape for being 22 years old.

For the past 2 weeks my high beams have been randomly going off and on. I live in Chicago so when I hit one of our infamous potholes they tend to switch. Last night though I parked my car and suddenly the high and low beams were flashing as if an alarm was triggered. My 850 is a base model and I don...

My steering has been getting more difficult in the past month. Last night I dropped in a new steering pump and it made an improvement, but it's still not where it should be. I also prayed some WD 40 on the steering knuckle. When I inspected the knuckle I saw a bit of rust on it. I am guessing that i...

No problem Seaway. I have a straight flange. I'll let you know.

I found this write up with a lot of good info while researching tonight:

http://www.k-jet.org/articles/informati ... omparison/

I have a 98 S70 T5M and I am wanting to upgrade the exhaust system. I am looking at the following 4 for an upgrade. Would like to hear if anyone has any feedback or suggestions: 1. http://www.ipdusa.com/products/5620/114461-turbo-back-sport-exhaust-kit-for-straight-flange-turbos 2. http://www.eurosp...

I apologize Mika. Yes, my dash rattles, but I was speaking of the center cap that goes inside the rim.

Ed

I picked up a set of Canisto rims on Craigslist last summer and everytime I hit a bump the center piece rattles like crazy. Any suggestions on how to tighten it up or do I just need to get new ones?

Thanks

At this point in the game I agree with your volvo tech. Springs generally last a long time unless you are doing some heavy duty hauling. Go with the spring seat for the XC60, it will fit your S70 and it's a bit beefier and should last longer. Check out this link for all your components http://www.vo...

Sounds like you have the "cold weather" package. Take a look at using a carbon fiber wrap if you want to upgrade the look of your interior. It's pretty easy to apply and will modernize the look of your car. Check out youtube for some good diy videos.

I had the same issue and at first glance I didn't see anything wrong. Once I pulled the boot off the plug I noticed it had some corrosion on it and wasn't in the best of shape. With that, make sure you pull the wire off that cylinder and give it a thorough inspection. With OEM plugs and bosch parts ...

Just take a look at the inside of your gas tank cover, should indicate the correct size tire. P195/60R15 was most likely the original. I went to a P205/55R15 gives me a little better handling, but not as good in the snow.

Just my 2 cents here. I have a Craftsman set that was my dad's that is over 40 years old and still going strong. I have used a Crescent set as well. That said, I have purchased some Pittsburgh sockets from Harbor Freight that have worked out well for me and if you have a Lowe's nearby they always ha...

I live in Chicago and 2 days ago as I was sitting in traffic like I do everyday on the way to work my temp gauge went up right under the 1st red line. Once I got back up to about 45 MPH the gauge dropped like a rock back to normal operating temperature. I am speculating that it may be the fan. Is th...

I am confident my evap core is original to the car, but when I bought the car last year it did have a filter when I replaced it. I'll check the refrigerant levels this weekend. Thanks for the help!!

I have a 98 S70 T5 that I don't drive often, but I pulled it out of the garage this past weekend and when I attempted to turn on the A/C the compressor did not engage. Last fall it was working, but after running for about 20 minutes I would get hot air blowing. I would then have to shut it down for ...

I have a 1994 5 speed 850 that is an absolute blast to drive. I think its more fun than my 98 S70 T5 M. I have a cold air intake and advanced the intake and exhaust cams 2 degrees. I have a lot more torque at the lower end of the RPM range. It does kill your city gas mileage, but my highway MPG is n...

From what I've read Volvo went to the 55's from the 50's due to bent rims. Not sure how accurate that information is though.

Granted, I seriously doubt your car is running 330 hp, but it may be a good baseline to see if any future modifications have any effect.

I have a cheap jack from wal mart that comes in a case and a 4 way lug wrench. Also, I have a 15" steel rim as my spare. It pushes the carpet up about an inch or 2, but I'd much rather have that than a donut.

Just a quick note if you haven't ever done a rear brake job on these cars. The rotors will not just simply slide off like the front. You need to release the tension on the parking brake or else you risk tearing everything up. There is a small hole in the rotor to give you access.

Good Luck!!!!

Thanks Northern. Good info!!!!

I have been driving my 850 for the past 16 years and a previous S70 and my current S70. When I hit a bump my friend calls my S70 the "brain shaker". My 850 rides much better and I even have lowering springs on it. I just find the Koni Yellows an extremely stiff ride. I would NEVER expect my car to r...

Go to volvowebstore.com and you should be able to find a schematic pretty easily.

Get yourself a tester and start at the battery and work your way to the fuse box. Take a look at the main fuse box. You will need to remove the torx screws to get the cover off.

JRL....The roads here in Chicago are the absolute worst. Is there anything else I can look at to make my ride more comfortable?

I have a 98 S70 T5 M that I picked up 2 years ago. It came with the Koni adjustable shocks and struts. I live in Chicago and we have lousy roads and even on the softest setting the yellows give me a very rough ride. IPD has a 25% sale on all Koni products and I was thinking of getting the FSD shocks...

I have a 1994 850 and in that year Volvo put the black dash pad with the khaki color seats. Also, the speaker grills on the doors are black. I think it looks better than the later year interiors. There is a post on here somewhere on removing the instrument cluster and it should include pictures on r...

Last week I was coming home from work and my car suddenly died. It started right back up, but died again. I coasted to the side of the road and when I popped my hoods the wire to the ignition coil looked like it exploded. I had tools in my trunk so I cut it back, stripped the end off and plugged it ...

Hate to say this, but these cars are very picky when it comes to plugs. I would try a set of O/E Volvo plugs. Also, what brand wire set did you put in? Was it 7mm or 8mm? Before you go spending more money though, I would do a thorough check of the wires to make sure you have a good connections.

When you do the timing belt use nothing but O/E parts. This is NOT an area where you want to skimp on parts. Also, whoever did the job in 3 hours I would like to know how you got the old water pump gasket off so fast? That alone took me almost 2 hours. You want to use an Aisin water pump. It's a Jap...

Take a look at your tail pipe. Do you see any oil on the tip of it? If you do, it's probably the valve seals.

Good luck.

When you crank it by hand, try to use a break bar if you can or add a pipe to ur ratchet to get more torque. That's normal for the engine to be hard to crank half way through. LIke the previous post, take the spark plugs out and it will be much easier. If you don't hear anything you should be fine.

Most don't realize how crucial that is to battery life. I used to work in a tire and battery shop and the absolute worst thing for batteries is NOT extreme heat or cold, it's vibration. If you don't have it clamped down properly the battery vibrates and it cracks the lead plates inside the battery. ...

I had a similar issue and it ended up being a bad cable to the ignition coil. It took me all night to figure it out.

The drawings are pretty detailed and have part numbers assigned as well in case you need to order anything.

No problem. When you go to that link you will see some pretty good diagrams with part numbers as well in case you have to order anything. I use it all the time.

Try this link: http://www.volvopartswebstore.com/showAssembly.aspx?ukey_assembly=243706&ukey_make=865&ukey_model=11966&modelYear=1993&ukey_category=7862&ukey_driveLine=478&ukey_trimLevel=24645 If that isn't what you are looking for go to www.volvopartswebstore.com and browse through the categories f...

GREAT idea. I thought about doing the same thing.

Go to this website:

http://www.volvopartswebstore.com/

Key in the info from your donor car and then you can pull up a diagram for the fuel line, transfer case, etc. If you have a good printer you can blow it up on 11 x 17 paper. Good luck.

In my 98 S70 T5 M, I hit 145 in less then a few miles. In my 94 850 N/A 5 speed I got it up to 125. I was following some guy on I 70. It seems like it took me forever to get up to that speed in the N/A.

I've had FCP steel brake lines on my 94 850 for the past 4 years with no problems at all. I wonder if they changed vendors.

Does the RPM gauge go out as well?

That little pin makes it a lot easier to install a steel rim. Steels rims have a hole for that pin and once that is lined up and the rim is suspended by it you can slide the rest of it in. Aluminum rims will have a cavity for the pin. Yes, you can remove it, but make sure everything is lined up befo...

Here is the lowdown on car batteries. You know that little plastic wedge that everyone loses. FIND IT. What that does is it keeps the battery in place and tight!!! I used to work for Sam's Club and 75% of the batteries that went out before their warranty was due to cracked plates. When that battery ...

I just did a headliner this summer on my 1994 sedan and it took me every bit of 8 hours. I went to hancock fabric and picked up the headliner and spray glue. I was a bit apprehensive about breaking the plastic fasteners, but its not as bad as you think. The clips that hold the sun visors in place ne...

I have done the PCV job at least 8 times. Don't ask why!!! Anyway, my opinion would be to change the box. The hoses are very easy to clean unless you have a turbo. On the turbo there is a plastic pipe that gets very brittle and will literally fall apart in your hands when you remove it.

Search found 0 matches