long trip or forget it in my '93 850 n/a

Post by **JimBee** » 04 Jul 2011, 07:24

I'm thinking of a road trip to Toronto from Minneapolis, which is about 1,600 miles round trip. I've owned the 850 for about 30 months and apart from a frozen caliper problem have had no crippling events (knock on wood). But I haven't taken it on a long trip and realize if I got stuck out there hundreds of miles from home I'd probably have to give it away. What do others think? Go or forget it?

Post by **FlyingVolvo** » 04 Jul 2011, 07:32

How many miles on the car? Just do some good basic maintenance, replace any common-fail items that haven't been done it a while. Bring a good set of tools and a crap-ton of duct tape. You'll be fine!

Post by **JimBee** » 04 Jul 2011, 10:33

I forgot to mention my '93 850 has 160k.
I am planning to change the rollers and probably the water pump. Posters here emphasize the TB tensioners. Interestingly, I talked with local Volvo dealer tech who told me those don't fail, what they see mostly is problems with rollers. They change the tensioners anyway for warranty reasons. So, should I shouldn't I? Hmmmm.

BTW: how might I use the duct tape?

Post by **matthew1** » 04 Jul 2011, 11:47

Jim, do you have a "smartphone" -- can you use MVS from the road? If you break down or get a code or whatever we can help you.

Like Ed said, bring tools and know how to read codes. If I see your posts coming in from the road, I'll give them emergency priority all hands on deck treatment.

Post by **jblackburn** » 04 Jul 2011, 12:44

I've got almost 200k on mine, and it's never let me down on a trip. I'm planning trips to Florida and Michigan and back (around 1500 round trip) from Virginia in the next few months, and I have no doubts the car will make it - I do long 3-5 hr trips almost every weekend in it.

Just take care of basic things (RADIATOR HOSES, please!) and bring tools and fluids/supplies with you!

Post by **FlyingVolvo** » 04 Jul 2011, 12:45

JimBee wrote:BTW: how might I use the duct tape?

Duct tape can fix ANYTHING.

zhenya · Post by **zhenya** » 05 Jul 2011, 08:04

In general, a long highway trip is far less hard on a car than daily driving around town. I drove the 1982 Honda Accord I bought in college for $500 over 100k miles, including at least 3 round trips between Seattle and NY. Only major issue I ever had was losing 5th gear. Anyhow, the point being that given the ability to spend some time, and at least a little bit of money, you should be able to repair anything that happens on the road. I would recommend a AAA membership, which can save you several hundred dollars in towing fees should anything happen, and if you get the more complete memberships, give you enough distance to have some choice as to where to take it. Good luck!

Post by **jblackburn** » 05 Jul 2011, 08:07

+1 on the AAA membership. After my 1988 Accord (which ALWAYS broke down), I don't go anywhere without that card. They towed my car 95 miles back home once, and I didn't have to pay anything!

Post by **precopster** » 05 Jul 2011, 08:55

I just returned from a 2,200km trip from Melbourne to Sydney and return in my '95 NA wagon. I did an oil change on return and it was very black.

A pretty uneventful trip other than the original catalytic converter disintegrating into the muffler. Very rattly now. Fuel consumption was very good.

Post by **vjaneczko** » 05 Jul 2011, 09:13

If you can knock-out anything related to Stage Zero and tackle any scheduled maintenance tasks (if you're doing the water pump, you're doing the timing belt, right?) then you should be able to ride in comfort knowing it should be hassle-free.

I'd also check the brakes and suspension, just to be sure. If the suspension is old, I'd think 1,600 miles would wear on your backside 'right quick' so if you can manage the $$ and time for the FCP suspension kit, I'd get that installed.