850 GLT 1993 Automatic gear question

First V · Post by **First V** » 03 Dec 2009, 09:32

I'm thinking of buying a Volvo 850 GLT with an automatic gear box. How good are the gear boxes in the 850 GLT? The car I'm thinking of buying has been driven 165 998 miles. Is there any chance that the gear box might break soon? I have heard that they are not so good, but I don't know much about cars so I was hoping that anyone here knew?

It has a 2.5l engine with 170 hp.

(I hope I have posted this in the right section of the forum)

Post by **jblackburn** » 03 Dec 2009, 09:45

I think it really depends how well it has been taken care of, how often the fluid has been changed, etc. I'll say it's a pretty nice automatic gearbox - I've driven/had some that are just plain stupid about shift points, but this one's pretty smart. Mine still shifts great and [relatively] smoothly at 164K miles, and I hope it stays that way; doesn't slip or anything under full throttle. My car was very well maintained by the P.O. however. Ask for service records!

Check the color of the fluid in it - if its brown or smells burnt, you may want to reconsider. It can easily be fixed with a flush, but you don't know how long it's been like that.

Post by **RobTheModd** » 03 Dec 2009, 10:27

First V wrote:I'm thinking of buying a Volvo 850 GLT with an automatic gear box. How good are the gear boxes in the 850 GLT? The car I'm thinking of buying has been driven 165 998 miles. Is there any chance that the gear box might break soon? I have heard that they are not so good, but I don't know much about cars so I was hoping that anyone here knew?

It has a 2.5l engine with 170 hp.

(I hope I have posted this in the right section of the forum)

Yeah your in the right section.
BTW, Welcome to MVS! Feel free to *if you buy the car/ have random volvo questions* post here with any questions concerns or attempts at a diy you have. Ive found it to be quite nice here.

Hey ive got 245k miles on my 96, 854 glt. auto
Shifts fine.
I love it and would never own anything else than an 850. although my next one will be a turbo!

Words of advise, take it for a drive. Ask if you can take it on the highway or a nice stretch of road that you can get it up to speed so you can see for yourself. *check to see if its in econ or sport mode yes there is a difference in porformance* econ is economy, sport is faster, I usually always run in sport as i dont like to go slow* Check the upper stabilizer motor mount, *dog bone from driver side of motor to firewall* check the middle bushing for cracks its usually 30$ or less to fix

See if the car creeks or pops *possible bad cv joint* when you take a sharp turn slowly *with windows down*
And find out when the last tune up was done, if its gone thru stage 0. and when the timing belt and oil was last changed!! FOR GODS SAKE ASK WHEN THE TIMING BELT WAS CHANGED!!! lol. If its got 165k it should have been changed 25k miles ago. usually every 60-70k is a good time to change it.

Once youve bought it.. if youve bought it. call up volvo and get your high mileage badge!!! lol. 100k 200k 300k etc...

First V · Post by **First V** » 03 Dec 2009, 11:47

Thanks guys for the good and fast response.

The timing belt was changed when the car was at about 149 000 miles, so that shouldn't be a problem. I'm going to have my father and my brother with me when I'm going to look at this car and they know much more about cars than me so I hope they can see if it's worth it or not.

First V · Post by **First V** » 03 Dec 2009, 11:56

Oh, and RobTheModd do you have the original gear box that was in the car?

Post by **RobTheModd** » 03 Dec 2009, 13:46

First V wrote:Oh, and RobTheModd do you have the original gear box that was in the car?

Thats like asking me if I still have the original super nintendo!
Of course. It is actually still all original parts *oh god how it is* which has its goods and bads... one its still original.
bad side is everything is 13 years, and 245k miles old... which isnt good. I went to get the struts fixed and they are original...
I have to get new struts,
new bumper,
and a new headliner.
so those things wont be original volvo anymore...
except the bumper, I will not get a non volvo bumper! im waiting for one to arrive at my local auto yard. lol. black!

oooo i take it back, my pass side axle is not volvo due to a bad cv joint.

Post by **polskamafia mjl** » 03 Dec 2009, 14:42

The gearboxes on post 93 models are very strong. I don't know anything about the transmissions in the 93 model year. I do know that the 93 850's are not as good as the 94 and older 850's. In addition, I don't think there was a 2.5L engine in 93 but I might be wrong.

First V · Post by **First V** » 03 Dec 2009, 14:49

Robthemodd: Impressive... If the car I'm looking at on Saturday is in good shape - I will buy it!

and polskamafia: there was a 2.5l engine in them here in Scandinavia at least!

and one more thing: how is the stereo in the 850 GLT?

Post by **polskamafia mjl** » 03 Dec 2009, 14:51

Mine works really well, I like it a lot. Better than the aftermarket crap people put in their Honda's.

anmartin44 · Post by **anmartin44** » 03 Dec 2009, 18:25

My grandpas 94 850 was real smooth even at 240k miles before it was wrecked. +1 on checking the timing belt history. for 93's the changing interval is every 50,000 miles so yours should have been done around 150k miles. In 94 volvo tweaked the timing system and went to a wider belt so the interval went up 70,000 miles.
good luck on your purchase, you'll enjoy your relitively young volvo!