'84 850 Wagon Please help - few probs need advice please.

Shannon · Post by **Shannon** » 11 Feb 2006, 08:49

Hi,

I just found this forum, and need major help with a few problems going on with my 850 Wagon Turbo, recently. I am hoping someone can help me, as I have money problems, and a lot of VOLVO problems. I am hoping someone can help me out a bit with these few issues, and I can do this myself.

1st OIL

It is time for oil change, but, friend said I had an oil leak, (looking under the car they said it was oil). I bought a case of oil, it was bone dry at the time. I don't have the $ to go to a mech right now, so just refilling when necessary. I don't know how bad the leak is, I think it is intermittent. Friend said it might have a leak in a hose. (See below, now wondering if it was a trans fluid leak).

2nd TRANS FLUID

I rarely drive, (maybe 3x a week), yesterday took the car out, and could hardly steer. I can't imagine that this would happen so suddenly. Can anyone advise of where I find the transmission fluid receptacle, and if so, any advice?

3rd WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADE

The left windshield wiper does not go, (at all). I believe it is missing a bolt or something. Again, any advice as to what bolt I buy and what tool to repair. Also, need to purchase windshield wiper blades, any suggestions on best?

4th BUBBLE IN FRONT LEFT TIRE

Any advice as to what this is, and if needs an entire replacement?

I appreciate any advice - I don't want to lose this car, right now, just don't have the money for a mechanic. Thank you.

Shannon

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 11 Feb 2006, 09:16

1. Oil....could be almost anything. If you are loosing a lot of oil quickly, it could be the rear main seal...tons of $$ to replace as the engine and transmission has to come apart. Fill her up and check frequently. If dripping loads on your driveway, I would suspect this...ask your mechanic what it is. Second and most common oil leak is the turbo's oil return line. This is a cheap fix, but you won't loose loads.
2. Trasmission fluid. If you are having trouble steering, it's not the tranny fluid but the power steering fluid. The oil leak talked about could actually be PS Fluid leaking out of the steering rack. This would cause hard to turn issues at the steering wheel and could be trouble to repair if you let it go...would become a rack replacement. Check your fluid level in the black box next to the windshield filler cap under the hood.
3. Windshield wiper blade- pretty common for the drivers' side to stop making contact with the windshield. Lo0se bolt, even bent arm and bad threads where the bolt attaches are common issues. Check to see if the bolt is missing. Replace it and see if you have other issues. A lot of people replace the whole arm, use washers, etc. to repair this...a pain but it can be done. (I'm sure others will chime in about this, as my memory is a bit fuzzy on this one....has be several years since we sold our '94 850).
4. Bubbled tire. You've hit something and messed up your tire. I would also suspect a bent rim, so you should check that too. If you only drive 3 times a week and you don't travel far, and you don't get your speed up too much, I would just put it on the rear and watch it (make sure you're not losing air pressure) until you can afford a tire replacement. You should replace it however, at some point, and when you do, I would recommend replacing in pairs. (if left rear is bubbled, replace it and the right rear as well). Good luck and I hope these things have helped.

Post by **robert213** » 11 Feb 2006, 10:05

As a reminder, check owner's manual before adding power steering fluid.

Most of our cars require Automatic Trans Fluid in power steering reserve -- not generic power steering fluid. If you have a lot of foaming in power steering reserve, it is very likely that previous owner used generic power steering fluid.

Shannon · Post by **Shannon** » 11 Feb 2006, 10:50

Made in Japan writes:

1. Oil....could be almost anything. If you are loosing a lot of oil quickly, it could be the rear main seal...tons of $$ to replace as the engine and transmission has to come apart. Fill her up and check frequently. If dripping loads on your driveway, I would suspect this...ask your mechanic what it is. Second and most common oil leak is the turbo's oil return line. This is a cheap fix, but you won't loose loads.

Ok, I don't have a mechanic, I do believe it is a small amount of oil. Hopefully, it will be the turbo oil's return line.

2. Trasmission fluid. If you are having trouble steering, it's not the tranny fluid but the power steering fluid. The oil leak talked about could actually be PS Fluid leaking out of the steering rack. This would cause hard to turn issues at the steering wheel and could be trouble to repair if you let it go...would become a rack replacement. Check your fluid level in the black box next to the windshield filler cap under the hood.

Thank you again, I will look for this - I also have a leak in the window cleaner thing - but that is another issue.
3. Windshield wiper blade- pretty common for the drivers' side to stop making contact with the windshield. Lo0se bolt, even bent arm and bad threads where the bolt attaches are common issues. Check to see if the bolt is missing. Replace it and see if you have other issues. A lot of people replace the whole arm, use washers, etc. to repair this...a pain but it can be done. (I'm sure others will chime in about this, as my memory is a bit fuzzy on this one....has be several years since we sold our '94 850).

All right, I will go into the store and see if someone can help me with the bolt and blades, (X b/f said there was a bolt missing).

4. Bubbled tire. You've hit something and messed up your tire. I would also suspect a bent rim, so you should check that too. If you only drive 3 times a week and you don't travel far, and you don't get your speed up too much, I would just put it on the rear and watch it (make sure you're not losing air pressure) until you can afford a tire replacement. You should replace it however, at some point, and when you do, I would recommend replacing in pairs. (if left rear is bubbled, replace it and the right rear as well). Good luck and I hope these things have helped.

Thank you again! I will see what a replacement tire will cost, and prob do both front tires, just for safety's sake.

I so much appreciate all your help, I've never been successful with ANY cars, I let them go until the probs become insurmountable. This time, I need to do it right, though by myself...and being a female, and knowing all the wrong things I've done to my previous cars,just a bit nervous.

Shannon

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 11 Feb 2006, 12:35

Don't worry Shannon, we've all been there. These Volvo's are fun cars and great cars too, but they will take you over and become a money pit unless you stay on top of regular maitenance. Catch issues early and you'll have years of driving out of your car. Get your mechanic to check out all of the issues mentioned. Copy off what was said here and take it to him. In regards to a bent rim, if this is the case, you can usually catch one without spending a lot of money from ebay, here, www.volvospeed.com forum, www.swedespeed.com forum, or www.brickboard forum. Good luck and let us know how it goes.

Shannon · Post by **Shannon** » 11 Feb 2006, 14:05

Thank you again, I can't say enough how much I appreciate you having written.

It just seems the car is falling apart, bit by bit. I am going to try and do the wipers, myself, along with the antifreeze, and power steering fluid.
Sorry, did not mention that the antifreeze light has gone on - (X b/f thinks it is the battery light), but I don't know, if it doesn't need anti-freeze, I'll see if it needs to battery. I will try to find someone that I can trust, very hard for me to do, I've been ripped off so many times with my other cars...

This causes me so much stress, I cannot find the actual manual to the car. Also, will try the windshield blade, though as I have been reading the forums, might be a VOLVO mechanic that will need to do that part. I wish I knew when the last tune-up was made on this car.

X Boyfriend luckily just did the brakes, so I am pleased with that fact.

Reading up on this forum, is quite interesting. I really am thinking just maybe, I might be able to do a few things I thought I could not. Looking at the timing belt, water pump, all these things that end up costing so much in repair shops.

At least I don't mind getting dirty, just don't have a shop to work on the car, though.

Thanks again, this car was given to me by my brother 2 1/2 years ago, at 78k miles. It now has about 89k, I don't know if I did make it clear, it is a '94, not '84.

Thanks again, I will keep up with this thread and let you know what I've done, and what my mechanic has done.

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 11 Feb 2006, 15:15

Here's your owner's manual:
http://apps.volvocars.us/ownersdocs/199 ... 850_1.html
Regards,
MIJ

Shannon · Post by **Shannon** » 13 Feb 2006, 20:56

Hi,

I must thank you again. I woke up with a bit of dread imagining the money I would be spending, and the worry of getting ripped off. I procrastined for quite awhile.

Then, I came onto the site, and see you have posted a link to the 850 manual. THANK YOU!

Well, I read it for awhile, found the 1 warning light was for low coolant level, (not battery).

Later, after gettting the courage to drive the car, I went to my local auto parts shop. Bought coolant, windshield wiper blades, and some p/s fluid.

Cost $41.00

I had called auto shop that I found from the web as a suggested VOLVO repair shop, they said, "come in anytime".

So, I arrived, owner was not there, but 3 guys helped me put in the fluids.

I looked at the left wiper blade, I saw nothing missing, (this was info my X b/f gave me, that blade was broken due to a missing bolt), I tightened a bolt that was on the wiper, and it works! The guys at the shop helped a bit more, checking to see if I had a radiator leak, but they were unable to find anything but the reservoir, where we put the coolant. I am hoping all will be OK for now.

Also, they closed the hood after I had gotten it open, (did I mention that it sometimes opens & sometimes won't?)..well, yeah it needs to be replaced or repaired, that part.

Owner of auto shop arrived, I told him of the oil leak, and of the hood issue. He said he could look at the oil problem now. He was under the hood within minutes, about 45 mins later, he came up to me and showed me a bad hose, there was a hole in it, he then went back and finished fixing the car. When he came back into the shop's office, he said, "IT seems that was the problem, all is fixed now, how about $40.00?". I paid him $50. There is no way VOLVO would <i>only</i> charge me $40 - plus his workers helped me put the fluids into the car.

THANK YOU AGAIN! I guess my next project is to plan on getting a thorough tune-up for the car.

I've saved the online manual to my computer, thank you!
Shannon

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Post by **MadeInJapan** » 13 Feb 2006, 21:09

Shannon (same name as my wife's!), glad you found a good guy to help you with your car. No problem and glad I could be of help to you. There are a few other sites here that should be helpful to you, so I'll put their URL's up here:
www.brickboard.com
www.swedespeed.com
www.volvospeed.com (message board and maintenance section Bay13)
Bay 13: http://www.volvospeed.com/maintence.htm (read this thoroughly)
www.fcpgroton.com (great place for less expensive Volvo parts)

Did you get your hood latch fixed? There is a good write-up on this on Bay13:
http://www.volvospeed.com/Hoodlatch.php

Post any time, or feel free to email me if you need anything. Where do you live by the way? I'm in East TN.
Regards,
MIJ (David)

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 13 Feb 2006, 21:27

Should have said this earlier....get your Xboy friend (for saying there was a bolt missing and for misdiagnosing a coolant level issue for a battery issue) to buy you a Haynes Repair Manual for the Volvo 850. Most auto parts stores have this in stock and they cost under $20. It is an excellent resource along with this and the other sites mentioned above if you own an 850. Although I don't own one anymore, my S70 still is very close to the 850 and I reference it constantly.