1996 850 alternator and secondary temperature sensor

hapstoy · Post by **hapstoy** » 21 Jan 2012, 20:21

My 96 850 GLT has 192,000 miles on it (that I know of). The speedometer will stop working occasionally, which makes me wonder how many unregistered miles my girl has actually driven. This car has had a hard life, and I am now at the point where I have spent as much money repairing it as I paid for it. So when the alternator went out two weeks ago, I said ENOUGH! But I cannot find a new vehicle that provides the same features and supports my lifestyle.

The mechanic tells me I need a new alternator (it is the original), and a new secondary sensor??? In September, my car received a new expansion tank, thermostat, temperature sensor, heater hose inlet, and water pump along with housings and hoses (pardon my non-expert lingo). I read a post on here by vanillagorilla I believe who said the secondary sensor helped his car not run so rich, but is it preventing my car from running?

So my questions are:

How much should I pay to have my alternator replaced (the part runs about $225)
How important is the second temperature sensor?

Thanks in advance. I appreciate this forum.

Post by **erikv11** » 21 Jan 2012, 20:33

Do you mean secondary oxygen sensor? If that goes out, then the little light comes on in the dash, but it will not affect they way the car runs, unless the car also has a clogged catalytic converter (seems unlikely but possible). It is mainly for emissions.

Alternator job I am not sure, probably 2.5 hours labor on top of the cost of parts so a $400+ job.

These older 850s can nickel and dime you to the poor house if you don't do some of the repairs yourself.

gilhuly · Post by **gilhuly** » 22 Jan 2012, 09:51

Alternator is a tricky job for someone who hasn't done it. PS pump and brackets have to come out and they're like a chinese puzzle going back in if you don't pay attention. Depending on experience with these 1.5-2.5 hrs. Get the bosch replacement part. I did this successfully as one of my first ever Volvo repairs, used a non-Bosch unit which crapped out in a month and had it re-done at the garage i later worked at because I didn't want to deal with it again. Today I could this in under 2 hrs easy.

Post by **Pauloil** » 22 Jan 2012, 12:50

go out and buy a DVM, digital volt meter, and voltage drop your cables volvo starting and charging problems start with evaluation of the cables under load. putting in a new alt. with bad starter cable will ruin new alt. I know, because I did that. look at the starter cable where it joins the batt and feel it after driving to see if it gets hot. if it does, then it is bad. search voltage drop to read more.