Paid for my first Volvo yesterday
Just bought a 1997 850 Awd Wagon
The previous owner highly recommended this forum as a valuable resource, so I thought I'd register and say hello!
A few things to address on the car before it makes the transition to my wife's new daily driver but I'm looking forward to it, and hoping that with the aid of this forum the repairs will be quick and inexpensive.
That's it for now
Kraut_wagon
Just bought my first Volvo
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kraut_wagon
- Posts: 4
- Joined: 31 January 2012
- Year and Model: 1997 850 AWD Wagon
- Location: Belleville On CAN
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matthew1
- Site Admin
- Posts: 14499
- Joined: 14 September 2002
- Year and Model: 850 T5, 1997
- Location: Denver, Colorado, US
- Has thanked: 2660 times
- Been thanked: 1254 times
- Contact:
Welcome, krautwagon. Read up on the driveshaft problems and perhaps you can avoid it with your new wheels. That's probably the biggest concern.
Congratulations, and keep us posted on your thoughts about your XC. Sounds like you come from a German car background, and comparisons/contrasts I always find interesting, whether they are positive or negative about the Volvo brand.
Congratulations, and keep us posted on your thoughts about your XC. Sounds like you come from a German car background, and comparisons/contrasts I always find interesting, whether they are positive or negative about the Volvo brand.
Help keep MVS on the web -> click sponsors' links here on MVS when you buy from them.
Also -> Amazon link. Click that when you go to buy something on Amazon and MVS gets a cut!
1998 V70, no dash lights on
1997 850 T5 [gone] w/ MSD ignition coil, Hallman manual boost controller, injectors, R bumper, OMP strut brace
2004 V70 R [gone]
How to Thank someone for their post
Also -> Amazon link. Click that when you go to buy something on Amazon and MVS gets a cut!
1998 V70, no dash lights on
1997 850 T5 [gone] w/ MSD ignition coil, Hallman manual boost controller, injectors, R bumper, OMP strut brace
2004 V70 R [gone]
How to Thank someone for their post
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regent
- Posts: 1319
- Joined: 22 February 2010
- Year and Model: 2015 XC60 T5
- Location: Under the Hood
- Has thanked: 2 times
- Been thanked: 12 times
Congratulations krautwagon!
I would think you've bought a car that is in excellent shape since its previous owner was using this site as his source of wisdom
I would think you've bought a car that is in excellent shape since its previous owner was using this site as his source of wisdom
Example of Precision: Measure with a Micrometer, mark it with Chalk, and then cut it with an Axe.
Disclaimer: We (very) seldom do that
2015 BMW 335i
2015 XC60 T5 Premier Plus
2002 S60 2.4 n/a - retired
1987 340 DL - retired
Disclaimer: We (very) seldom do that
2015 BMW 335i
2015 XC60 T5 Premier Plus
2002 S60 2.4 n/a - retired
1987 340 DL - retired
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fazool
- Posts: 746
- Joined: 6 February 2010
- Year and Model: S60, 2007
- Location: buffalo, NY
- Been thanked: 7 times
Welcome to the world of Volvo ownership.
The number one 850 ownership thing to understand is that it uses an "interference engine". Some engines (old American V8's for example) are designed so the valves can never collide with the pistons.
To increase compression, improve efficiency and reduce size/weight, some engines have valves and pistons that are fully extended into the same place at different times. When the piston comes up the cylinder, the valves close out of the way, when the piston retracts back down, the valves open and protrude.
With that type of engine if the cam timing is wrong, the pistons and the valves will crash into each other causing really severe damage.
This is a very robust and reliable engine but If the timing belt breaks, the engine will be spinning and the valves will stop (in the wrong place) and you will have a pile of bent and broken metal.
So.....
The number one ownership tip for an 850 is to change the timing belt NO LATER than the Volvo recommended interval and to ALWAYS use a Volvo or better-quality belt.
The number one 850 ownership thing to understand is that it uses an "interference engine". Some engines (old American V8's for example) are designed so the valves can never collide with the pistons.
To increase compression, improve efficiency and reduce size/weight, some engines have valves and pistons that are fully extended into the same place at different times. When the piston comes up the cylinder, the valves close out of the way, when the piston retracts back down, the valves open and protrude.
With that type of engine if the cam timing is wrong, the pistons and the valves will crash into each other causing really severe damage.
This is a very robust and reliable engine but If the timing belt breaks, the engine will be spinning and the valves will stop (in the wrong place) and you will have a pile of bent and broken metal.
So.....
The number one ownership tip for an 850 is to change the timing belt NO LATER than the Volvo recommended interval and to ALWAYS use a Volvo or better-quality belt.
2007 S60 2.5T AWD (Daily Driver)
2001 S60 2.4T (Daughter's Car)
2003 S80 2.9 (Son's Car)
1995 850 2.4 (Daughter's Car - sold off)
2005 S40 2.4i (Bought new - since sold)
1986 740GLE 2.3(First Volvo - sold off)
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kraut_wagon
- Posts: 4
- Joined: 31 January 2012
- Year and Model: 1997 850 AWD Wagon
- Location: Belleville On CAN
Thank you for the warm welcome matthew1
The drive shaft has already been removed due to the hanger bearing support having rusted beyond repair. I have managed to source one through a local auto wrecker which I plan on buying as soon as a bit of $$ frees up.
Thank you also for the comments re the timing belt. I come from a Honda background and am quite familiar with interference engines and timing belts. The belt in my car was changed about 3yrs and 20000 km ago, So I should be worry free for a while yet.
And yes I have some german car experience. I worked at a local Honda dealer for about 5 years, had multiple civics, and after about year 4 was tired of getting stuck in the winter even with good winter tires. So my hunt for an AWD vehicle began, I couldn't afford most of the Subaru's I saw and I ended up with a 1988 Audi 90 Quattro. The best car I've ever owned. Long story short, they made fun of me at work for driving a 20 year old Audi and took to calling my car the 'kraut wagon', and the name sort of stuck.
The drive shaft has already been removed due to the hanger bearing support having rusted beyond repair. I have managed to source one through a local auto wrecker which I plan on buying as soon as a bit of $$ frees up.
Thank you also for the comments re the timing belt. I come from a Honda background and am quite familiar with interference engines and timing belts. The belt in my car was changed about 3yrs and 20000 km ago, So I should be worry free for a while yet.
And yes I have some german car experience. I worked at a local Honda dealer for about 5 years, had multiple civics, and after about year 4 was tired of getting stuck in the winter even with good winter tires. So my hunt for an AWD vehicle began, I couldn't afford most of the Subaru's I saw and I ended up with a 1988 Audi 90 Quattro. The best car I've ever owned. Long story short, they made fun of me at work for driving a 20 year old Audi and took to calling my car the 'kraut wagon', and the name sort of stuck.