Re: 1997 850 Wagon NA List of Questions

[dairyqueen814]

So while I'm waiting to burn through this tank of gas to find my mileage after replacing my O2 sensor I've been compiling a list of questions. Not necessarily anything that needs to get fixed just questions.

1) Does the 850 base model come with a stock sway bar installed? while I was under the car doing my O2 sensor I cleaned up a bunch of crap from the underside and noticed a sway bar... which was surprisingly shiny black and didn't appear to be the same age as the car.. Just curious.

2) Supposing I have an exhaust leak (not a huge one) that I have yet to be able to find... whats a fool proof way to find it?

3) Once I find said leak I would rather replace the part than patch it. The 3? parts I would potentially be replacing are the exhaust manifold, the Cat, and the muffler. Do all of these parts come with the required fittings? If I ordered the muffler (starla) from FCP would I just be able to bolt it on or would I need to do some welding? same question for the cat and the manifold.

4) It seems that the exhaust channel lining under the car (the aluminum sheet metal that is U shaped over the cat to the tailpipe) is only held on with some plastic nuts on crappy little studs... has this ever been problematic for people? does it vibrate?

5) Considering I removed my pre heat hose to make my air intake strictly fresh air is there any need for my heat shield over the exhaust manifold? Does it serve any purpose other than feeding warm air to the air box?

6) I Googled the proper size for wipers about a year ago and I'm pretty sure I was told the wrong sizes. What are the correct sizes for the front left, front right, and rear wipers on a wagon? and what brand would you guys recommend?

7) If I were to install a front strut tower brace would I need to get the front end aligned? or would it be fine without it? I feel like the addition of the brace might change the wear on the tires.

I have the classic ticking coming from my fuel rail intermittently. I'm not sure if it's injectors or lifters or what. It sounds like it's mostly coming from the area of the middle injector. Has anyone successfully done away with the ticking? do my injectors need new O rings? should I leave it be?

Sorry for all the questions!
Thanks as always
Nick

[polskamafia mjl]

1) Yes front sway bar is a stock item. Yours may have been replaced recently.

2) Depending on where the leak is you may be able to see exhaust gas coming out. My exhaust cracked right behind the cat. With the engine running I could look underneath the car and see the exhaust gases coming out of the crack.

6) Wipers I think are 21 and 17 for the fronts. I have Bosch Evolutions on my car.

7) Possibly. To install the strut bar you need to remove the 3 lock nuts holding the struts in place. Its possible that this could lead to some slight camber change. If you've got the money for the strut bar an alignment won't be a huge extra expense so I would probably get one done anyway.

8 ) The injectors on these engines are just loud. Many people have affectionately likened these engines to a tractor motor because of the noise.

[thedancingfiddle]

I have the same car and am wondering about a few of these things too. And here are my 2 cents on what I've experienced.

4) I had something down there vibrating quite a bit for a while, then it mysteriously stopped. Maybe it fell off?

5) I was wondering the same...

6) I've always used 21inch wipers for both fronts. I often switch the drivers side to the passengers side and get a new one for the drivers - keep the best one on the drivers side!

[erikv11]

(1) All 850s came stock with a front bar, rears are hit and miss especially on the wagons.

(2) I too would love to hear a good answer to this one.

(4) Never heard of a problem with this.

(5) I hear you but I just leave the shield in place, because I put the pre-heat hose back on each winter.

(6) ditto: front wiper blades I use are 21 inches, left and right are the same. I also use Bosch Evolution or similar (bought a bunch on closeout don't remember the brand ...)

[rmmagow]

2.) Have a helper block the exhaust while looking/listening around. It should be pretty obvious.

[misha]

6) Wipers I think are 21 and 17 for the fronts.

They are 21" for BOTH front.The rear ones are 16"-17".

EDIT: Sorry,i missed erikv11 post.

[scot850]

Regarding the exhaust leak, there are a few possible areas to check.

rmmagow wrote what I would have suggested, Get the car up, start the engine and get a helper with a thick cloth and glove to block the end of the muffler. Allow the car to settle from time to time, but each time the end is blocked, check along the muffler system for leaks.

A few areas are:

1) Joins in the pipes
2) Cracks in the welds on the muffler(s)
3) Rusted out Cat.
4) Cracks in the flexi-pipe of the down-pipe before the Cat
5) Cracked exhaust manifold.

Heat-shield above the CAT - These can rattle if the material fails with age and the silver foil splits, allowing the shield to fall onto the CAT. I have been able to fix using larger thin washers and re-using the mounting nuts,

Neil.

[dairyqueen814]

1) Answered!
2) I'll take off the heat shield to do the wet towel test on the manifold and then work my way back.
3) Really just need someone who has experienced this first hand with their exhaust.. or better yet someone who works in a muffler shop!
4) I'll try putting some thin washers in there because it looks pretty corroded.
5) I guess I'll leave the heat shield on
6) I think i got a 22 and a 19 last year for my wipers. ill get both 21s this year.
7) The strut brace is a ways down the road but thanks for the info
8 ) Good to know. Tractor motors unite!

[polskamafia mjl]

1)
8 ) Good to know. Tractor motors unite!

Long live the tractor motor. Someone on MVS coined that phrase in the past couple of years; I don't remember who though.