Volvo 850 Junkyard haul

[jreed]

I'm not sure if this post ought to go in the 850 repair forum or the parts forum, but I just wanted to share some fun I had yesterday visiting the junkyard (LKQ in Durham, NC). I found four 850's, some 240s, as well as S70s and an S80. I focused mostly on the 850s. There was a nice though worn red 1995 850T sedan that was missing the front bumper and was dented up front -- that seemed to be about the only thing seriously wrong with it.

1995 Volvo 850T at LKQ Junkyard Durham.jpg (29.51 KiB) Viewed 3802 times

I was surprised by the number of air fresheners hanging off the turn signal and installed on the dash vents. The car still smelled great inside!

Interior of 95 850T sedan.jpg (188.37 KiB) Viewed 3802 times

I found lots of good stuff including a dimmer, an ignition switch, the handle to unlatch the hood, an evap purge valve, an idle air control valve, a horn, a boost control solenoid, and some brake caliper springs:

Dimmer Handle Knob IgnitionSwitch EvapValve IAC RearFogSwitch Horn TurboBoost Solenoid CaliperClips.jpg (124.44 KiB) Viewed 3802 times

I also got nuts and bots, fuses, knobs, bulbs, rubber caps for brake caliper nipples, vacuum tee rubber caps, and a replacement for the elusive rubber hood stop that has been missing on my '97 for some time now:

Nuts Fuses Clips Knobs Caps Bulbs RubberHoodStop Rotor Shield.jpg (91.75 KiB) Viewed 3802 times

Close up of the rubber hood stop:

Rubber Hood Stop.jpg (157.64 KiB) Viewed 3802 times

I also got the upper lid for the air filter housing, embossed with turbo and a front passenger dashboard speaker grill. I've always wanted a turbo air filter housing -- my '97 has a low pressure turbo but has a plain unmarked air filter housing. I need to add a fitting to this one to supply air to the SAS air pump, but otherwise it looks like it will be a drop in replacement.

Turbo air filter housing lid and speaker grill.jpg (130.5 KiB) Viewed 3802 times

This was my first trip to a junkyard so I didn't have any direct experience to draw on for picking out which tools to bring. Here is what I took with me, including hex bits, torx bits, long pliers, ratchets, sockets, screwdrivers, a nylon pry bar (I don't know how I did without this one for so many years -- very handy), and 'channel-lock'-style pliers:

Tools Bits Knife Ratchet Pliers T40key PryBar Screwdrivers Sockets.jpg (165.75 KiB) Viewed 3802 times

I think a metal pry bar, a hacksaw and a hammer would also be good. I also brought along rubber gloves and towels to clean things up.
Just a quick post to share an experience -- I'm sure anybody who has been to a junkyard before will find this pretty small potatoes, but I had a blast. If you haven't gone to a junkyard for parts before, it's worth it!
Enjoy

[Ozark Lee]

Out of curiosity, how did they price the small stuff like the anti-rattle clips and the hood bumpers? My local Pick-N-Pull type lots are real hit or miss on small stuff. It is either stupid expensive or free depending on what kind of mood they are in.

...Lee

[jreed]

That's a great question. I held myself back in the yard from taking everything I wanted because I feared they might charge me $1/item and it would add up to serious money. Instead, when I got to the counter the cashier looked at the bigger items (air filter housing lid, IAC, switches, etc) and charged me for those. He didn't even look at or try to count up all the small stuff including the rubber bumper or the clips or knobs or handles.

[JimBee]

My experience has been similar to jreed's. They usually charge for large items, pigtails, anything that's operable. They don't charge for any fasteners or small rubber or plastic parts. I usually look for brake calipers that appear in at least fair condition and rotors that look newish, as well as sway bar end links, trunk struts, and bring tools for those items. I'll also buy a 103 relay if I find one, flex (air) hose, cps, etc. And I have a couple of extra fuel pumps. When I bought my first 850 (a '93) I found a mint '93 with mushed fender (which I would have repaired, but the owner junked it ). I went hog wild harvesting from that one—headlight tail lights, interior parts, sun roof, full panel which I needed. I even grabbed the 5 speed manual trans. and shifter with cables, which fortunately I haven't had to use.

Last summer on a visit for some small item I found an almost new radiator—glad I had the tools to harvest that.

I bring most of my hand tools in two Harbor Freight tool bags, plus I bring a socket set, breaker bar, assorted screw drivers, pry bar, etc. And I keep a short handle 2 lb sledge in the car just in case.
The yard where I harvest doesn't allow any metal cutting tools. Sign says, if it unbolts we sell it. If it doesn't we don't. Unsnap or unplug are okay. I captured an 850 rocker panel on one visit and they almost refused to sell it to me until I explained how they are removed. Then it was a dollar a foot, their price for any plastic item.

I walk out to the yard with a few hand tools just to see what I might need. Often, the tool bags stay in the car.

[Matty Moo]

I enjoy hitting the yards, a lot. Even if I don't find something I need I still like to walk around and look.

Of all the yards in MI that I've been to, the lkq pick and pulls are my least favorite. It isn't the yard itself either as they do seem to always have a good selection. It's the buffoons working behind the counter. I can always count on two things there. Pointless questions and variable pricing.

[cn90]

I agree with jreed,

I have a few comments on junk yard:

1. I go there for hard-to-find items that are expensive at dealer: unusual bolts, nuts, hood clips, interior/exterior trim work, rubber caps for caliper, rubber caps for vacuum tree. Basically odds and ends that are cheap.
Most junk yards do not charge for these small little guys, they charge for big items.

2. Headlight assembly, corner turn light assembly.

3. Stuff to stay away from:
- Spark Plugs
- Cap/Rotor
UNLESS you know absolutely sure they are "new".
These items are not that expensive and if you are not careful, you can run into driveability issues...

3. I get items that are easily removed and have "high value":
- Ignition Coil $10, I got one as spare just in case.
- MAF is a toss-up.
- Cam sensor
- Crank sensor
- Wheel speed sensor

Anything that I can remove in 5-10 min with regular tools: yes do it.

Anything that requires tons of tools and heavy-duty work (pulling an engine): it is a NO for me.

[AVIP]

I love junkyards. I go there on occasion. There is about 4 around town. Thats how I fixed my volvo for cheap xD unfortunately my current car is very rare and isn't in any junkyard 500 miles of me. So now I just get parts from the junkyard, test and clean and sell them. Keep the spirit alive

[chashiubow]

I would add fuel relays on the list. Found a working cargo cover for my wagon for $20.00 recently.

[jreed]

I agree with that! I pulled the fuel pump relay out of all three of the 850's in the yard that still had their relays, and was surprised to find the date code (at least I think it was a date code) on the side stamped 94 or 95 on all of them. I think they may all have been original to the cars. I didn't take any of them mainly because I've already got a new fuel pump relay in my car now.

[cn90]

Many many years ago, I "looked down" on junk yard mostly because I was busy with no time after work (young kids etc.) and also from watching all the movies with junk yard in the scenes (haha...), so I never bothered with junk yard.

Only recently for the last few years, I discovered that junk yard can be a gold mine if you know what you are looking for...

Basically get the easy stuff that required minimal tool. The stuff that are hard to find and/or expensive at dealer.