96 850 GLT/NA- Master Key versus Service/Valet Key

DARK_BLU · Post by **DARK_BLU** » 02 Jun 2015, 06:46

I just realized that for the past year, I've been driving my 96 850 GLT/NA with the "Service/Valet key" 99% of the time, rather than the "Master Key". Does it matter? Should I be driving the car with the "Master Key"? Coincidentally, every time I've taken the car in for service or repairs, I've given them the Service/Valet key. It's not like using one key over the other will affect horsepower and performance in my NA 850, right? I just happened to be looking through the car's booklet last night and noticed that there is a difference between the two keys. In other cars that I've owned, there were two keys, but it didn't matter. Does it matter on the 850 which key I drive with?

Post by **erikv11** » 02 Jun 2015, 06:59

The valet key will not open the glovebox lock, that's the only difference I'm aware of.

Post by **abscate** » 02 Jun 2015, 08:41

SSShhhh. Don't tell him his NA really has a turbo, and the master key unlocks it....

DARK_BLU · Post by **DARK_BLU** » 02 Jun 2015, 09:38

LOL!!! I'm already aware of the fact that my NA has no turbo. Nothing could change that and I also know that there is no way to trick the ECU into improving performance (The ECU in this NA is like a stubborn girl. When she says "NO", she means "NO" and no manner of charm will change her mind). I just want the old girl to keep running for a while longer. Just wanted to make sure that if I was suppose to be using the master key rather than the valet key, that I wasn't causing a problem by using the valet key all of the time. Last thing I need is to CAUSE a problem with the car. LOL!!!!

Post by **renns** » 02 Jun 2015, 09:42

That's funny! I always wondered why the key in my old '850 wouldn't work in the glovebox. I'd assumed someone had replaced the glovebox door at some point with one from another car!

As for the turbo option, you could do what a friend did with his Corolla back in the '80's. He mounted a switch to the dash labelled 'Boost', and wired it to nothing. When he was driving around, he would gently accelerate, and then mash the throttle when simultaneously flipping the 'boost' switch. He fooled a few that way...

DARK_BLU · Post by **DARK_BLU** » 02 Jun 2015, 14:38

LOL... At least you guys have a sense of humor. There are some "Volvo Forums" where a sense of humor simply does not exist and is overpopulated with a bunch of serious turbo brick drivers who appear to have it in for those of us not lucky enough to pick up one of the 250 T5R's that appeared here in the USA...

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 02 Jun 2015, 21:56

abscate wrote:SSShhhh. Don't tell him his NA really has a turbo, and the master key unlocks it....

Like the Red key for the Dodge Hellcat!

Black key = 500 HP.
Red key = 707 HP.

...Lee

Post by **abscate** » 03 Jun 2015, 03:34

DARK_BLU wrote:LOL... At least you guys have a sense of humor. There are some "Volvo Forums" where a sense of humor simply does not exist and is overpopulated with a bunch of serious turbo brick drivers who appear to have it in for those of us not lucky enough to pick up one of the 250 T5R's that appeared here in the USA...

There are incredible great people here on MvS and an equally remarkable absence of "Richard heads"

Post by **jimmy57** » 03 Jun 2015, 06:08

The new XC90 has the red key option but it is reversed. If you want to have a low perf key for adolescent drivers you buy the red key.

The 850 keys differ in the groove in the middle of the blade. The master keys have a square groove and the valet key has a V groove. The glove box, trunk, and wagon load floor cover have lock cylinders with square tabs in lock port that the V groove will not pass to enter the cylinder.