1997 960 Overheating

kgall · Post by **kgall** » 09 Sep 2015, 13:21

My 960 Wagon started overheating. I have recently replaced the leaking top radiator hose, which led to a crack in the top radiator hose fitting, which led to a new radiator being installed. A few weeks later the temperature gauge slowly climbed toward the red one night, so I checked coolant level (it was full) and then blasted the heater while driving slowly home. That managed to keep the temperature out of the red. I replaced the thermostat yesterday but the problem remains. I am assuming it is a bad water pump, but before tackling that job I thought I'd check to see if anyone here thinks it could be anything else. (Not that there is much else to go bad).

dmg4 · Post by **dmg4** » 09 Sep 2015, 14:07

Have you confirmed that the electric fan is operating properly? A bad water pump would more often leak coolant before it failed to circulate. Are you losing coolant?

Ethan Rode · Post by **Ethan Rode** » 09 Sep 2015, 15:09

This video might be helpful https://youtu.be/hUzOTnsWImI

I'd also suspect the fan.

kgall · Post by **kgall** » 09 Sep 2015, 15:36

Sorry, I forgot to mention that the fan was operating fine.

Could it be a clogged radiator? The radiator is new, so I don't suspect it. But it wasn't a Volvo OEM part.

kgall · Post by **kgall** » 09 Sep 2015, 19:24

Thank you Ethan Rode for the YouTube video link. After sitting through the whole thing I suspect that I have a blown head gasket (argh).

dmg4 · Post by **dmg4** » 11 Sep 2015, 03:48

Clearwater Cylinder Heads in FL sells rebuilt heads for the 960/S90 at a reasonable price. The head arrives completely rebuilt, and with a prepaid label and crate to return your core for a partial refund. Don't waste your time with the snake oil pour-in fixes. You might limp along with a temporary fix using generic water glass (sodium silicate) for a few thousand miles, but you'll eventually have to replace the head gasket and you may as well swap out the head at the same time. It's an expensive repair if you have it done at a garage, as there could be up to 12 hrs of labor involved. However, with moderate mechanical skills, lots of instructional videos, a bit of luck (you don't snap anything off) and perhaps a mechanic looking over your shoulder, it can be done at home. You'll understand why the repair is expensive if you do it yourself.