I just picked up a 1996 Volvo Platinum Wagon

brunocerous · Post by **brunocerous** » 28 Dec 2015, 18:32

That is one beautiful car. Congrats!

matt122s · Post by **matt122s** » 28 Dec 2015, 20:06

Thanks everyone, I think so too. The regular maintenance has been neglected so I can't wait to get it to a point where it'll be a good driver. It's keeping me busy and the list keeps growing. I filled it up with gas last night and this morning I saw a fuel leak under the rear of the car. Not a big puddle, but a constant drip. One more thing to sort out, hopefully just a return line hose or something.

Post by **rspi** » 29 Dec 2015, 04:13

Sounds like a bunch of normal P80 stuff. It will be fine soon.

Post by **rspi** » 29 Dec 2015, 09:27

matt122s · Post by **matt122s** » 29 Dec 2015, 18:44

Hi Robert, Awesome video as always, very informative and well thought out. I'm definitely changing to full synthetic once I do the PCV system service.
Thanks, Matt

matt122s · Post by **matt122s** » 01 Jan 2016, 21:43

I replaced the PCV system yesterday, I think it was all original to the car. All the hoses were either already broken or snapped like twigs when I started removing them. They were all hard as rocks and the oil return port on the side of the block was filled with crud, I think I got it all.
My alternator had bad bearings and was really loud so I replaced it while the intake manifold was off. I ended up getting a used alternator from the local pick and pull for $35. It had a reman label on it and it tested fine at Autozone. I was going to replace the bearings and voltage regulator brush pack in my original alternator but I'm a little short on time. I bought all the components and will use it on the original alternator and just have a spare.
I started removing the timing components and water pump and will replace it all tomorrow. The car has a sticker on it stating the timing belt was replaced in 2010 at 154,000 miles. That's weird because the odometer doesn't work and is stuck at 143,000. I think the timing belt was changed then but all the other timing components and water pump are original to the car. The water pump wasn't leaking but it's an original Volvo pump and it looks like it was about to go, the impeller was starting to dig into the body of the pump. Scary looking, I've seen it where they get so much play they dig into the block and eventually lock up and snap the timing belt. I'm doing this maintenance just in time.

I'm replacing all coolant hoses and decided to use Zerex antifreeze. The coolant that come out was old and brown, and I could see some crap building up in the body of the water pump.
Thanks again for the help and the great site,
Matt

Post by **rspi** » 01 Jan 2016, 22:54

Nice catch. The cluster is still counting miles so you can have it read by a good shop, takes about 6 minutes.

Post by **abscate** » 02 Jan 2016, 04:59

You need to dump and replace zerex every 2 years, put that on your calender and don't forget it. Don't be afraid to replace it in 3 months if it looks crappy. If the car has been ignored you could be flushing out old crap.

On edit...bad info ..,corrected down thread

Post by **rspi** » 02 Jan 2016, 07:56

abscate wrote:You need to dump and replace zerex every 2 years, put that on your calender and don't forget it.

Huh? Why is this necessary when the bottle says 5 years 150,000 miles?

Post by **erikv11** » 02 Jan 2016, 08:03

abscate wrote:You need to dump and replace zerex every 2 years, put that on your calender and don't forget it. Don't be afraid to replace it in 3 months if it looks crappy. If the car has been ignored you could be flushing out old crap.

I am also curious about the "2 years" comment. The 3 months I understand, but why not let the G-05 go several years?

I just picked up a 1996 Volvo Platinum Wagon

Re: I just picked up a 1996 Volvo Platinum Wagon