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Swedish Car Parts Heater core Done.

Help, Advice and DIY Tutorials on Volvo's P80 platform cars -- Volvo's 1990s "bread and butter" cars -- powered by the ubiquitous and durable Volvo inline 5-cylinder engine.

1992 - 1997 850, including 850 R, 850 T-5R, 850 T-5, 850 GLT
1997 - 2000 S70, S70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70, V70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70-XC
1997 - 2004 C70
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Ben850
Posts: 1613
Joined: 8 September 2011
Year and Model: 1996 850 R Wagon
Location: Michigan
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Swedish Car Parts Heater core Done.

Post by Ben850 »

It is one month less than two years since had installed it.

I really didn't need a new one, but had to replace the fire wall coupling. I figured why not replace the heater core while I have it out.
I had replaced many things while I was in there.
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Anyway, A couple weeks back, On my way to a gig in Traverse City, MI I had fueled up in Grayling, MI.
The system must have built some pressure while not running and I may have driven too soon.

Either way, this should not have happened.
Two blocks from the gas station a huge blast of steam came through the vents for about two seconds.

Long story short, the bottom tang blew on the two year old Swedish car parts heater core.
I will be putting the original one back in for now.
If the price seems too good to be true, there is probably a reason.
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1993 850 GLT , You wouldn't know it.
1996 850 Turbo Wagon White.
1995 T-5R Black. New work in progress.
1998 V70 XC Cross Country White.
1994 850 N/A Wagon Black.
1997 850 Sedan Black.
1996 850R Wagon White.
1997 850 Sedan Red ( not white or black!)
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j-dawg
Posts: 1154
Joined: 20 April 2013
Year and Model: 1999 V70 T5
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Has thanked: 4 times
Been thanked: 33 times

Post by j-dawg »

I installed the same part about a year and a half ago and have had no problems. However, I too have always been a little surprised at how much loyalty there is to this part. I don't think anyone's had it installed long enough to really say it's as good as OEM, but that's been the conventional wisdom here.

Next time I change my coolant, I'll think about swapping in an OEM core.
1999 V70 T5 5-SPD | ~277k mi | sold
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Ben850
Posts: 1613
Joined: 8 September 2011
Year and Model: 1996 850 R Wagon
Location: Michigan
Been thanked: 7 times

Post by Ben850 »

I'm not the first.
I don't remember who it was that posted, but it was two and a half years for him and it failed in the same place.
1993 850 GLT , You wouldn't know it.
1996 850 Turbo Wagon White.
1995 T-5R Black. New work in progress.
1998 V70 XC Cross Country White.
1994 850 N/A Wagon Black.
1997 850 Sedan Black.
1996 850R Wagon White.
1997 850 Sedan Red ( not white or black!)
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cn90
Posts: 8255
Joined: 31 March 2010
Year and Model: 2004 V70 2.5T
Location: Omaha NE
Has thanked: 4 times
Been thanked: 468 times

Post by cn90 »

The "infamous" thread was started on Volvospeed forum in 2012.
You can read the whole thing there:

http://volvospeed.com/vs_forum/topic/15 ... ter-cores/
2004 V70 2.5T 100K+
2005 XC90 2.5T 110K+
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cn90
Posts: 8255
Joined: 31 March 2010
Year and Model: 2004 V70 2.5T
Location: Omaha NE
Has thanked: 4 times
Been thanked: 468 times

Post by cn90 »

I am curious if one does NOT want to buy the ebay Estonia heater core, what is the current recommendation?
- Volvo?
- Nissens?
- Behr?
2004 V70 2.5T 100K+
2005 XC90 2.5T 110K+
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tryingbe
Posts: 1893
Joined: 18 June 2009
Year and Model: None
Location: Mesa, AZ, USA
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Post by tryingbe »

I got the one from Autozone, Spectra I think. Lifetime warranty and availability were the selling points for me.
85 GLH, 367 whp
00 Insight, 72 mpg
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beigg
Posts: 691
Joined: 22 September 2013
Year and Model: 850 97
Location: Est. Mi

Post by beigg »

Durazone here as well. Availability led to the purchase. Even the dealer was OOS and the price was nutty professor high!
ugh smh 850 Turbo fridge
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polskamafia mjl
Posts: 2640
Joined: 1 April 2009
Year and Model: 1995 Volvo 854 T-5R
Location: Hershey, PA
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Post by polskamafia mjl »

From the VS thread Behr cores seem to have a 2 year life span while the Ebay Cores are still going strong. This is the first failure I've heard of. I'm sure you all understand that when things are manufactured a small percentage of them will be out of spec. These variances are expected and accounted for. Quality checks help keep defective parts from leaving the plant but of course every system fails occasionally.

Out of the many cores installed this is the first time I've heard of one failing. The Ebay core comes with a lifetime warranty and from what I understand the seller is very helpful. I would simply get a new one from him to replace it.
'All my money is gone and I have an old Volvo.' - Bamse's Turbo Underpants

Current: 1995 Volvo 850 T-5R Manual - Bringing it back from the brink of death
Previous: 1996 Volvo 850 GLT - Totaled
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PS78
Posts: 186
Joined: 6 February 2016
Year and Model: 2000 S70
Location: Northeast PA
Has thanked: 2 times
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Post by PS78 »

Spectra heater core here also. Good experiences with their radiators in the past in other vehicles, and the aforementioned same day availability made it an easy choice. Very good reviews on Amazon across the board as well. No oily odor like some of the other brands either.
Always first off the line, while all the cool people are still staring at their phones.
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MMT51
Posts: 46
Joined: 9 October 2011
Year and Model: 2000 S70 Turbo
Location: Boston
Has thanked: 1 time

Post by MMT51 »

Nissens heater core, 5 years, 23,000 miles - no problems yet. Remember to wash off the oil coating before installation.
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