Typical rpm at idle

Sliderule · Post by **Sliderule** » 30 Jul 2007, 21:12

Hello all, I am new here and a new owner of a 1996 850 Volvo (136000+ miles). This is my first Volvo.

My question: What is the typical rpm at idle?

Thank you in advance,

Sliderule

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 30 Jul 2007, 21:41

It depends on how much attention was paid to the needles when the odometer gear was replaced. I didn't pay any attention and mine is 0 RPM.

Someday I will fix that as well as the 3 mph difference in my speedometer.

It varies depending on if you have an automatic or manual transmission but it should be around 750 RPM.

...Lee

Sliderule · Post by **Sliderule** » 30 Jul 2007, 21:53

Thanks Lee, btw I should have included that it is an automatic.

The reason I asked is because the tack is reading zero at idle and this is after a mechanic looked into the issue of my odometer not rolling over. He told me that the "gear" was okay and that it was the motor, in the odometer. Does that make much sense to you?

Sliderule

CarVolvo · Post by **CarVolvo** » 30 Jul 2007, 22:01

either way your going to have to remove your speedometer unit to check it out. So why not just remove it and see if the gear is broken or you need a new motor for the odometer?

Actually it sounds like something is up with your cluster if your having problems... you might want to check the rpm sending unit as well as the wires to the cluster .. perhaps just getting a replacement cluster unit might solve a few problems for you.

BTW my rpm is usually just under 1,000 on idle

Post by **kelvin6** » 30 Jul 2007, 23:49

The specfication is 850 rpm, yes for the 850

. There is a emissions label under the hood (on the hood near the passenger side) that should state the idle RPMs, which every car has.

According to my car's computer (reading it with a scan tool) my computer says 840, but thats pretty darn close.

I have encountered a situation where the cluster doesn't report the correct RPM at idle and at idle only... but the car's computer reads the correct RPM... i've seen this problem on my uncle's S70 where his cluster reads 1000, but my OBDII scan tool is reading 850 from the computer.

Sliderule · Post by **Sliderule** » 31 Jul 2007, 11:18

Hey, everyone, thanks so much for the great input...this is a great site...I now have some direction...Thanks again for your help.

MadeInAmerica · Post by **MadeInAmerica** » 01 Aug 2007, 11:04

kelvin6 wrote:The specfication is 850 rpm, yes for the 850 .

I have encountered a situation where the cluster doesn't report the correct RPM at idle and at idle only... but the car's computer reads the correct RPM... i've seen this problem on my uncle's S70 where his cluster reads 1000, but my OBDII scan tool is reading 850 from the computer.

Yes this is true. The gauge is not accurate below 1,000 when at idle. If you looked at my gauge you would say the idle looks like 950 when the spec is 850. I found my car was doing 850 at idle when I got my emmissions done and I could see the number on the screen . In other words my car was accurate at 850 but the way the gauge looks , the gauge is not accurate.