Volvo 850 1996 GLT. Alter 1 or Alter 2? For Air Guide

Redneck · Post by **Redneck** » 23 Oct 2017, 03:13

Hello,

I need to order a new Air Guide, the plastic cover under the front bumper. I looked under the car today and it was no longer there:) It must have broken off while backing away from a too tall curb sometime in the past year. To order that part, I need to know which "Alter" I have. I see dealers showing Air Guide for Alter 2 mostly (part number: 6808693).

Can you guys tell me which alter I have? Below is a picture showing the front of my Volvo 850 1996 GLT.

Thank you.

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Post by **misha** » 23 Oct 2017, 03:57

Alter 2.
1995 is facelift year.

Redneck · Post by **Redneck** » 23 Oct 2017, 16:13

Thank you Misha. I was confused by the picture below. I don't have the round holes under the bumper. My holes are rectangular like in Alter 1, but I notice my headlamps are shorter as in Alter 2.

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Post by **misha** » 23 Oct 2017, 17:02

Those holes are for fog lights(spot lights).They were introduced in '95 with top equipped models and T5....up to '97 (including '97).
"Alter 1" have different headlights,side lights,bumpers,fog lights and tail lights.
That rectangular holes you have are just vent holes.Fog lights(if equipped) goes like this:

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This is "Alter 1" look:

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Redneck · Post by **Redneck** » 23 Oct 2017, 18:45

Thank you again. Yes. It is pretty clear now.

I am looking at the diagram to see what parts to order for my lost Air Guide. (It broke off and got lost with everything that was attached to it).

From the diagram below I identified the following parts:

Air Guide - #26
3 Air Guide Clips - #18 (Don't they come with the Air Guide? I am ordering OEM from the dealer)

Louvre - #32
2 Retaining Clips - #33 (I wonder if I need these?)

Could you guys confirm it that my parts list is correct? I am not sure if I really need the Retaining Clips for Louvre - #33 or the Air Guide Clips #18 as they may be coming together with the Air Guide. I will be ordering all parts OEM from the Volvo dealer so it should be in their standard Volvo assembly parts lists. Not sure if their boxes will have all the clips needed.

P.S. There is this part #28. Do you guys have that one installed in your Volvos? I don't recall that I had it.

Post by **erikv11** » 23 Oct 2017, 23:09

Part number 28 has ben posted about a few times over the last year or so - maybe for an alternate market but it seems nobody knows what it does. Including some who have purchased it!

So don't bother with that.

Otherwise I can only speculate: I've never bought an air guide (26) from the dealer but I doubt the three clips (18) or two bolts (30) come with it. I know they do not with the aftermarket ones . To be sure I might ask the dealer, just so you can not buy the hardware if when everything comes in you don't need it.

I don't know if either of my 850 air guides have the louvre (33) in place, so not much help there either ...

Redneck · Post by **Redneck** » 24 Oct 2017, 02:09

Thank you erikv11. It confirms my own thoughts.

I am curious, how is the quality of the aftermarket Air Guide? Is it URO that you got? Is it made of good thick plastic like the original Volvo OEM? or is it thin and flimsy? Are you happy with it? URO has been a brand to stay away from as far as I remember.

If the dealer comes back and asks for more money to ship it, I may go with the aftermarket for half the cost. I don't even think the Louvre (funny name as if it was something special:) is necessary, but I ordered it too.

Post by **misha** » 24 Oct 2017, 08:17

Why don't you get it from a junkyard?

Post by **scot850** » 24 Oct 2017, 11:40

They are hard to find at the junkyards here as most are trashed by owners running them ito the concrete stop blocks in parking bays an breaking the rear tab off and scraping the crap out of the bottom of them so they warp badly or are just plain hanging on for grim death.

I have only found one good one in several years of PnP trolling. I have even had to repair the usual broken reat tab on the project V70 I have that was not very old after PO had destroyed the previous one. Mine has the part #33. Not sure if it is really needed, but looks better and I suppose may reduce large stones from hitting the AC condenser.

Neil.

Redneck · Post by **Redneck** » 24 Oct 2017, 12:49

It would be fun to go to a junkyard, but I am not aware of any around where I am. It would be good to know the quality of the URO aftermarket Air Guide because they are half price. If some of you have the aftermarket version, please share how you like it. Having a lower priced, good quality Air Guide wouldn't hurt the soul as much next time it gets scraped on a curb.
.