'94 850 Wagon - Mechanic Quote

ir637113 · Post by **ir637113** » 25 Jan 2018, 18:39

Got some issues with my 850 NA Wagon. Took it down to a shop and got a quote. Want to know what y'all think.

Current issues:
- oil leak from pcv breather hose
- starts and runs while cold. Won't start or drive if engine is hot.
- blowers are strong and I can change direction, but absolutely freezing. No heat.

Here's what the mechanic said:
- oil leak is a clogged oil canister. Wants to replace that and the hoses that split. $404
- all cam seals replaced (I'm calling tomorrow to see if they're busted or it's preventive). $1600
- Rear Main Seal. Same deal - calling tomorrow to ask. $1038
- ECT wires are screwed, thermostat stays shut. $213.
- replace distributor cap, spark plug wires, spark plugs. $541.

Grand total of $3796

All the items under $1000 I could do dirt cheap and it would take me a day. I have two main questions - first, for a Volvo shop, is this reasonable/worth it? And second, do the cam seals and RMS sound like reasonable things to change?

The second one is a little more important, cus it answers the first. If I need it done, the car is toast because I can't do it and even running perfectly, I can buy one for $1500-$2000 around here.

Thoughts are appreciated. TIA!

ir637113 · Post by **ir637113** » 25 Jan 2018, 19:18

Just looked into parts. Rock Auto will give me EVERYTHING they already mentioned for $200. I can do everything but the RMS and Cam Seals no problem. Looking at the videos, I'm confused why the Cam Seals are $1600 - it looks relatively easy.

Anyone have any other thoughts on that?

Post by **scot850** » 25 Jan 2018, 20:10

Cam seals take some time to do and the fronts require removing the timing belt. What are they asking /hr labor rate? Parts for cam seals are not more than maybe $100 for OE parts. But only use OE or Corteco brands. Not sure why the price is so high but I would suggest it is a bit high, but again how many hrs are the quoting for labor?

RMS is a big job and if I recall is a 10 hour job to fit a $25 seal.

Be careful what parts you fit to Volvos. Cheap often means doing work over so is not worth it for jobs with a lot of labor involved.

Neil.

ir637113 · Post by **ir637113** » 25 Jan 2018, 20:25

scot850 wrote: ↑25 Jan 2018, 20:10 Cam seals take some time to do and the fronts require removing the timing belt. What are they asking /hr labor rate? Parts for cam seals are not more than maybe $100 for OE parts. But only use OE or Corteco brands. Not sure why the price is so high but I would suggest it is a bit high, but again how many hrs are the quoting for labor?

RMS is a big job and if I recall is a 10 hour job to fit a $25 seal.

Be careful what parts you fit to Volvos. Cheap often means doing work over so is not worth it for jobs with a lot of labor involved.

Neil.

I had asked for a quote on an issue at one point. They said it would take an hour, so roughly $80 or $90. High hourly imo, but all of their reviews are solid. Volvo-only shop since the mid-60s, so they have to be at least adequate. But based on the parts (Assuming they replace the timing belt, etc.), they're looking at 10 hours for that.

As for the RMS, if it's a $25 seal, they're talking 18 hours ish.

ir637113 · Post by **ir637113** » 25 Jan 2018, 20:27

I'm gonna call and get some clarification. If it is a 10 hour job, and that and the RMS need done, the car is toast, and I'll start shopping around. A $2000 car isn't worth that kind of work.

Post by **theWIFES_S70** » 25 Jan 2018, 22:05

ir637113 wrote: ↑25 Jan 2018, 18:39 Got some issues with my 850 NA Wagon. Took it down to a shop and got a quote. Want to know what y'all think.

Current issues:
- oil leak from pcv breather hose
- starts and runs while cold. Won't start or drive if engine is hot.
- blowers are strong and I can change direction, but absolutely freezing. No heat.

Here's what the mechanic said:
- oil leak is a clogged oil canister. Wants to replace that and the hoses that split. $404
- all cam seals replaced (I'm calling tomorrow to see if they're busted or it's preventive). $1600
- Rear Main Seal. Same deal - calling tomorrow to ask. $1038
- ECT wires are screwed, thermostat stays shut. $213.
- replace distributor cap, spark plug wires, spark plugs. $541.

Grand total of $3796

All the items under $1000 I could do dirt cheap and it would take me a day. I have two main questions - first, for a Volvo shop, is this reasonable/worth it? And second, do the cam seals and RMS sound like reasonable things to change?

The second one is a little more important, cus it answers the first. If I need it done, the car is toast because I can't do it and even running perfectly, I can buy one for $1500-$2000 around here.

Thoughts are appreciated. TIA!

Wow, what a quote...

Are you leaking that much oil? That RMS job is only necessary if you're losing a half quart(+) a week. The cam seams, have you seen them? All you need to do is take off that timing belt cover and shine a flashlight in there to see if they're all shiny and oily.

$400 for the PCV job is about right.

$1600 for intake and exhaust cam... that's absolutely nuts. Pulling off a timing belt on your car takes 30 mins in a driveway. Yeah, you have to lock cams to pull the sprockets off, but they have the tools. It's 1 hour of work, two tops. $500 is more realistic (and human...).

$1000 for the rear main seal, that's spot on...

Do you need to replace all the wires? Are you misfiring all over the place?

I really think you should replace that engine temp sensor. All you need is a 19mm open ended wrench to pop it off.

Man these cars really beat you silly...

ir637113 · Post by **ir637113** » 25 Jan 2018, 22:42

theWIFES_S70 wrote: ↑25 Jan 2018, 22:05
ir637113 wrote: ↑25 Jan 2018, 18:39 Got some issues with my 850 NA Wagon. Took it down to a shop and got a quote. Want to know what y'all think.

Current issues:
- oil leak from pcv breather hose
- starts and runs while cold. Won't start or drive if engine is hot.
- blowers are strong and I can change direction, but absolutely freezing. No heat.

Here's what the mechanic said:
- oil leak is a clogged oil canister. Wants to replace that and the hoses that split. $404
- all cam seals replaced (I'm calling tomorrow to see if they're busted or it's preventive). $1600
- Rear Main Seal. Same deal - calling tomorrow to ask. $1038
- ECT wires are screwed, thermostat stays shut. $213.
- replace distributor cap, spark plug wires, spark plugs. $541.

Grand total of $3796

All the items under $1000 I could do dirt cheap and it would take me a day. I have two main questions - first, for a Volvo shop, is this reasonable/worth it? And second, do the cam seals and RMS sound like reasonable things to change?

The second one is a little more important, cus it answers the first. If I need it done, the car is toast because I can't do it and even running perfectly, I can buy one for $1500-$2000 around here.

Thoughts are appreciated. TIA!
Wow, what a quote...

Are you leaking that much oil? That RMS job is only necessary if you're losing a half quart(+) a week. The cam seams, have you seen them? All you need to do is take off that timing belt cover and shine a flashlight in there to see if they're all shiny and oily.

$400 for the PCV job is about right.

$1600 for intake and exhaust cam... that's absolutely nuts. Pulling off a timing belt on your car takes 30 mins in a driveway. Yeah, you have to lock cams to pull the sprockets off, but they have the tools. It's 1 hour of work, two tops. $500 is more realistic (and human...).

$1000 for the rear main seal, that's spot on...

Do you need to replace all the wires? Are you misfiring all over the place?

I really think you should replace that engine temp sensor. All you need is a 19mm open ended wrench to pop it off.

Man these cars really beat you silly...

Thank you. I thought I was crazy for a bit.

It used to leak that much oil, but that's cus I Jerry rigged the breather hose. Since I replaced it, it's gone down. Although it shot up in the last week or two and idk how much (it didn't go down in the dipstick so idk how to gauge that)

It isn't misfiring, but I was planning on doing that this summer anyway.

ECT is so simple. Done it once before.

Oil canister should be simple. I've done that hose twice now, so I think I could manage.

After looking into it, the RMS is the only thing I couldn't do. Because everything I see involves either removing the engine or removing a LOT of hardware.

I'm gonna talk to them. Either way, I'm not getting work done there. Even if their prices were spot on, it just ain't worth it. I'll get it home and take a look before I make a decision on where to go with it.

With the issues I'm having, what would you guys expect? Cold start a-okay, won't run hot. I've already ruled out the fuel pump and relay. ECT was my next guess.

I'll get back to it sometime in the next few days and give an update when I can.

Post by **abscate** » 26 Jan 2018, 02:28

The $2000 Volvo you buy will need $2000 of work or more. That's why they're selling it.

Try some seal stop leak for the RMS

Cap rotor plugs coil is about $200 in parts and hand tools

Cam seals are cheap parts,driveway labor in Spring. You don't need to lock cams on a P80

ir637113 · Post by **ir637113** » 26 Jan 2018, 06:18

abscate wrote: ↑26 Jan 2018, 02:28 The $2000 Volvo you buy will need $2000 of work or more. That's why they're selling it.

Try some seal stop leak for the RMS

Cap rotor plugs coil is about $200 in parts and hand tools

Cam seals are cheap parts,driveway labor in Spring. You don't need to lock cams on a P80

Maybe. I haven't ever bought one over $1000 and put $200-$500 in parts in off the bat. Then roughly one big thing needs replaced a year between $150-$300 in parts. My FIL is also a God at finding them cheap. He just bought a 98 XC for $900 that just needed a tune up. Hell, my first 850 we bought for $880 and had it for almost five years with roughly $200 a year in parts. Would've had it longer if I hadn't ran it up someone's tailpipe.

I think I'm gonna try getting it home, replacing what needs done right now, and seeing if I can hold off on some of the other work. Who knows, the seals may just be a CYA job for them and not actually need done

Post by **abscate** » 26 Jan 2018, 08:04

Yep.

Do the PCV, the ignition stuff, ECT sensor, and the thermostat. All in, maybe $300 in parts.

No point in doing the seals until you have cleared the PCV as that is what blows them out. Clean the engine block PCV drain path too - see threads.