New Volvo 850 Purchase!

[foggydogg]

Saturns were known for their ring issues , I’m told.

Yes, most definitely. Maybe they put the R&D money into the heavily baffled valve cover. and oil fill cap, because that functions very well, and it always needs to be opened.

Astronomical leg pulling.

[454cid]

Astronomical leg pulling.

Yes, I got it, but at this point, I've never seen the rings of the planet Saturn, and I have seen the oil consumption of a Saturn 1.9L. Check the gas, fill up the oil... at least when daily driving on the highway. Around town the oil usage is better.

I just figured out how to change my high mount brake light. The other night I had a dash light come on, along with a weird buzzing sound near the gear shift. I had to look at the pocket manual to figure out what the light was for. Then today, I pulled the tail lights apart, and found everything fine. So I propped my snow brush in between the brake pedal and seat to see what wasn't lighting up, and it was the high mount brake light. I found I already had an 1156 in my stash of bulbs. The old bulb doesn't look burned out, but it has no continuity.

[foggydogg]

I knew some folks - not well - who bragged about having never changed the oil in their Saturn since new. My presumption was they never checked it either. Along about the 30,000 mark, it locked up at speed. Towed home, asked an old friend who wrenched on big trucks at his house to troubleshoot. Since it was DOA, my buddy called a local GM only recycler to get a quote on a motor, and the guy at the yard ( he knew us both ) said, " c'mon, who is this really?" He had never sold one. They had a whole rack full of'em, and had started to just crush the Saturns motor and all. We got a 15,000 mile motor complete top to bottom with the harness and accessories for $100. He didn't want the core.

[454cid]

I knew some folks - not well - who bragged about having never changed the oil in their Saturn since new. My presumption was they never checked it either. Along about the 30,000 mark, it locked up at speed. Towed home, asked an old friend who wrenched on big trucks at his house to troubleshoot. Since it was DOA, my buddy called a local GM only recycler to get a quote on a motor, and the guy at the yard ( he knew us both ) said, " c'mon, who is this really?" He had never sold one. They had a whole rack full of'em, and had started to just crush the Saturns motor and all. We got a 15,000 mile motor complete top to bottom with the harness and accessories for $100. He didn't want the core.

Wow, 30K! My engine runs well, but the oil has to be kept full.

I just got home from working on the Volvo.... the existing oil filter was not as tight as I'd want it. At first I thought I might be in trouble because I was having issues getting a wrench on it. I ended up taking it off with one bare hand. I put the new one on with one hand, and then turned it a bit more with a filter socket that sort of fit.

I torqued the new Volvo drain plug and gasket to 30lbft, as that's what my search was turning up. I think the old plug may have been a replacement. It did not look like the new plug I just installed. Weirdly, the dip stick is low after putting 6+ quarts in.... thought the capacity was 5.4 quarts? I'll check the level again tomorrow.

I skipped the ATF.... too drippy under there.

I noticed I don't have the air defector under there, and the bottom of the painted bumper cover is scraped up from rubbing on something. I didn't see any obvious attachment points for the deflector/cover/whatever it's called.

[abscate]

Way up high on the frame member, a small flange screw on each side. I need to document the rope fix I put on these to save them from high curbs

https://www.volvopartswebstore.com/prod ... 85743.htmL

985743 screw
986500 washer

[454cid]

I finally got the O2 sensor changed out. It unscrewed quite easily, not like on my truck where I struggled to break it free and then needed to use a tap on the threads. The hardest part on the Volvo was electrical.... weirdo connector, and weirdo wire retainers.

The voltage readings now are within normal range, .01-.09 volts, but it does move around more than I would have expected, along with the STFT. Could be normal, as it's not something I've paid attention to before. I'll be watching the numbers for a bit... I'll start driving the car regularly again today.

Hopefully, the fuel mileage will go back up.... which reminds me, I need to fill up.

I need to clean up the black soot on the back of the car some more, too. I went through a drive-thru car wash and it took a lot off, but it needs additional cleaning.

[454cid]

So I've been monitoring the L/STFT and O2 voltage. LTFT seems to run 0 to negative something (well under -5%). STFT jumps constantly from - to +.... and usually is under 5%, but sometimes strays a bit further. O2 voltage is the one that has me puzzled. I thought it was supposed to stay in between .1 and .9..... it regularly will dip below .1, and if I let off the gas at speed, both it, and STFT will go to 0. While cruising it swings the whole range of values. I know it is supposed to alternates hi/low, but I thought it would stay a bit closer to the middle. I need to do some more reading on this, and watch the videos posted earlier in the thread.... I have watched others on the subject.

I filled the gas tank the other day, and plan on filling it again tonight, or tomorrow, and checking mileage. I'm hoping mileage is up. I think I was down to 17 for awhile. I think the most I've gotten is 24.

[454cid]

Last night after running through most of a tank of gas, I calculated the mileage. 26mpg!!! I think that's fixed.... I had been down to 17!

[454cid]

I just got back from driving the 850 for the first time since November. I think the parking brake is coming up further than it used to... what could cause that when it's been sitting in my yard, not moving for months? Rear pads were new January or February of 2022, and I don't think the cat is autocrossing the car while I'm away.

[scot850]

Was the parking brake left on? Cable stretched?

Neil.