93 volvo 850 a few problems...please help!?!?

angela7247 · Post by **angela7247** » 07 Oct 2004, 18:52

i have a 93 850 and have been really happy with it until lately...
theres a few things about it that really bug me...one is that the flashing arrow seems to come one whenever it feels like it...i have noticed that if i have to do alot of intown driving it comes on more often then if i were to drive alot of highway miles.
also, the service engine light and the ABS light are always on for a few minutes after starting.
in the colder weather (when night time temps dip into the 40's (f) ) the car just doesn't want to get moving...i ahve to warm it up for at least 30 minutes before i can drive it....
and the newest problem is that the other night i had to run out for a quick trip just a couple of blocks away...it was raining really hard....and as i was rounding a turn to come home all of the dash board lights came on and it was as if the computer was telling the engine car that the engine had stalled...only it didn't the car was still running but i had no power steering or power brakes. This happened once again the next morning. someone told me i should spray the connections on the wiring harness with spray silicone...but i am not sure if this is a good idea...(also i dont know where to look for it ...hey, i'm just a girl lol

...anyway, if anyone knows how the heck i can fix these problems...especially the loss of power steering and brakes, please please please respond....
any help is greatly appreciated
thank you
angela

oh yeah...and i almost forgot...the fan broke for the heater/air conditioner...is this an easy thing to replace? does it run on a fuse? what needs to be done to get to it to replace it?
thanks again!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 09 Oct 2004, 23:44

Your problems are too difficult to diagnose via the internet-take it into a independant volvo repair shop and have them look it over- the most serious of the ones you describe is the difficulty your 850 has in cold weather - moving as you describe. An indy can see what codes the ecu are producing and narrow it down. If your nervous about getting ripped off be present when the mechanic pulls your codes- I have a 96 850 and know the ins and outs of this vehicle. Good luck- Once you get the codes pulled send me a pm and I'll give you better information on costs, and what you can do yourself to remedy the problems.

Tsquared · Post by **Tsquared** » 11 Oct 2004, 19:39

You have a few issues.

The flashing arrow is a problem with your transmission. Get it flushed and that may clear up the flashing arrow problem and the sluggish movement in cooler weather.

Service engine light and the ABS light are always on for a few minutes after starting. If they go out soon after you crank the car you are OK.

All of the dash board lights came on and it was as if the computer was telling the engine car that the engine had stalled...only it didn't the car was still running but i had no power steering or power brakes. I think that was a problem with the connectors on the instrument cluster (Potroast didn't you have this issue?)

i'm just a girl lol - no special consideration for that. One of the best performance tuners that I know is 5'2" petite blonde that really knows her stuff.

the fan broke for the heater/air conditioner - Getting to the fan requires removal of the dash (again Potroast...)

Paul93-850 · Post by **Paul93-850** » 15 Nov 2004, 09:38

Angela, I have a 93 850 and had to replace the fan for the heater/air conditioner. I had a shop do that for me. Fortuanately, it was only the fan and not the really expensive climate control module that controls it.

If I hit a large puddle, my entire electrical goes south, although my engine keeps running - strange stuff. Every mechanic I talk to has a vastly different (and expensive) solution for it. I avoid puddles and saved the money.

cheers,

Paul