Problems: Typical oil weep from cam seals. Needs a CV axle. Needs a headliner. Needs the outside temp sensor replaced. Driver's seat needs a little TLC... I think brakes need to get done... They were done about 50K miles ago. Clean title in hand.
Car runs, starts up immediately, two keys. No codes. Struts done about 15K ago. Plugs and coils done at 80K. Timing belt done at 80K, too. Have always kept up with my fluid refreshes--every year emptying the coolant reservoir and replacing that little bit, power steering fluid, and brake fluid. Only Volvo fluids here! I put in a new Bosch alternator 8 months ago. New battery two months ago. Car has only been filled with premium. I've used Liquimoly (or Pentosin) the entire time I've owned it. Mann oil filters. I've changed the air filter ever year or so. And I put in a can of Ceratec a year ago. This is your typical FCP maintained vehicle. The only thing I haven't kept up with is car washes...
Biggest problem, however, is that water got in through the sunroof or somewhere else... (There's a little rust patch on the roof by the rear window.) The car isn't terribly moldy, but it isn't a picnic to be in with the windows rolled up. I pulled the headliner and saw one of the drains had been zip-tied so this probably happened before. Tried to take care of it... I think it's good to go... But not sure since it hasn't really rained in NYC in a month.
So here's why I'm reluctant to sell it to a non-Volvo person...the car is currently dealing with the dreaded CAN/BUS/GREMLIN thing... . (FU Ford and FU Belgium... why would you cripple a perfect sedan like this???) Sometimes the car runs and purrs like a dream. Sometimes the anti-skid light goes off. Sometimes it's an alarm service light. Sometimes the ABS light. The radio and CD player work... but do this and you're 3x more likely to likely to manifest a gremlin! The auto-lamp mode doesn't work anymore either. And on the rare occasion, the CRASH MODE light flashes and you need to pull over ASAP. I finally got around to taking out the fuse panel under the glove compartment, hoping it was all corroded but alas, it was clean as a whistle. I cleaned it anyway.
The only remedy I've discovered has been to disconnect a battery terminal, wait for the car to get over itself, and proceed on my way. So, I'm ready to let her go. And I'm guessing her future lies in her pieces... (You won't find an engine or a tranny more babied than these in a junkyard!). I do not recommend driving this vehicle unless you have a plan for moving forward with the gremlins. I'm looking for $1k OBO and I'm willing to drive it to you, up to an hour from NYC. Would really prefer not to junk a car that "works," but alas, that might be in her destiny. Any questions, please feel free to reach out. Not looking forward to keeping her around past September...
