What did you do to your Volvo today? Topic is solved

[NC855R]

Spent the last 2 days buttoning up the manual conversion. Reinstalled all the top part of the engine bay, wiring, fluid fill (nothing gushed out ). Bleed the clutch and brakes yesterday and installed the battery. Always nervous for the first start after all that major work. Sure enough, turned the key and nothing Lights on dash but no crank. Then quickly realized I didn't wire the PnP wires (green and green/red) to bypass the ignition lock. Wired then together and turned the key and it chugged to life and struggled to get going, been sitting since Sept. but it worked! Rowed the gearbox and watched the from hubs spin! Fed minor things needed adjusting, forgot to remove the accessory belt tensioner holding pin. Put it on the ground and went for a driver around the block. Nothing fell off and the transmission did it's thing. I did pop the inlet hose so I lost boost but that is an easy fix. Will need to work on bleeding the brakes as they are functioning but need some more work. Overall the car is transformed, it is so nice to use the power-bands on this car it is going to be a blast. Thanks for all the help answering my questions etc. Now to enjoy it.

[bmdubya1198]

Spent the last 2 days buttoning up the manual conversion. Reinstalled all the top part of the engine bay, wiring, fluid fill (nothing gushed out ). Bleed the clutch and brakes yesterday and installed the battery. Always nervous for the first start after all that major work. Sure enough, turned the key and nothing Lights on dash but no crank. Then quickly realized I didn't wire the PnP wires (green and green/red) to bypass the ignition lock. Wired then together and turned the key and it chugged to life and struggled to get going, been sitting since Sept. but it worked! Rowed the gearbox and watched the from hubs spin! Fed minor things needed adjusting, forgot to remove the accessory belt tensioner holding pin. Put it on the ground and went for a driver around the block. Nothing fell off and the transmission did it's thing. I did pop the inlet hose so I lost boost but that is an easy fix. Will need to work on bleeding the brakes as they are functioning but need some more work. Overall the car is transformed, it is so nice to use the power-bands on this car it is going to be a blast. Thanks for all the help answering my questions etc. Now to enjoy it.

It's the greatest feeling seeing it run after a major job like that. Enjoy rowing the gears! Now working out the kinks will be the easy part!

[scot850]

Today worked on my friends 98 V70 NA with braking issues and leaking coolant.

Brakes on the front were not terrible, not even the rotors. Pads were maybe around 50% on the fronts.

My buddy had donated a set of nice coated ATE front rotors as he upsized to the larger 302mm ones. He had already bought these and it was too expensive to return with shipping costs. The rotors surprised be when they came out of their boxes as they were really nice grooved/vented units! Fitting was usual process and with nice Akebono pads I bought for the project over a year ago!

Rear brakes were showing the rotors were ok last I saw the car about 25-30,000km ago. The pads were passed due at around 1.5mm!
Rotors are not ideal but good to go for now. I had a set of really good part worn Volvo pads sitting on the shelf, so with Christmas expenses for a single mum in mind, she can run these for another year and then we can swap the rear rotors and pads. This then splits the rotor and pad swaps to different times and thus easier to manage expense planning.

Coolant leak is more concerning as although their was visible coolant on the air guide tray, it was not clear where it was coming from. Removed the tray and could see some coolant drops on the bottom of the LHS of the radiator. The radiator was only fitted back in March by a repair shop at great expense. Looking up between the radiator and the AC condenser there looked like clear signs of dampness near the top of the radiator fins. The owner is planning to take the car to her local shop who fitted the radiator to see what is going on. Didn't want to get into it until she has had the opportunity to speak to them.

Tomorrow sees a clean up of tools and garage floor as it is now a mess of melted dirty snow residue and some leaked coolant. I love cleaning the floor................

Neil.

[5underpressure]

Now that I have a working alternator, I’ve driven it twice! The last time I drove it this summer I noticed the coolant level light pop on and off with accelerator use.

Tonight discovered the nipple busted on the reservoir, at least it’s cheap.

After that, I need to send out the ABS TRACS module out for refurb,

[abscate]

New Year OCD!

I’m trying to remember the difference between the -1998 radiator overflow nipple and the 1999,2000 nipple

Argggh!

[jsrnsis]

After nearly 2 1/2 weeks of cursing, the 850 is still giving me a beating. Everything I look at or try to re-install seems to turn out to have some issue or challenge.



Neil.

My cousin was selling his old Tacoma, and when he casually ripped a piece of plastic trim off to get his aftermarket radio out, I cringed expecting it to shatter into a million pieces, and then proceeded to be jealous of him not even knowing why I was so impressed by how resilient 2002 Toyota plastic was.
Volvo Plastic anxiety should be a recognized disorder in the DSM.

Also, while looking at a parts car for a new set of the metal brackets that hold the radiator, intercooler, and condenser together, I saw a car that had these brackets as thick plastic integrated into the intercooler. Is this an aftermarket intercooler, or a later revision replacement? I know at least on my cars, they have the metal brackets which are very rust prone, and I believe another parts car I attempted to find a good set was a 99 which also had the metal brackets (more rust than bracket). The car with the plastic wings on the intercooler was a 98 AWD.

[bmdubya1198]

New Year OCD!

I’m trying to remember the difference between the -1998 radiator overflow nipple and the 1999,2000 nipple

Argggh!

I THINK the '98 uses a hose from the expansion tank to the thermostat housing, nothing to the radiator, and the '99+ used a hose from the expansion tank to the top left (facing the engine bay) of the radiator.

[850 LPT]

New Year OCD!

I’m trying to remember the difference between the -1998 radiator overflow nipple and the 1999,2000 nipple

Argggh!

I THINK the '98 uses a hose from the expansion tank to the thermostat housing, nothing to the radiator, and the '99+ used a hose from the expansion tank to the top left (facing the engine bay) of the radiator.

You are correct. Because I was curious I just checked. I have a 98' and a 99' in the driveway, so it's easy to verify.
First photo is the 98', you can clearly see the hose going to the thermostat:

Then this is the 99', hose going to the dreaded nipple on the radiator:

Dirk

[abscate]

1999 owners have longer…..hoses.

Chased P0014 and P0343 codes on the T5. Still finishing the double valve job started during Covid , daily driving her for groceries. Also have an oil leak ftom a stripped valve cover bolt on the top that I need to either retap or helicoil. Ugh.

[scot850]

Today a few hours were spent on what seems like a never ending task! That task is sorting, cleaning, identifying and logging parts that have been handed to me when an owner has sold on their Volvo.

Maybe 18 months ago I helped a young guy return his one family from new, 96 Volvo 850 10V base auto to a useable condition.

The car had been condemned by a mechanic as having a rod knock. I investigated the claim and with encouragement from guys here went back for a second look even though it is about a 60km round trip. 2nd time I took more tools and discovered the issue was not a rod knock, but a badly failing water pump bearing failing and the impeller causing a knocking on the inside of the casing. The owner bought a new Aisin pump and I fitted it. Then as is usual, the endless repairs followed of a car that had been loved but well used and had stood for a bit of time. the car had at least 300,000 miles on it but the odometer had given up about 5 years before.

Eventually after a few weeks the car was back up and running with operating brakes and parking brake, 5 running cylinders, steering tie-rod repairs, brake replacement and servicing. Several other repairs were done as well to return the car to a smooth running car, serviced and good to go again. The owner and his mum were thrilled as this was his first car donated to him by his uncle who had bought the car new.

Anyway, update is the young man has now completed his internship and is now employed with the business where he had interned. Now with more money, he had the opportunity to buy a 20 year old Mercedes from a family friend. It is an immaculate, high spec E350 (320?) with full service history. The car is stunning. He asked my to check something on the Volvo and during the conversation I asked what his plans were for the Volvo. He was thinking of keeping both, but the reality is he only drives on the weekends as he uses transit to work.

I suggested he sell the Volvo. Emotional ties to the Volvo were understandable, but the Mercedes was a once in a lifetime opportunity and with limited use will maintain a value. I suggested he think about it. A few weeks later and he decided to put the Volvo up for sale and sold it to another young first time car owner for a good price. He then told me he had some parts that he would like me to have to pass on if possible to others. He dropped off 3smallish boxes of smaller parts and one of those included a full 850 Volvo headlight. There are several other parts including various relays (including a VAG intermittent wiper relay), a used MAF, 3 ignition electrical portions, as well as a few brand new pipes for PCV repairs. I have cleaned and sorted these, and now they just have to be catalogued and placed in storage bins.

This all takes time, but some parts like 850 fuel pump relays are NLA with the part numbers I have. So all may have a use in the future.

Neil.