Just got me an 850, can't wait to fix er' up advice?

irishjays · Post by **irishjays** » 03 Oct 2009, 10:24

Hey everybody,
Just bought an 850 glt sedan, and I love it. it's a 95 with 96k on it, the under-body, and interior are in great shape. There are some things it does need and I was wondering if you had any suggestions:

Issue 1: Leak in radiator. There is a spot just to the left of the larger hose (if you're the engine looking at the radiator it's the top right of the radiator) that spits out coolant in a little stream, like someone spraying water from their two front teeth. Stop leak products fixed this problem for a month, but now it's just leaking crazy. The price of a new radiator is round $200, to repair the leak I'm assuming it would cost 1/4 the price of a new one, worth it? what do you think?

Issue 2: Heat Shield, or like vibrations when the car hits bumps.
I assume it's the heat shield, every time I go over even the slightest bump, there is a rattle coming from under the floor. I've jacked it up and looked at the heat shield, it's held on by plastic bolts, and I've tightened them, but it still rattles somewhere. Anyone else had this issue?

Issue 3: Exhaust.
I need to replace from the cat back. this part online is nearly $300, anyone had luck finding this part? I've looked at the exhaust on my 850 and it's in good shape, but i know it's blown out above the muffler.
http://www.fcpgroton.com/images/product ... 0517-1.jpg

Thanks guys!

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 03 Oct 2009, 10:42

Welcome to MVS and welcome to Volvo world.

Unfortunately there is no real fix for a plastic tank radiator beyond just replacing it. It isn't that tough of a job. If you have an automatic transmission go ahead and get the clips that secure the transmission cooler lines when you order the radiator. The clips are dirt cheap and most of the old ones are all rusted out and they will try to just split when you remove them. The same thing applies to the oil cooler lines if you have a turbo.

My son's car had a big exhaust rattle that we traced down to a heat shield around the gas tank, I just put a big hose clamp on it and it has been quiet now for over 2 years.

For the cat back you can try some of the places like Rock Auto and such but they are all pretty much the same price. A lot of folks use Magnaflow, they seem to work well and they are a tad cheaper.

...Lee

irishjays · Post by **irishjays** » 03 Oct 2009, 11:35

Thanks Lee!
This is the first car in 10 year's that i've actually OWNED. In the past I've leased and financed my autos. When the economy took a dive, and I lost a lot of clients I decided to cut my losses with my financed roller coaster, and snag this vehicle.

Something about the 850 I fell in love with. The first time I saw it, i ruled it out as to old, to boxy, to 90's professor-ish. Then I got in it, the simply luxury and the comfort. I've never fit that well in a small car. I used cash and bought it.

It's also a manual, something I wasn't getting in my newer cars. I missed it. What's even better about that is, my wife, doesn't like manual, won't drive it. That means it's really really my car. I can smoke cigars and pipes in it, leave whatever I want in the backseat, she wont know or care. fantastic!

any way...
Since it's a manual, do I need any additional connections for replacing the radiator, will this and the recommended part kit work fine? http://www.fcpgroton.com/product-exec/p ... s_Radiator

You know, I don't think I tightened around the gas tank, I'll check it tomorrow see what we can find.

irishjays · Post by **irishjays** » 03 Oct 2009, 12:02

Here are two low priced items: anyone have any experience with this vendor:
http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/sku/V ... Drivetrain

http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/sku/V ... Drivetrain

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 03 Oct 2009, 12:15

That radiator should work fine. It has the automatic transmission cooler built into it but just leave the plugs in and forget about the cooler lines since the manual transmission doesn't use the cooler. You won't need any additional parts so long as your radiator hoses and the hose clamps are OK. Hoses and hose clamps can be had at any chain auto parts store if you do need them. That is one of the few things that these cars aren't really that picky about when it comes to parts. I have seen some bad things about the URO branded radiator hoses from FCP on another board so those should likely be avoided. The Nissens brand radiator though has worked well for many of our members.

If you want a perfect OEM match there is a link to myvolvopartsonline.com at the top of the page and I think the OEM radiator built for a car with a manual transmission is around $209.00 (I need one too so I have been pricing them). They will ship free if you let them know you are a member here.

I have tired to use the variants of autoparts warehouse, there are actually about 20 different websites with different names that all go back to the same place, and it took me over a year to get my money back when they never shipped my Bilstein struts. In a nutshell, the parts may or may not be OK but once you give your credit card number to the phone bank in India you are on your own.

...Lee

sotka · Post by **sotka** » 03 Oct 2009, 13:29

irishjays wrote:I've never fit that well in a small car.

850 a small car? Well, maybe we, European people, have a bit different image of a small car

irishjays · Post by **irishjays** » 04 Oct 2009, 05:39

yea, I see your point, but as a child of the 80's we've had some monster cars. My first ride was an 84' monte carlo, a land yacht with a v8

bandit2spot1 · Post by **bandit2spot1** » 04 Oct 2009, 06:19

Ebay has a 95 850 non turbo cat back muffler and pipes auction ends in 23 hrs start bid 40.00 check it out hope it helps.

Post by **Matty Moo** » 04 Oct 2009, 06:21

Ozark Lee wrote: I have tired to use the variants of autoparts warehouse, there are actually about 20 different websites with different names that all go back to the same place, and it took me over a year to get my money back when they never shipped my Bilstein struts. In a nutshell, the parts may or may not be OK but once you give your credit card number to the phone bank in India you are on your own.

...Lee

They now have over 100 different websites. I had the same horrifying experience with them. Somebody started a website that tracks all of their new names. They've been getting sued lately also. That makes me happy. I hate them.

rmeuropean.com is a new favorite of mine for some stuff. Then of course the regulars, IPD, FCP, Eeuroparts, etc.

The best advice I could give somebody is to have money to work on the car, and keep ahead of things before they actually break. Decent parts are impossible to get locally for most people. I have a ton of spares in my garage for anything may come up.

irishjays · Post by **irishjays** » 04 Oct 2009, 15:01

couldn't find the deal on E-bay, must have ended with buy it now. Rock Auto parts seems to have bargain deals. Shipping is cheap, I can get a radiator and muffler there for $290 shipped. If it's a trusted vendor I'mm go for it, and post a newbie tutorial of my installations

edit: found the ebay & bid, will I need to weld these parts together if it's "broken down for shipping"