I think I got taken

[jamesspringer]

OK, I finally got the codes cleared. I drove the car to get the things for the tuneup (Bosch copper plugs, Duralast cap and rotor), about a 15 mile trip, and re-checked the codes. No codes returned. Does it take a little more time or does that mean the problems indicated by the previous codes are no longer an issue?

While at the store, I also replaced a blown fuse (25A, power mirrors) and the right front turn signal bulb. I meant to pick up some injector cleaner but forgot.

Separate issue: The lense for the left front turn signal is broken out though the signal still works. Can I replace the lense or will I have to replace the entire housing?

[charlyW]

Autobox is Transmission or Gearbox short for Automatic Transmission over here in the UK We simply call them Autoboxes.

You can open the Transmission drain plug on the side of the gearbox casing to reduce the level or if you can get a pipe thin enough syphon some off DO NOT SUCK THE FLUID IT IS DEADLY

The AC Light should be ON for the AC to be OFF A swedish thing

Our high Octane fuels go upto 99 Ron premium or our lowest is 95 we have nothing lower BP used to sell 107 Ron made a T-5 go really well. My Water/Methanol injection system doesnt make my T-5 go as well, thats running at 105 ron on the Octane scale

If you have no codes returned then most of your issues were old but give it a week then recheck to see if any have returned.

Here in the UK we have to buy the entire side light section including housing it's a really common fault for the clear outer plastic to fall off

MAF Sensor Mass Air Flow also known as a Mass Air Sensor you'll find it attached to the black hose from the airbox to the throttle housing with a clip on plug.

As Ozark Lee suggests get the Timing belt changed as soon as possible; while you're there you might want to consider the PCV [Positive Crank Case Ventilation System] especially if you've got either smoke coming from the dipstick or any oil from the filler cap another common fault area on badly maintained 850's-V70's

Service light will stay on until it's manually reset as it's on a time setting within the ECU

What you now need to consider is

A: How much is it going to cost to Sue the previous owner for the incorrect sale ?

B: What will be the outcome either financial or force them to put the car in an acceptable state [If it's done at a Volvo main agent that will run into hundreds if not the wrong side of $1000] or they take the car back you get your money back then you're back to square one

C: Live with the car and slowly get it how you want it as you say you like Volvos and it's not the cars fault it's had a bad owner nor is it Volvos fault. Put it down to a bad experience which we've all be there before

The 93 850 uses a lot of parts which are not interchangeable with later models the following list is what, on my 93 850 GLT N/A were different to a 94 GLT N/A UK Spec

Headlights [Different style to 94 onwards]
Indicators [larger than 94 onwards]
Timing Belts [Smaller than 94 onwards]
Transmission Speed Sensor [94 on takes its speed from the ABS ECU]
ABS ECU [Totally different design]
Bonnet
Slam Panel

Wings
Track Rod ends
Track Rods

[jamesspringer]

Thanks for the advice.

The tuneup improved things a bit but not as much as I had hoped. Surprising really, considering the shape the plugs were in. One had so much carbon buildup, the gap was totally closed. That cylinder probably wasn't even firing. It idles better now but still sounds rough; sounds like a kind of rythmic clunking. The clunking is not apparent at higher rpms.

As for my options: It doesn't cost anything for me to sue them in small claims court (other than a $10 filing fee) since I don't have to hire a lawyer.

The source of my indecision is my inability to really diagnose this car. While I am reasonably intelligent and can follow instructions, I am not a mechanic. If I could be sure the problems were not catastrophic and my wife could safely drive the car while I fixed it up over time, I would be less inclined to make a fuss.

[Pauloil]

time to check cyclinder compression

[jamesspringer]

How do I check cylinder compression and will I need some special tool that I will have to buy?

[jblackburn]

You'll need a compression test kit - I picked one up at Harbor Freight for like $30 I think.

It's better to do it on a warm engine. Remove the spark plug cover beforehand so you don't burn your fingers.

Here's something that describes pretty well how to go about it.
http://autorepair.about.com/od/enginetr ... test_4.htm

This will tell you if you've got a stuck/bent valve or something, which could be why it feels like it's not running very well if one of the cylinders is low on compression.

[jamesspringer]

I got a test kit from Autozone and will check the compression now. Massive white smoke being blown out of the dipstik well. When I took off the sparkplug wires cover last night, I found the whole underneath covered with motor oil; even pooling in all the nooks and crannies. Now I guess I know where that came from.

[jamesspringer]

White smoke from the dipstic means PCV, right? I didn't see that on Bay 13. Where can I find an illustrated fix for that?

[jblackburn]

I did a write-up for that here, pinned at the top of the forum.

https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... =1&t=28487

Mine is for a turbo model; you can look at cn90's right under my post for what differences there are on a non-turbo engine. Remove the flame trap disc and throw it away

[zanzabar]

Sorry to say, but you most likely need a complete PCV system overhaul (as suggested previously). It's possible that the rings are not giving you very good cylinder compression though, and that that is the majority source of smoke out the dipstick tube. The compression test will shed some light on that.

I would suggest that this could be a good candidate for a Seafoam treatment, followed immediately by an oil change with a good high-detergent oil. Perhaps running a bit of seafoam through the PCV system as well as removing the flam trap would be a good idea. (There are flame traps on GLTs right?)