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Timing Belt and Serpentine Belt-- A few simple questions

Help, Advice and DIY Tutorials on Volvo's P80 platform cars -- Volvo's 1990s "bread and butter" cars -- powered by the ubiquitous and durable Volvo inline 5-cylinder engine.

1992 - 1997 850, including 850 R, 850 T-5R, 850 T-5, 850 GLT
1997 - 2000 S70, S70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70, V70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70-XC
1997 - 2004 C70

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rspi
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Re: Timing Belt and Serpentine Belt-- A few simple questions

Post by rspi »

Where are you located?
'95 855 T-5R M, Panther - 22/28 mpg, 546,000 miles
'95 955 T-5R Yellow Wagon, Lemonade, 180,000 miles
--------------------
Volvo's of past: '87 740 GLE, '79 262C Bertone, '78 264, 960's, '98 S70 GLT, '95 850 T-5R YellowVolvo Repair Videos

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erikv11
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Post by erikv11 »

viper69 wrote: ... I actually don't know if it's a transmission flush. I will have to call them back and check, good question. If so, I can't imagine why it's so expensive, unless the fluid is pricey? ...
A complete transmission flush requires about $30 worth of fluid.
viper69 wrote: ... I'm curious, my vehicle is a non-turbo. If my plugs were getting old etc, what would/should I notice?? I've only replaced an entire set on a different car, a Toyota, and honestly, I couldn't tell the difference before or after they were replaced.
At a a minimum, slightly improved overall performance and fuel economy. If the plugs are really worn, then the car could stumble and misfire, but it sound like yours doesn't have that going on
'95 854 T-5R, Motronic 4.4, 185k
'98 V70, T5 tune-injectors-turbo, LPT engine, 304k, daily driver
'06 S60 R, 197k
'07 XC70, black, 205k
'07 XC70, willow green, 212k
'99 Camry V6 :shock: 153k
gone: '96 NA 850 210k, '98 NA V70 182k, '98 S70 NA 225k, '96 855 NA 169k

viper69
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Post by viper69 »

erikv11 wrote:
viper69 wrote: ... I actually don't know if it's a transmission flush. I will have to call them back and check, good question. If so, I can't imagine why it's so expensive, unless the fluid is pricey? ...
A complete transmission flush requires about $30 worth of fluid.

Maybe the cost is so high due to labor and not the parts. That's all I can think of. I've never changed this fluid before myself so I don't know how long it takes, but that's all I can think of at the moment.
viper69 wrote: ... I'm curious, my vehicle is a non-turbo. If my plugs were getting old etc, what would/should I notice?? I've only replaced an entire set on a different car, a Toyota, and honestly, I couldn't tell the difference before or after they were replaced.
At a a minimum, slightly improved overall performance and fuel economy. If the plugs are really worn, then the car could stumble and misfire, but it sound like yours doesn't have that going on
Ah OK. I don't have that problem. In fact I've never experienced that before in a car.
Volvo 850 GLT 1995

5 Speed Manual transmission

122,500 miles and barely broken in

Previous:
'82 Volvo DL Wagon, 4 speed manual
'77 Saab 99 EMS, 4 speed manual

tryingbe
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Post by tryingbe »

viper69 wrote:
1. Timing Belt and Water Pump $993.10
2.Transmission $263.55
3. Fuel Filter $135.18
4. Iridium Spark Plugs $217.40

Maybe I've been doing the work myself for too long, but the prices seems super high on everything. Maybe with a 150% parts mark up, then the prices would make sense.

Fuel filter takes 10 minutes at most, including putting the car on a lift.
https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/volvo- ... r-30671182
Stick with copper plugs, again, takes 10 -15 minutes at most.
https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/volvo- ... 60-8642660
Transmission, drain the 3 qt in the pan, fill thru thru dip stock tube, drive, drain/fill it again. 70% the fluid is now new. The entire transmission holds about 8 qt.
Your local auto part store, usually $5 a qt.
Timing belt/pump parts are around $300 with volvo stuff, takes 2-4 hours at most.
https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/volvo- ... 252wp-oega


All the prices are for Volvo or OE maker.
85 GLH, 367 whp
00 Insight, 72 mpg

viper69
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Post by viper69 »

I'm was in the process of researching and reading about spark plug changes, seems pretty straight forward more or less for my model car in my sig. I haven't researched changing spark plug cables, or the cap and rotor in depth yet.

While my mechanic quoted me the price of $217.40 for new plugs, perhaps the price included ignition cables, and ignition cap and ignition rotor too. I don't know yet.

So that raised a question, if I replace the spark plugs (I'm going with copper, not iridium), do I need to replace the wires, and ignition cap and rotor all at once? Or just the plugs themselves? If need to replace all of the parts mentioned above, what's the best source to purchase them, rather what model/brand for the other parts, I already have a vendor for the plugs thanks to forum member dosbricks. :mrgreen:

I'm looking at my receipt from the last time I did a tune up for my car.

Mileage was 100,000; and the year was 2009. The info in my sig file is accurate.

This mechanic replaced the cap/rotor and wire set, along w/the plugs. The parts cost $131, and with the labor actually exceeded the quote I recently received for $217.40 for spark plugs, again, I don't know if the recent quote is for all of the above mentioned parts. It "has" to be.
Volvo 850 GLT 1995

5 Speed Manual transmission

122,500 miles and barely broken in

Previous:
'82 Volvo DL Wagon, 4 speed manual
'77 Saab 99 EMS, 4 speed manual

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abscate
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Post by abscate »

Labor rates in Orange can run 150 per hour, so these jobs will look expensive to most of us.
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viper69
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Post by viper69 »

abscate wrote:Labor rates in Orange can run 150 per hour, so these jobs will look expensive to most of us.
LA and Orange county are cheap compared to here in terms of general cost of living. The stealership up here, 190/hr. The person I use, 120.00/hr
Volvo 850 GLT 1995

5 Speed Manual transmission

122,500 miles and barely broken in

Previous:
'82 Volvo DL Wagon, 4 speed manual
'77 Saab 99 EMS, 4 speed manual

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erikv11
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Post by erikv11 »

viper69 wrote:... if I replace the spark plugs (I'm going with copper, not iridium), do I need to replace the wires, and ignition cap and rotor all at once? Or just the plugs themselves? ...
You can do just the plugs. Replace what is needed.
viper69 wrote:... If need to replace all of the parts mentioned above, what's the best source to purchase them, rather what model/brand for the other parts, I already have a vendor for the plugs thanks to forum member dosbricks. :mrgreen: ...
The wires must be Bougicord brand. There are a few others that may work OK but it i not worth messing around with. Look for a date code on the wires, there is a code on every wire, if you find one then they are Bougicord and you know how old they are. If you don't find one then replace them.

The cap and rotor must be Bosch. No substitutes, must be Bosch.
'95 854 T-5R, Motronic 4.4, 185k
'98 V70, T5 tune-injectors-turbo, LPT engine, 304k, daily driver
'06 S60 R, 197k
'07 XC70, black, 205k
'07 XC70, willow green, 212k
'99 Camry V6 :shock: 153k
gone: '96 NA 850 210k, '98 NA V70 182k, '98 S70 NA 225k, '96 855 NA 169k

viper69
Posts: 446
Joined: 26 June 2004
Year and Model: 850GLT 1995
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Post by viper69 »

erikv11 wrote:
viper69 wrote:... if I replace the spark plugs (I'm going with copper, not iridium), do I need to replace the wires, and ignition cap and rotor all at once? Or just the plugs themselves? ...
You can do just the plugs. Replace what is needed.
viper69 wrote:... If need to replace all of the parts mentioned above, what's the best source to purchase them, rather what model/brand for the other parts, I already have a vendor for the plugs thanks to forum member dosbricks. :mrgreen: ...
The wires must be Bougicord brand. There are a few others that may work OK but it i not worth messing around with. Look for a date code on the wires, there is a code on every wire, if you find one then they are Bougicord and you know how old they are. If you don't find one then replace them.

The cap and rotor must be Bosch. No substitutes, must be Bosch.
This is the kit I was thinking of getting for the tune up

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/volvo- ... tuneupkit1

I did call the mechanic back and the prices I included earlier as quotes, INCLUDED the labor, so at least that question was settled.
Volvo 850 GLT 1995

5 Speed Manual transmission

122,500 miles and barely broken in

Previous:
'82 Volvo DL Wagon, 4 speed manual
'77 Saab 99 EMS, 4 speed manual

User avatar
erikv11
Posts: 11800
Joined: 25 July 2009
Year and Model: 850, V70, S60R, XC70
Location: Iowa
Has thanked: 292 times
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Post by erikv11 »

Those are the right parts, can't go wrong. In that kit you're paying a little more by going for genuine Volvo plugs but they will last a very long time, like 60k. Grab the kit while it is on sale.
'95 854 T-5R, Motronic 4.4, 185k
'98 V70, T5 tune-injectors-turbo, LPT engine, 304k, daily driver
'06 S60 R, 197k
'07 XC70, black, 205k
'07 XC70, willow green, 212k
'99 Camry V6 :shock: 153k
gone: '96 NA 850 210k, '98 NA V70 182k, '98 S70 NA 225k, '96 855 NA 169k

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