It's cold out!

[camper guy]

My 1995 850T runs great and normally the heat in it is fine. This week and last we are having temps in the negative numbers and the car just doesnt' get warm inside. Normally the gauge sits at just above 1/4, when sitting in traffic, it will go to 1/2 and the fans will run. I'm reluctant to change the thermostat for this reason.

Another odd thing is if I run anything but defrost, the window frost up inside. My feet were freezing today, but one minute even on split between up and down and the window cloud up.

I've got the recycle switch on so it's recycling the air inside and the A/C switch off instead of AUT. Am I doing something wrong? Maybe I just need a new thermostat anyway? Does it even have a thermostat?

[matthew1]

Yes, it has a t-stat. Yes, you should replace it, they're cheap. See my instructions linked off my main page. Recirc will increase the amount of moisture in the cabin compared to Fresh.

[camper guy]

Thanks Matt.

It's not the $$, I'm not very mechanical, but I can handle a thermostat. What temp for the thermostat?

[camper guy]

I want to drain and flush the coolant at the same time. Anything strange I should know? I had an accord once that had to be bled and I didn't know it and blew the radiator, that was a pain. Straight Volvo antifreeze or mix? Is there a link to coolant changing?

[Tsquared]

It is a 90 degree C thermostat. It comes with a gasket. Drain your fluid first. It is a good idea to change the fluid if it is more that a couple of years old - 50/50 mix. You will need a t-40 torx to remove the bolts. Check out Matthew's link or go back and do a search on thermostat - I just replaced mine a few weeks back and I outlined the process in the thread "Heater Problem".

Good Luck,

[matthew1]

Yes, Tsquared's notes are dead-on.
https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/chat/p ... er+problem

I must add them to my page. Anyway, here is my t-stat change page:
https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/tstat.php

[camper guy]

Friday I went to the dealer to get the necessary coolant and new Thermostat. In my manual it specifies two different thermostats for turbo and non turbo models. The dealer said they only carry one for both vehicles. They should know what their doing right?

I then went to Pep Boys, VIP, Home Depot to find the long T-40 Hex and no luck, so off to Sears, if anyone should have it, they will right? Wrong, only a short one so I bought it anyway, hoping it would work.

Saturday, I bundled up and off to the driveway I go with my tools and antifreeze bucket. First I though, make sure I can get the housing off before doing any draining of antifreeze to not waste $18 worth of coolant. Well the first try with the short wrench slipped. I went to see my trusty neighbor, "Harley Guy" who is also an airline mechanic and saves my life with anything mechanical and he fixed me up with a T-40 bit in a 1/4 socket and that worked. The rest of it was a breeze except for the flushing which only took longer because of the cold.

Anyway I now have heat!! Glorius heat that I had to turn down this morning. I also know why there are two thermostats. If you put the non-turbo one in the turbo, it sits just above 3:00 and with minor OCD, it's a bit irratiting, but I'll live and eventually something else will torment me I'm sure. All in all though I LOVE this car!

Thanks for all your help guys.

[matthew1]

"...heat that I had to turn down..."

I'm glad it worked out well for you.

[camper guy]

It worked great and your instructions were right on. Thanks for all your help and the info you take the time to post, I've used much of it already. I used to be able to work on my cars when I was younger and cars were less complicated, but they just get more difficult and I don't have access to the tools I used to.

Being able to reset the service light and diagnos check engine codes have helped allot.