850 Battery Replacement

[eriscentro]

We have a 96' 850 base w/ 135K miles that's to be my first car (I get my license in a month). It's been sitting in the driveway for 2-3 yrs, and when I attempted to charge up the battery to start it, I found that the charger said that there wasn't a connection between + and ground, which I assume means there's an open cell. I think today we'll try to jump it via our other car and see what happens. If the battery is actually dead, what size does it take?
Thanks

[jblackburn]

It's a group 47.

If it's just been sitting there that long and hasn't run in 2-3 years, don't just put a battery in and crank it. Change the oil, pump all the gas out of the tank and put in some fresh gas to get it up to a station, and change the fuel filter. You'll probably need new tires too - they may be dry-rotted. Brakes/E-brake may be stuck. Auto transmission fluid should probably be changed.

Any number of issues besides a dead battery can arise from a car sitting that long.

[eriscentro]

We bought the car used a few years before, then we inherited an 01' S60, which for the most part replaced it. My options are the 850 and a 99 accord, and although the accord is a V6 3L, the 850 appears to be a much nicer vehicle.

[rspi]

I'm with Black on this one. A lot of people are glad to get a good looking, quality car that has been parked somewhere for several months but they seldom know how to wake that car up. The worse thing someone can do with a car that they picked up out of someone's yard is charge the battery and hit the starter.

IMO, a car should really be preped before you try to start it. I would recommend the following:
1. Have the car towed home or where you can do some work on it.
2. Drain all the fuel out of the car. Hooking something up to the fuel rail and turning the fuel pump on to pump the old gas out might be the best direction. Maybe jump the fuel pump, but don't try to start it and dump that old BAD fuel through the injectors and motor. From what I have read, if a car is parked without a fuel stabilizer added will allow the gas to turn into terpentine or something.
3. Drain and change the oil and filter. You don't want to pump that old nasty oil through the motor.
4. If the car has been sitting longer than 6 months, change the fuel filter and air filters. You really don't want to hit the starter and risk blowing deteriorated filter particles though the system. Also, if critters (mice, etc.) have made their way into the intake or air box, you don't want to suck their nest into the intake.
5. Bleed the brakes, and maybe even flush the brake system with new fluid.
6. Change the antifreeze/coolant.
7. Check the belts for cracks, change any that needs it, including the timing belt.
8. If you don't know the age of the timing belt, replace it with the rollers (especially if the car has been sitting over 12 months).
9. Install a new battery if the one in the car is over 24 months old.
10. Turn the car over by hand twice after you change fluids.
11. Then try to start the car.

I know how exciting it can be to get your hands on an old car that you are hopefully getting a deal on (if not free), but you really should protect your new jewel by taking the above precausions.

If anyone has more tips or information that should be noted, please add it in this thread.

[jblackburn]

I'd jumper the fuel pump relay (instructions are on the site here) and drain the tank into a container on the line just before the fuel filter. Easier, and won't pass that crud through anything other than the pump.

I agree 100% on the timing belt check and oil changes. Do those before you even THINK of running the motor.

We inherited a Buick that sat unused for nearly 2 years or something by my grandfather, and even after the basic maintenance with the fluids, the pulleys, pistons etc were all so frozen up that the starter could barely turn the motor over the first few revolutions.

[eriscentro]

I guess we'll have to do that then My only stupid mistake was several months ago I opened up the hood to check out inside, and when attempting to lock the car up after having done this, I had the door open while trying to lock the driver door. I didn't realized volvos can't be locked with the door open, so in attempting it, it feels like the driver door key unlock was detached from the mechanism to actually unlock the car. When the key is turned, it doesn't feel as if it's encountering any resistance, and the door stays locked/unlocked.

[3903davis]

x nay on changing the transmission fluid

if it has never been changed you will risk stiring up stuff and causing leaks.
if the p o had not kept up with the fluid changes then do not change the fluid
if anything drain fluid change the filter and return the same fluid.

do check to see if there is any water in the fluid.
then that is a whole other kettle of fish.

[Billc1015]

You can't change the transmission filter on an 850 without removing the trans and splitting the case. You certianlly can do a drain and refill with fresh fluid, it won't stir anything up. You DO NOT want to have any of the local shops do a flush. Many times they run a detergent in the fluid first and that can cause a lot of debris to dislodge and get caught in the filter. Once the filter gets clogged, thats it and the trans has to come out.


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[Hiker]

My grand daughter has a 1997 850 Volvo, the battery is dead, I removed the neg & pos terminals & the front hold down clip, that just snapped off...

However, it is still being held down ,looks like there is some kind of side clip on the left side, how is this removed? There is nothing In her book about removing the these.

Thanks. 11/21

[rspi]

After you remove the lift off clip, the battery should slide towards the motor and lift out.