Bye bye 1999 S80

emk · Post by **emk** » 03 Dec 2012, 14:05

I had my 1999 S80 T6 for about 5 years. In August I traded it in after a series of unfortunate problems. First was the steering rack leaking like a drunk taking a whizz. Had that replaced by my mechanic with a used rack. Two days later my right ball joint explodes on the highway while I was doing 120km/h.

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Then a week after that the rear muffler snaps off the exhaust and is left hanging by the rubber mount.

Post by **precopster** » 03 Dec 2012, 14:43

Sounds like the average 12 year old Volvo week to me. Things often happen in groups.

Just replaced O2 sensor, 2 tyres, radiator, front shocks, front spring seats, heater core, heater hoses and coupling, as well as heater fan all in the space of a month. Almost nothing prior to this for 12 months.
Now a/c has lost gas and trans is jerking after losing 1/4 quart of fluid during radiator replacement.
Did I mention I'm tired?

emk · Post by **emk** » 04 Dec 2012, 07:29

If it was earlier in the day, I probably wouldn't be here telling you this story. It was about 8:30pm, so after rush hour, and I managed to steer the beast into the left shoulder, right next to a live lane as you can see by the lane marking and ripple strip. I wasn't about to put my two young girls in that car again.

Post by **boosted5cyl** » 04 Dec 2012, 11:04

Sorry to hear about your near miss and glad you are OK. It has to be said though, balljoint failures are not exclusive to S80s or any car for that matter, its a maintenance item. They also rarely fail without being severely worn first.
Did this one fail without warning? Aligment and handling were fine?

emk · Post by **emk** » 04 Dec 2012, 11:42

Agreed that ball joint failures are common with all vehicles. However as my car was on the hoist only 2 days prior at my mechanic's to inspect the steering rack replacement (I _literally_ was watching my mechanic checking the tie rods and checking the ball joint play on both front wheels whilst up in the air) as I had bought a used steering rack and came in a week after replacement at the mechanic's request because he wanted to check on used parts he's installed. It failed without warning whatsoever. My mechanic asked me about 5 times whether I hit a pothole when it happened - I had just switched from fast lane to HOV lane when it happened. Not a pothole in sight - that hwy had been repaved only about a year ago. Alignment was fine. I did have worn control arm bushings that he noticed when he was doing the steering work and I was going to do that at a later date.

Post by **boosted5cyl** » 04 Dec 2012, 12:28

Scary stuff. Not fun.

dtropnevad05 · Post by **dtropnevad05** » 06 Dec 2012, 08:59

I understand the frustration your feeling my Daughter has a 01 S-80 that has cost us an arm and two legs since we bought it. It had 42,000 miles on it like three years ago and now has 98,000 miles. this thing has cost use about $5,000 in repairs during that time. And now there is an airbag issue and a lamp message that keeps flashing like a Christmas bulb! Have to say I'm not impressed with this vehicle in the least. My youngest Daughter has a 2000 Chrysler 300M and other then a water pump and timing belt @ 150,000 mile has been a good car for her.

Don