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Volvo 850 Noise - RESOLVED W/S gasket !!

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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pkuevor
Posts: 37
Joined: 21 November 2012
Year and Model: 1994
Location: United States

Volvo 850 Noise - RESOLVED W/S gasket !!

Post by pkuevor »

Hello all, so while its been getting cold my 850 wagon has been making the WEIRDEST noise. It's not coming from the dash, I have looked all over the MV website, done forum searches and I have seen people have SIMILAR issues but none that sound like mine.

It started when I was going about 70 miles per hour it would start making this loud obnoxious noise which was almost deafening and force me to slow down just so I could hear what was going on around me. Sometimes it would also start making the noise when we were just accelerating up to 35 miles an hour. If you go fast enough the noise goes away. Yesterday I was driving to my doctors office and could not turn on the fan in my car...mind you its like 30 degrees outside....even after the temperature gauge got to about half way it wouldn't turn on.

Went to my appointment which lasted about 10-15 mins and I was leaving and the heat finally turned on...UGH! I am getting so aggravated. The fan noise is getting worse and worse. It sounds like a fan is running and something is right in the way of it and its smacking it over and over again. When you start going fast enough it stops....what the hell could it be?

jblackburn
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Post by jblackburn »

A bad wheel bearing? Usually a droning noise or whap-whap-whap noise that increases with speed from the front of the car.

You said it's not coming from the dash area, so I think the fan issue is separate. Is the fan making a lot of noise also when the car is stopped?

Any way you could get a video with a phone or something to show us when exactly it happens or what it sounds like?
'98 S70 T5
2016 Chevy Cruze Premier


A learning experience is one of those things that says, "You know that thing you just did? Don't do that."

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rspi
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Post by rspi »

If your fan is going out it will usually make a squealing noise. It is also possible that a leaf or something got down in there especially if a mouse or something is making a nest in the intake. Do you have a cabin filter? Has it been changed lately?
'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

pkuevor
Posts: 37
Joined: 21 November 2012
Year and Model: 1994
Location: United States

Post by pkuevor »

jblackburn wrote:A bad wheel bearing? Usually a droning noise or whap-whap-whap noise that increases with speed from the front of the car.

You said it's not coming from the dash area, so I think the fan issue is separate. Is the fan making a lot of noise also when the car is stopped?

Any way you could get a video with a phone or something to show us when exactly it happens or what it sounds like?

I do have a video of some of the noise but I want to record a better one from us starting from a stopped position to give you a better idea. I havnt driven the car today but yesterday sitting in the doctors office parking lot I did hear it making a light whirring noise while the fan was on the 0 (which is off)

jblackburn
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Post by jblackburn »

OK, when you get a new one, email me both if you would and I'll put them up in a video here. I'll send you my email address in a message.
I havnt driven the car today but yesterday sitting in the doctors office parking lot I did hear it making a light whirring noise while the fan was on the 0 (which is off)
That sounds like it's not related to the fan or movement of the wheels at all. Hmmm...does it make more noise if you just rev the car in park?

Nonetheless, I think hearing this noise would help us all help you narrow down the noise a bit.
'98 S70 T5
2016 Chevy Cruze Premier


A learning experience is one of those things that says, "You know that thing you just did? Don't do that."

mercuic: Long live the tractor motor!

pkuevor
Posts: 37
Joined: 21 November 2012
Year and Model: 1994
Location: United States

Post by pkuevor »

rspi wrote:If your fan is going out it will usually make a squealing noise. It is also possible that a leaf or something got down in there especially if a mouse or something is making a nest in the intake. Do you have a cabin filter? Has it been changed lately?
That's a good question lol. I have only had the car for a few months and already had to replace the water pump...the tires, rotation and fuel lines are next...this car is killing me already. =/

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rspi
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Post by rspi »

Fuel lines? Not sure why they would need work but if they do, you have to do it.

These cars are really not for someone that can not do work on them by themselves. I work on my daughter's '98 S70 all the freeking time. She came home yesterday just for me to fix the door that was stuck closed. So I fixed the door, replaced a light, replaced the window sprayers, fixed a door panel and she glued the rear ash tray panel back on. That was just yesterday. Oh, we had to replace her battery as well.

The day before Christmas I replaced her axle boots and replaced her front brake lines. Christmas day I replaced the rear calipers and changed the oil.

Some of this stuff you'll have with any car that is out of warranty but a 20 year old car is worn and old. If you plan to keep it, try to budget for about $140 per month (if you don't use the dealer).
'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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Post by polskamafia mjl »

Get Justin that video and really consider whether you can afford the car. The 850's are really only for people who fall into one of two groups: those with enough $$ to have the dealer fix everything and those with the ability to fix everything themselves.

I don't mean to discourage you as with enough TLC these really are fantastic cars but they can easily turn into money pits.

- Marcin
'All my money is gone and I have an old Volvo.' - Bamse's Turbo Underpants

Current: 1995 Volvo 850 T-5R Manual - Bringing it back from the brink of death
Previous: 1996 Volvo 850 GLT - Totaled

pkuevor
Posts: 37
Joined: 21 November 2012
Year and Model: 1994
Location: United States

Post by pkuevor »

rspi wrote:Fuel lines? Not sure why they would need work but if they do, you have to do it.

These cars are really not for someone that can not do work on them by themselves. I work on my daughter's '98 S70 all the freeking time. She came home yesterday just for me to fix the door that was stuck closed. So I fixed the door, replaced a light, replaced the window sprayers, fixed a door panel and she glued the rear ash tray panel back on. That was just yesterday. Oh, we had to replace her battery as well.

The day before Christmas I replaced her axle boots and replaced her front brake lines. Christmas day I replaced the rear calipers and changed the oil.

Some of this stuff you'll have with any car that is out of warranty but a 20 year old car is worn and old. If you plan to keep it, try to budget for about $140 per month (if you don't use the dealer).
I meant to say oil lines.

My bf is a mechanic so he can do all the work for me. :mrgreen:

It will be roughly 600 or so dollars to replace the tires, alignment, tail lamp light bulb, oil lines, windshield wipers, and can't think of anything else lol. Can't wait for taxes to come back. :x

pkuevor
Posts: 37
Joined: 21 November 2012
Year and Model: 1994
Location: United States

Post by pkuevor »

Finally got a video.


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