Hi-
Ijust boughta 1998 V90 wagon, 187,000 mi., replaced the air box, flame trap, front wheel bearings, oil & filter, fuel filter, a couple other things. Those people, very reputable shop, made me a list of stuff I still need, including a timing belt and oil seals, a couple other things, andthe air thing.When the guy there told me out loud, he said "air flow sensor." When he gave me the sheet with the stuff I'd need to have done, and in which order of importance and all that, it had written on it "air mass meter." That place is about 20 miles from my house, and I took it to a place about 2 miles from my house, just to see what they'd charge me for the timing belt, and they looked it over and gave me prices on that, said I had 2 dead cells in my battery, which a parts store guy checked and it showed 645 and 12 v, so not sure about that either. But they also said I need an "air flow sensor." So are these the same thing, or if not what's the difference? How hard are they to replace yourself? Most of the parts I need are relatively cheap parts, but the labor is hundreds of dollars because of the time. Why does a timing belt take so long to do? It's right there in the front of the engine. The check engine light is on, and it needs that air thing, an exhaust gas valve and an ambient temp sensor, don't need to pass emissions 'til January, if that makes any difference. ANY suggestions, advice welcome and appreciated.
I only paid $2350 for the car, as sort of an emergency replacement car, and I can't afford to put a tonmore money into it right now. The guy I bought it from said he'd done the timing belt about 40k ago, but by all accounts that can't be true, and knowthat's something that can kill the car, so I need that, but I just don't know enough about any of the other stuff, would be willing to do it myself if I couldn't screw it up too badly.

 

Yes the air mass and mass flow are the same thing. It mounts to the air box. Takes about 5 minutes to replace.
There is a ton of info about the timing belt replacement. You might be able to tackle that yourself as well.

 

Oil seals doable with the timing belt, assuming that might be? Because the air box was completely blocked, the seals are really not acting as seals at this point. That puts another mark in the ignorant column against me doing it, too. There's been some leakage, and I don't know what everything is and how to clean it all up right, etc. I'll do some more research on that, too.

The air mass thing sounds simple enough. How much does quality differ on thosein brands, aftermarket?

 

I would only buy Bosch.

 

Where are the oils seals on the camshaft? Sway bar links? Are these things I should be able to do myself with care and attention, or should I not mess with them? Oh, and where are the oxygen sensors?
I REALLY appreciate the help. I just don't have the money right nowto pay anybody for labor for any more stuff than I absolutely have to.

 

The seals can be a pain you have to remove the pulleys after the timing belt.
Also the sway bar links go from the sway bar to the front struts. You really cant miss them.