Dirt cheap 89 740t + 7000km road trip. what should i check?
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Dirt cheap 89 740t + 7000km road trip. what should i check?
Hi all!
Just bought my first Volvo, a 1989 740t. Its done 330k+ kms but seems mechanically strong. What you recommend i check before heading south to Costa Rica? and/or d'reckon itll make it ??
Thanks!
Just bought my first Volvo, a 1989 740t. Its done 330k+ kms but seems mechanically strong. What you recommend i check before heading south to Costa Rica? and/or d'reckon itll make it ??
Thanks!
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 4,540
Likes: 137
You may make it. I did it in '97 in a BMW 325e and a Mazda Pick Up (two drivers, obviously).
Check the cooling system and make sure it's good. Timing belt, of course. Tires, important, as the roads you'll hit are brutal. Tune the thing up, and A/C helps, no heater or thermostat needed.
Plan not to drive at night until Costa Rica, allow minimum 2 hours for crossing each border, bring plenty of small bills and cigarettes (you will find out why). Don't do anything crazy, but since you are obviously Canadian that advice may be unnecessary. Still, obey all road blocks, the local police, the Judiciales, and the Army as they all have big guns and are not afraid to use them. You will have to bond the car at entry into Mexico, clear the bond at exiting or else they will turn you around and send you back to the border. When you reach Costa Rica, then you'll know why they call it the Switzerland of Central America. I slept for three days and swore never to do that trip again, and I only drove from San Diego.
Good luck!
Check the cooling system and make sure it's good. Timing belt, of course. Tires, important, as the roads you'll hit are brutal. Tune the thing up, and A/C helps, no heater or thermostat needed.
Plan not to drive at night until Costa Rica, allow minimum 2 hours for crossing each border, bring plenty of small bills and cigarettes (you will find out why). Don't do anything crazy, but since you are obviously Canadian that advice may be unnecessary. Still, obey all road blocks, the local police, the Judiciales, and the Army as they all have big guns and are not afraid to use them. You will have to bond the car at entry into Mexico, clear the bond at exiting or else they will turn you around and send you back to the border. When you reach Costa Rica, then you'll know why they call it the Switzerland of Central America. I slept for three days and swore never to do that trip again, and I only drove from San Diego.
Good luck!
no mo volvo
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 11,289
Likes: 109
From: 37 North on the left coast
was this car being reasonably well maintained? what kind of shape are the brakes in ? any structural rust in the underpinnings?
does it run well, shift well?
i'd probably do a full tuneup (cap/rotor/bougicord wires, plugs), replace any sketchy looking rubber under the hood, flush the cooling system, R&R the brakes, and flush the brake fluid, check the timing belt and replace it if its not in very good shape, flush and replace the ATF, clean the engine up with gunk and drive it for a couple weeks and look for oil leaks. while driving for those few weeks pay attention to the suspension and how it rides, steers.
I'd probably carry a spare fuel pump relay, radio relay, full set of fuses, basic metric tools, green book wiring diagram and volt meter
(hey, 25 year old electrics...). make sure the spare is good, hell, buy 5 new tires, 7000km of 3rd world adventure on sketchy tires.
does it run well, shift well?
i'd probably do a full tuneup (cap/rotor/bougicord wires, plugs), replace any sketchy looking rubber under the hood, flush the cooling system, R&R the brakes, and flush the brake fluid, check the timing belt and replace it if its not in very good shape, flush and replace the ATF, clean the engine up with gunk and drive it for a couple weeks and look for oil leaks. while driving for those few weeks pay attention to the suspension and how it rides, steers.
I'd probably carry a spare fuel pump relay, radio relay, full set of fuses, basic metric tools, green book wiring diagram and volt meter
(hey, 25 year old electrics...). make sure the spare is good, hell, buy 5 new tires, 7000km of 3rd world adventure on sketchy tires.
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