My 96 Volvo 850 GLT, has a few issues which I have no idea where to even begin to fix or if it's even worth it.
Issues:
-Since we bought the car in 2013(I believe) the odometer and trip meter hasn't worked (not a big issue)
-Shortly after we bought it we had problems with it starting/shifting, had to get a starter rebuilt which turned into a massive SNAFU. Either way she runs and still runs. But some times when you start her when you go to go out of Park it won't and the lights will not work, yet if you move the key just slightly one way or another the lights come on and the gear shift is freed.
-Recently the speedometer randomly decides it won't work. I have no idea what to do about this new issue or the ignition being wonky. (I saw that the speedo could be caused by the ABS module but am unsure how to continue with that. I also saw that there's apparently a way to fix it yourself if you know how to solder and we do so any information to point me in the right direction would be lovely)
-We just replaced the O2 sensors, and she won't pass NY inspection because "the computer won't read the monitors". This is the bigger issue.

I need the car for winter as she's been nothing but reliable up until this point. I don't know if any of these issues are related or any ways to get them fixed for a decent/cheap price. Some of the work I can do, other more... indepth I'd probably take it to my mechanic and ask for assistance. Problem is we're tight on monies as is the normal around this time but we do need her to be inspected and run right at least until Spring.

Thank you for any help you guys can provide.

 

Which computer won't read which monitors?


If the ECU can't read the O2 sensors you'd have a check engine light for that, and you would want to fix that.

 

Its reading the O2 sensors, its not reading the Temp? It's not getting up to operating temp.

 

Ah, yes. I assume the temperature you are talking about is the temperature of the engine coolant. I have the same problem on the one I'm driving. I have not tried to fix it yet. There are of course two possible causes.
1. It's actually cold
2. It's not cold, but it thinks it's cold.


Either way it should be easy to fix.

 

Yes as far as I know; Its been about 30-40 degrees here lately. Weirdly since we bought the car, it has never run "hot" meaning it has never gotten to half on the temp gauge inside the car.

I was told to get a thermostat. So I bought one to see if that helps the temp problem we are having. I also found this http://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=12651 which does the ABS module Repair. I was wondering if this looks correct?
The speedo not working is my next biggest issue. (to make it run as it was before) We've known about the ignition/ weird key jiggle problem for a while but its never caused too much issues. Unless they are all connected?

 

When you change the thermostat aslo be sure to change the Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor. It is a sensor that is located right blow the thermostat and it screws into the base of the thermostat housing. This sensor sends the temperature of the coolant to the ECM. If is is bad it can cause the car to run funny and not pass emissions even it it is fully warmed up.

 

Yeah, mine is doing this too. When I park it sometimes the engine cooling fan stays on, which I assume is caused by the ECM being skeptical of the temperature reading. It's not hot, it's cold, and showing cold on the gauge.


So I need to pick up a new thermostat, but the temperature sensors on these cars are discussed here as a common failure item.

 

If the fans are stayong on it is most likely the temperature sensor. I had this happen twice over the years and both times the sensor fixed the issue.

 

What was your gauge doing when this happened?

 

 

The gauge showed cold all the time.....

 

We changed the Thermostat which solved the problem of it not getting to operational temps. The other issues we still have to deal with but as winter is fast coming I think she will be sitting this one out and we'll have to get something else.

The only other thing is the ignition issue? Any ideas how to fix or what could possibly be going wrong with that?

Thank you for all the information. I will look over the videos and see what all I can do before winter hits. Again thank you all for the help.

 

Well, I'll also report in. My thermostat was stuck open, but the temperature sender was also bad. It was reading high. When it got really cold Friday the car would not start. So now I have a new thermostat and a different sender (out of a parts car) as well. Much improvement.