about to buy a 97 850r
#1
about to buy a 97 850r
Hello,
I'm about to buy a 1997 volvo 850r with ~180000 miles. I'm buying it from a dealership and they let me test drive it for a few days for half down(refundable). There are a few issues with it, but it runs and drives good.
The 2-3 things I'm worried about -
The dipstick smokes - definitely smells like coolant. I've read this is probably the PCV kit and could be fixed for less than 200, but I've also read there are a number of people who have done the PCV and still have a smoking dipstick issue. How big of an issue is a smoking dipstick on this car, and how easy is it to fix?? Is the common issue I'm reading about supposed to smell like coolant??
The radiator fan doesn't ever seem to come on - drove it for 20 minutes accelerating pretty hard and checked under the hood. Fan isn't running. Coolant reservoir sounds like its boiling and there is a pinhole that leaks coolant.
There is coolant/oil everywhere on the bottom of the engine.. like its covered.. I'm assuming its from the leak in the resevoir and coolant coming back up the dipstick.
All that said, the car drives pretty well for a 16 year old car.. Accelerates smooth with no strange noises, brakes are in good condition, 4 decent tires.. The transmission is a "little" rough under full acceleration, but that's about the only noticeable driving issue.
I'm going to take it to a volvo shop tomorrow but I have to make a decision tomorrow on it so I'm trying to get as much info as possible.
Price is 1400, I probably only have 6-800 on top of that to fix anything.. Do you think its a good deal??
I'm about to buy a 1997 volvo 850r with ~180000 miles. I'm buying it from a dealership and they let me test drive it for a few days for half down(refundable). There are a few issues with it, but it runs and drives good.
The 2-3 things I'm worried about -
The dipstick smokes - definitely smells like coolant. I've read this is probably the PCV kit and could be fixed for less than 200, but I've also read there are a number of people who have done the PCV and still have a smoking dipstick issue. How big of an issue is a smoking dipstick on this car, and how easy is it to fix?? Is the common issue I'm reading about supposed to smell like coolant??
The radiator fan doesn't ever seem to come on - drove it for 20 minutes accelerating pretty hard and checked under the hood. Fan isn't running. Coolant reservoir sounds like its boiling and there is a pinhole that leaks coolant.
There is coolant/oil everywhere on the bottom of the engine.. like its covered.. I'm assuming its from the leak in the resevoir and coolant coming back up the dipstick.
All that said, the car drives pretty well for a 16 year old car.. Accelerates smooth with no strange noises, brakes are in good condition, 4 decent tires.. The transmission is a "little" rough under full acceleration, but that's about the only noticeable driving issue.
I'm going to take it to a volvo shop tomorrow but I have to make a decision tomorrow on it so I'm trying to get as much info as possible.
Price is 1400, I probably only have 6-800 on top of that to fix anything.. Do you think its a good deal??
#2
#3
Coolant is a little low and a little milky.
It doesn't look like there is coolant in the oil, it looks just like brown oil on the dipstick and a paper towel, but it definitely smells like coolant is burning from the dipstick..
#4
#5
A good rule of thumb is when it's running and puffing- PCV system is clogged. When it's off and does it, that's pretty normal because of the vapors and blow-by that haven't been removed by the PCV hang out.
If you can take pics of the coolant and post them that would be best
If you can take pics of the coolant and post them that would be best
#6
I'm not an expert by any means so take my advice with a grain of salt. But it COULD be a head gasket issue. That's why you really need to see if there's coolant in the oil for sure. Get a leak down test done at the mechanic you're going to see
#9
And then I drove it (hard) for 20 minutes and it didn't even think about overheating.
And then I think I may just be getting overly attached to it(something about a turbo station wagon that just gets me) and making excuses for something that seems very wrong.
#10
Ya when I first noticed it I said to myself "head gasket" and was ready to walk away... Then I read online about the pcv thing being kinda common, and didn't know if it was supposed to smell like coolant and if volvos have some weird evap system.
And then I drove it (hard) for 20 minutes and it didn't even think about overheating.
And then I think I may just be getting overly attached to it(something about a turbo station wagon that just gets me) and making excuses for something that seems very wrong.
And then I drove it (hard) for 20 minutes and it didn't even think about overheating.
And then I think I may just be getting overly attached to it(something about a turbo station wagon that just gets me) and making excuses for something that seems very wrong.
#11
#12
#13
#16
Thanks for the videos.
Timing belt - 153k
Suspension mounts, CVs, engine mounts look good
Ac compressor clicks on and off every 3-5 seconds with ac on. Going to test drive it in a little to see if it shuts off and kicks on like you describe, but I think its low on freon. Will also let it idle and check for smoke.
Pcv is obviously shot.
Checked the RMS.. there is so much coolant and dirt on the bottom I can't even see if oil is leaking. It did leak something in my driveway - not sure if oil or really dirty coolant.
Timing belt - 153k
Suspension mounts, CVs, engine mounts look good
Ac compressor clicks on and off every 3-5 seconds with ac on. Going to test drive it in a little to see if it shuts off and kicks on like you describe, but I think its low on freon. Will also let it idle and check for smoke.
Pcv is obviously shot.
Checked the RMS.. there is so much coolant and dirt on the bottom I can't even see if oil is leaking. It did leak something in my driveway - not sure if oil or really dirty coolant.
#17
The coolant leak under the car may be what you are smelling. I would drain the oil into a pan and see if it looks like coolant is in the oil. It should look like creamy coffee if coolant is mixing in the oil.
You do need to figure out where the coolant is leaking from. That is playing engine roulette.
You do need to figure out where the coolant is leaking from. That is playing engine roulette.
#18
The coolant leak under the car may be what you are smelling. I would drain the oil into a pan and see if it looks like coolant is in the oil. It should look like creamy coffee if coolant is mixing in the oil.
You do need to figure out where the coolant is leaking from. That is playing engine roulette.
You do need to figure out where the coolant is leaking from. That is playing engine roulette.
One more update, no smoke after 20 minute test drive and revving after idling.
#20
The coolant leak under the car may be what you are smelling. I would drain the oil into a pan and see if it looks like coolant is in the oil. It should look like creamy coffee if coolant is mixing in the oil.
You do need to figure out where the coolant is leaking from. That is playing engine roulette.
You do need to figure out where the coolant is leaking from. That is playing engine roulette.
The leak in the coolant reservoir runs towards the engine, and leaks down the left side of the engine block. I think this combined with the gases coming up the dipstick might be what most of the leakage under the hood is from.
From everything i can tell there is no oil in the coolant and no coolant in the oil. Hopefully its just the PCV kit, coolant resevoir, and maybe another small coolant leak and she'll be good to go. At this point I'm gonna wait and take it to the shop tomorrow - if I spend anymore time under the hood checking stuff out I'm gonna have to buy it just on principle.