Last week I bought a "new" 1996 Volvo 850 Four Door Sedan. It has 155,558 miles on it.
Ten years ago I drove a 1987 240 wagon...Loved it....drove it to 289,578 when the windshield wipers stopped working (mid-winter in Michigan) and was told the whole car needed to be rewired...I cried and daddy bought me a Focus....boo...Well since then I have distroyed a half-dozen post 2000 American made vechicles, and finally killed my 1989 Isuzu Trooper...(Henery the Trooper still sits in my driveway..he is wicked bad...one day I will fix him.)
I have a few questions concerning my new Volvo. The last owner forgot to give me the mantainance sheet, the book, and anything else minus the title. When I contacted him he said "It's in the car"...Well it is not..(I even looked under the carpet in the trunk). I don't know what has been done to the car since the Spring. I spoke with my mechanic (Uncle Al), and he said to get a list of everything I want looked at, bring him the car, and he will make sure it runs better than it did in 1996.
The big question is What do I need him to check/change with regards to the engine and brakes?
I live in the Upper Peninsula we get a lot of snow and everything is at least 25 miles apart...the last thing I need is to get stuck between Munising and Marquette at 2:00am in 60+mph winds and snow falling at 1 foot/30 min...
thanks for the advice

 

Welcome to the forum.

Hopefully others will come in a check this out and reply.

1. All fluids should be changed.
2. Timing belt
3. Check all lines for wear and tear

 

Thank you so much.....I hope this car lasts as long as the oil supply!!!

 

look for coolant leaks

 

how about the brakes?

 

definitely have the brake fluid flushed, have the pads and rotors examined and replace if necessary.

 

I'm way sorry it took so long...work...school...
thanks for all of your quick responses....I named her on my way back from work in Negaunee(the first discovery of iron ore in Michigan).....Amelia.....because she is as beautiful as the name sounds...
my next question...how do you know when your "Bousch" is blown...(I believe it is the mecanism that runs the ABS????)

 

FYR:

https://volvoforums.com/m_48928/tm.htm

Of all servicing needs, make the timing belt & its pulleys & tensioner the top priority.

Let us know if you have additional questions.


JPN

P.S: If the brakes are about to go, they should be the top priority but the ideal would be to at least replace the timing belt + service brakes and defer the pulleys & tensioner until you have enough $ to do them, in case if you're running short at the moment.

 

My only other concern is gettin' out for some winter campin' eh....well...and getting home...