my 97 850na is experiencing its first winter (from florida) and it takes a really long time to warm up and then when the oil temp gauge finally says it's warm and i turn on the heat, the needle drops as if all the heat from the engine is coming into the cabin. i believe it's due to a thermostat that's stuck open--is that the case you think?

if so, is it easy to replace for a newbie (i changed the oxygen sensor but that's about it)?

do i have to drain the coolant as explained here: http://volvospeed.com/Repair/thermect.php

are there any other step-by-step instructions or is the volvospeed one sufficient?

last question: any recommendations on where to work on the car when it's freezing out?

thanks a lot!!!

 

I'm not sure if there are any step by step instructions but its fairly easy. There are 2 torx bolts to remove the top off of the housing to access the thermostat, I would try to do it with the engine slightly warm.

 

Provided the bolts arent frozen up it shouldnt take more than maybe 20 minutes to do it. if they ARE frozen up (like they were on mine) it turned into a giant pain in the rear where I had to tear down all KINDS of stuff to swap out the t-stat housing.

Hopefully yours is simple though.

 

thats exactly why i did mine when it was warm, and sprayed some pb-blaster on em prior

 

If you can't still remove the 2 Torx bolts get this to help get these bolts out http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00952060000P

 

Here are my step by step instructions. Do use GOOD torque bits.
http://www.atthetipwebs.com/technolo...thermostat.htm

 

When I did mine on one of my cars I played hell getting the torx bolts out. I replaced them with hex head bolts when I put it back together. Like others said: easy job if the bolts come out.

 

LOL, I haven't had to much problem getting the screws out. Maybe because I use a speed handle. You can put so much torque on it with a speed handle.

 

thanks for the tips. i pb blastered it and both bolts came out ok. problem was getting them back in. they just did not want to thread easily so ironically (and stupidly) i kept forcing it--got the back one in ok but the front one still has about a 1/4 inch to go and now it's stripped (the torx part, not the bolt thread). I'm planning to swap the bolts out but it's New Years Eve and advance auto parts didn't have them and neither did sears nor home depot. any recommendations on where i can get the hex head bolts and if they need to be heat resistant or anything special like that? what size? M-07?
Thanks a lot and happy new years! --i sure hope the thermostat housing is ok.

 

Get thgem from a junk yard. they're cheaper, and they're an exact replacement.

 

I'm very confused how bolt that came out of a hole has to be forced back in? They should have been able to turn in by hand/fingers? :-/ I would try to get new bolts from the junk yard or stealer. they will be the same but you may have bigger problems than that.

 

I got my hex heat resistant bolts from NAPA. They fit perfect and went right in. I agree that something does not seem right if you have to force them back in.

 

Thanks for the NAPA referral. I'm hoping I didn't break the housing. I think I started tightening the bolts with too much force and at a slight angle from the beginning and they found a new route. Everyone was right about getting that extra 7 inch extension for the 40 torx bit--shoulda done it. This easy job has turned into something different.

 

If the casing is not broke get a tap the right size and recut the threads.