Hey Volvo Enthusiasts,

Just went to go look at a '93 850 GLT Volvo with 138K miles on it. Interior was is great condition and car seemed to look and run great except for the following:

1. Crushed metal under the left tail light.
2. grating sound when steering wheel was turned all the way to either direction
3. SRS light was on.


Do these sound like red flags to you? My understanding is that the SRS light could just be a glitch of some sort, but the vehicle has also changed hands a number of times in recent months, making me think perhaps something malicious is at work. My last car was an '89 240 DL that ran great with 300K+ on it before my sister wrecked it (grrrrrrr). Any advice regarding the 850 in general? I'm a graduate student, so I don't have a ton of expendable time and money for car repairs, but I do take a lot of pride in upkeep of my Volvos. Will the 850 be friendly to a novice taking care of upkeep?

I should also note that, when I test drove it, the low oil light was on, and the current owner did not know about the OBD code box under the hood. So at least in recent months it probably was not very well taken care of.

Thanks for your words of wisdom!

 

I could probably put another $1000 into it right now for any immediately necessary repairs as well.

 

They're great old cars. Easy to work on, parts are readily available. The junk yards are full of them, and there is no conflict between computers out of different cars. After I bought the first one for $400 I bought another half dozen before I got myself under control (always for $400). The one thing you can't do is take them to a mechanic. They are a little bit needy so you'd be much better off in a $4000 Honda if you don't like to work on cars.

 

But is the 850 as easy to work on and as durable as the 240? I certainly don't mind working on cars, but I also want to be sure to have one that's fairly reliable and wont be a huge money pit. Any thoughts on how severe the SRS light could be?

 

I don't have a 240, but I think the honest answer is no. Nothing quite lives up to that. However, I have an 850 with 300,000 miles on it that I drive daily. It still looks good. The interior's almost good. I bought it for $400 and drove it 4 years with very little maintenance. It needs drive axles desperately. Looking at the $400 population I had, I would say they seem to go through brake discs (which I find unusual) and ball joints and tie rod ends, in addition to whatever you consider normal maintenance. I guess you are aware of the PCV system. If not look in the 850 forum in the "new owner's" thread.


On the SRS light, after 24 years you probably have an air bag that is not answering. These cars also have an explosive seat belt tensioner, so there are 4 active components there. There is a little decoder doodad under the hood that will talk SRS codes to you (and ABS and cruise control and the air conditioner). It's a great invention.




Here is a list of all the SRS codes that there are:


111 No fault detected
112 Sensor module fault
127 SRS lamp open/short circuit
211 Drivers airbag short circuit
212 Drivers airbag open circuit
213 Drivers airbag short circuit to ground
214 Drivers airbag short circuit to supply
221 Passenger airbag short circuit
222 Passenger airbag open circuit
223 Passenger airbag short circuit to ground
224 Passenger airbag short circuit to supply
231 Left belt tensioner short circuit
232 Left belt tensioner open circuit
233 Left belt tensioner short circuit to ground
234 Left belt tensioner short circuit to supply
241 Right belt tensioner short circuit
242 Right belt tensioner open circuit
243 Right belt tensioner short circuit to ground
244 Right belt tensioner short circuit to supply

 

Stay away.

93 is a one year only. Lots of unique parts.


If you like your 240, you'll be disappointed with 850, find yourself another 240 or better yet a 940.

 

Update: Forewent the 850 and instead got a 1993 240 for $1500, 150K. Found a great volvo mechanic and am having the A/C, rear brakes, ball joint, fuel pump sender, and passenger side mirror repaired/replaced for less than $500 total. He was so impressed by my ability to take the working fuel pump out of my old '89 240 that he put it in the "new" car for free. Haynes manual is in the mail!

Thanks for the input, all. I think I'll be much happier with this 240.