All,

Well, I just wanted to update anyone who is interested in the progress of prepping a 1995 850 Turbo for my 16 yr old son to drive.

We got the car about 6 weeks ago. It had 166K showing on the odometer (which was broken) but thanks to this forum I found out how to read the mileage from the ECU and found it had 170K on it. So I used that as a bargaining chip to talk the seller down a couple more hundred on his price.

Got it home (drove really nice and smooth) and decided to give it some TLC (which I now know it needed) Plus it helped me teach my son about proper car maintenance.

We fixed the broken odometer and set it to the actual mileage according to the ECU, changed the transmission fluid (which looked like well used motor oil) power steering fluid, changed the brake fluid and beld the system and changed the oil. Next came a timing belt change as the PO wasn't sure when it was last changed. While I was in there I changed the timing belt, water pump, tensioner and all pulleys. Also changed the serpentine belt, tensioner, and all pulleys.

Next since it had a new water pump, I went ahead and changed all the radiator hoses and both heater hoses, and added fresh coolant. Finally I changed the plugs, wires, fuel filter air filter and cabin filter. Started it up and found the lower oil cooler hose leaking so I replaced that.

Inside I found 6 switch lights and the PRNDL light burned out, so those got fixed, and the power antenna was toast so that got fixed too. Outside, the right headlight wiper motor was binding so I took it out and fixed it. Last but not least, we re-charged the AC system which now blows REALLY cold.

So.....As of tonight it is pretty much finished. Everything on it now works like it was supposed to. Outside of needing to re-paint the badly faded rear spoiler, and a new set of tires before winter, it is all set for my son to drive many (hopefully) thousands of safe and happy miles.

Final cost of all the parts was about $1000. But the dividend of spending time teaching my son (and his younger brother) about proper car maintenance was priceless

MANY thanks to all those on the forum who helped answer my questions about certain repair aspects. I'm sure there are some who, looking at all the work I put into the car, would have passed on it. Looking back, I probably could have found a lower mileage car with not so many little things to fix, but this is the car my son wanted, it was clean, no accidents and no rust. Plus it is a Volvo so I feel a lot better knowing that is what he is driving.

So.....there you have it.

Glenn

 

Congrats I am glad you got it all going.
It will last along time when kept up with.
Now you have it all updated and I know you will keep it up from there.

 

That's pretty cool to be able work with your kids and teach them how to do things. My son now teaches me how to fix cars and computers. My youngest daughter, who is having my first grandchild today, is also quite good at working on cars. I have seen her take the door panels off her Acura and replace the motor that works the power windows. Taught her to change her own oil and also how to do a brake job. She took one look at how dirty I was doing a brake job and said there is no way she is doing that, too messy. So she married a mechanic. My other daughter, not sure she even knows how to check the oil, but she drives a real nice Volvo S80 T6 that she takes excellent car of via the dealership. My son just bought a 98 V70 R, and he's getting ready to do some work on it. He also has a 91 BMW 325I that looks just like the M3.