I'm looking for your opinion and advice. I have the opportunity to own a 1996 Volvo 850 Turbo wagon for the cost to tow it to my home.The car was owned by one person. 36,000 original miles. The car has been in storage at a dealership since 2001. It was in an accident and repaired in 2000. The car has sat at the dealer through summer and winters Rhode Island for 7 years,has not been started.(The reason is because of personal things in the owner's like.)According to the dealer it would cost $3000 to get it running again new brakes, rotors, abs and a new battery. I have not yet seen the car. The owner (a friend) said I could have the car. My intention would be to replace brakes, rotors, battery, etc. and anything elsemyself after towing it from the dealer.There is agood set of summer tires to be remounted, thewinter tires on it have rubber rot.

Not knowing anymore than I do right now, is this a"deal" too good to pass up? Oram I a fool for considering it?

If this is a no-brainer and your collective opinion isto grab it what things could possible be wrong with it from sitting in storage so long?

What would be the correct procedure to bring it back to life? What else beside brakes would be 'frozen'? Clean this...replace that...look for this...lubricate that...squirt some oil here...tickle it there? Check seals? Etc...etc.? I can do most things mechanical.

Any opinion and guidance or links to similar subjects or discussions would be very much appreciated.There's a wealth of information on this post that I'm sure to take advantage of if I can get this car to turn over.

Thank you in advance.

 

It is a no brainer - tow it home.

The worst thing you will face is the sour gasoline and likely it has varnished. Don't even try to run the car with the fuel that is in the tank. At best you can drain the tank and put in fresh fuel but I'm betting that it has gummed so badly that you will need to replace the fuel tank. They are cheap at a salvage yard.

Obviously all fluids and filters will need to be changed as will the timing belt due to age.

What a great find. If the interior isn't all mouse infested I would likely drive to and from Kansas City to pick it up in Rhode Island if it were offered to me.

...Lee

 

Hey now and[sm=welcomesign.gif]Doghouse,

While the milage is low and if all it will cost is the dealer estimate of $3K for you to do it yourself then, go for it .

Youve mentioned that the car has sat for seven years and that you know that the brakes and tires and a few other things need to be done, have you considered that all of the fluids will need to be changed. Engine oil to brake fluid. Oil and fuel filters. But before any of this should/can be done youll really want/ought to have a very good look UNDER the car for rot of any kind that may have you towing home a car that will only end up at a wreckers.

If all of this checks out, and after youve got the car home butbefore you attempt to turn the engine overwith the key,you may want toremove the spark plugs (start at one end of the engine and make sure that you mark/tape a number to each wire to indicate cylinder # - sounds silly but just do it and youll be happy that youdid)and giving a spray of WD40, or something similar, down each cylinder and then grab a big wrench and socket and rotate/turn the engine by hand afour or fivetimes so that you can, in a sense, help to lube the cylinders to help cut down on wear as the engine hasnt been run in several years and a little lube neverhurt anyone.

Remember though, it will only be a good deal if you can stay under the $3K estimate and Volvos ARE NOT inexpensive cars to maintain.

There other things that youll need to check before you tow the carhome and youvecome to the right place for assistance. There are others here that will chime in and youll need to wait for at least a few more replies before you call the tow truck.

Im pullin for ya man and I hope that you can get a great deal. Go to the dealership and grab a bunch of photos and then post them here. Try for some shots of the underside of the car.

[sm=icon_cheers.gif]

 

This thread may be of some use:

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

If it were mine, I would expect to spend $2,000-$3,000 for parts alone. The above two gentlemen pretty much covered what I needed to say.


JPN

 

Absolutely perfect information above there other then that I would estimste to spend something around $1000 - 1500 to bring to reasonably decent on-road condition.

How big was the DAMAGE from the accident that grounded it? I would doublecheck that area.

Pictures speak thousand words and therefore I would also recomment you to click n' post some pics here.

 

Thank you very much everyone for your replies and the wealth of expertise in your posts and links.Some truly remarkable talent and knowledge.

Based on your input I will probably say yes conditionally to taking the car. I have not seen the car and will plan to see it in the next couple of weeks. I do want to know more about the accident and what was repaired. Between now and then I'll be rereading these posts and absorbing more about what you have all recommended nothing appears too daunting though. I need to do more homework and add up some of the associated costs for parts and fluids, etc....I willprovide the labor.

Do you recommend the Haynes manual and find that it is the best sourceto work with? Or is there something better not counting this forum, which has a tremendous amount of information?

I'm anxious and very curious to see the car and go over everything. Your suggestions to take photos and post them here on the forum is great and I will do that I'm very curious to see what it looks like from underneath and inside the engine.

Again, thank you. I will be back with more, but the ball is in my court so to speak right now.

Cheers and regards.

 

Yes Haynes is a good one as there is not much alternative. Haynes contains a few erroneous info but not much.

Some factory manual pages (PDF):
http://www.volvoclub.org.uk/volvo_wo...techdocs.shtml

And volvospeed as a supplement (sorry admin):
http://volvospeed.com/maintenance.shtml

The above 3 documents should cover 90% of what you need to know in servicing your 850.

Good luck,


JPN

 

You just found my dream find...my Aunt has a 95 850 with 75k completely dealer maintained that I'm trying to pry from her hands.

$3k in parts seems high, let's see $300 for rotors pads, $10 for coolant and 1 gal distilled water, $4 new t-stat, $30 for timing belt replacement and $100 for the tensioner (for good measure), maybe even $55 for the water pump, not sure on the fuel tank, $10 for plugs, $30 for DexIII ATF, $8 for brake fluid, what else is needed? All that is under $600.

You're in a great position with this car, it's basically brand new with miles but you can maintain it with all the knowledge of a 10 year old car. You already know what to look for and what breaks. If you decide not to do it let me know!!!

 

A couple weeks ago I had left it that I would take a trip and look at this vehicle. As stated previously, the 1996 850T Wagon has been stored by a dealer since 2001. I did see thecar and tookmany photos a linkto thephoto album is here:

http://s383.photobucket.com/albums/o...0850T%20Wagon/ There are about 58 photos posted.

Here is what I found. The car has 31,800 miles...all original (I know the owner)...I thought itwas 36,000 miles. It has not been driven since 2001. It has been stored outside. The amazing thing the CAR STARTED AND RUNS. It sounds mint. The dealer put a new battery in the car and drove it across the street into their shop so I could have a good look at the car. They said they didn't put new oil in it because they had changed the oil before storing it it was very clean.I started the car several times while I was there and it sounds like a sweet, new car. The dealer didn't even put new gas in it there's very little in the tank.They washed the outside. The engine was dusty (go figure!!). I did not drive the car. I discovered a loose bolt dangling without a nut just hanging in a hole. It was the bolt that holds the steering rack onto the cross member. Yikes. They bolted it on while I was there.

The car has been in two accidents I thought one. The last accident involved the left front. You'll see evidence of new parts and cross member in the photos. Previously something happened and the car's roof was damaged. That may have contributed to how poorly the roof paint has held up, but I suspect storing it outside for 7 years in New England (sorry to any Brits) snows, sun, and acid rain. You'll see the oxidation, whitening where clear coat is gone in the photos. Also the drain molding are shot.

The car has been serviced by the same dealer since it was new. The ABS and Trax light are one you'll see in one photo I took with the car running and the dealer claims the car needs a new ABS controller. I didn't ask whether they'd tested it to conclude that or whether the lights may be a result of rust rotors, brakes, ABS sensor/rings, etc.

Although the photos are reduced (let me know if you'd like to see any enlarged and in high-resolution) you'll see a small transmission leak I think that's what it is in a photos that shows the rusted tranmission mount. There is a small bit of orange RTV sealant/gasket pulled out and hanging. What's the other rusty cover in that photo.

Headlight wipers are missing didn't try the motors.

The interior looks like it came out of the showroom.

Obviously the brakes need work.Roof moldings. Tail gate moldings. Tail pipe clamp. ABS control. What about that weepy little transmisson?? leak?

What other things do you see that might need addressing?

I suspect you will all still agree that this is a great deal.Yes?

Thanks again very much.

 

I still say yes.
I would fix the brakes first then go from there.
That rusty cover there is not a biggie. If there is a leak there you can pull it off and reseal it. The Orange sealer hanging is normal sealer from the factory.

You also got real lucky it has Foglights.
If you decide to pull the strut tower brace off and sell it let me know.

Someone had plans for it at one time putting the strut brace on it and the fender lights in.

You can get the ABS module rebuilt for about $100.00 here. http://home.earthlink.net/~vicrocha/...vo_V70_ABS.htm

Good luck with it you got a good one there. I would ****** it in a Heart Beat.