Hey guys, I recently bought a 95 850 turbo for only 1500 bucks! This is the first Volvo I've ever owned. I was never really into cars until I met this badboy. I've been researching the car for the past few days and it seems everytime I do a search it brought me to this site so I decided to make a username. Anyway, the car is in great shape inside and out, clean engine compartment, carpets still clean. I'm led to believe it was female owned, because the leather on the driver seat wasn't that worn, yet the passenger seat's was. This tells me that a big guy was probably riding shotgun most of the time. The odometer stopped at 141499 so there is no way of knowing how many miles are on it. There was a tune up receipt with the manual that said the car had 65000 on it in 2001. Also, I know from the titles being transfered to me that it sat since January of 08. All this leads me to believe the car was never abused and average miles were put on it every year. All in all, the car drives like a champ and I love it. I have a few questions, though. I'm sure it needs a tune up. Money is tight right now so I want to make sure I spend it as wisely as possible. I have no qualms about putting good parts at whatever cost, but I just want to have some priorities in line. Down the road I would like to put on an exhaust and mod the computer to really let the car live up to its potential, but for now I just want to get it back to factory quality. So what should I do and with what parts?

 

If it needs a tune up I would do the timing belt first off the line, and then new plugs, plug wires, cap/rotor. FCP Groton is a great site for this stuff, there's some other sites too, there's a big list in the "sticky" Volvoforums Resources Thread. I'm not sure about 95, but the 94 models have a DTC box under the hood by the computers can tell you the exact miles on the car. There is a write up in one of the sticky threads as well on how to do that. I think it works in 95 models. Good luck.

 

Yes most of the 95' turbos came with the DTC box under the hood and I am pretty sure that you will be able to read the actual mileage. and set the meter to correct mileage when you repair the commonly failing gear. besides what is mentioned above, i would also suggest PCV job as a priority as well before it takes toll on your ream main seal.

Good Luck

 

Thanks for the info guys. I just read the dtc box(why don't all cars have this awesome feature?!) and the mileage came to 160,716. That is, I'm assuming when it's a zero it blinks 10 times. Am I right?

 

Because the DTC box is part of the OBD I era and in 1996 all cars went to OBD II. Volvo was ahead of the curve and put both OBDI/OBDII in their 94 and 95 cars.

And I'm not sure, it should say in the directions about the zero, but that sounds correct.

 

Definitely do the timing belt unless you have paperwork that shows that it was changed recently. Don't want to mod the engine just to have the TB break and trash the head. By the way, post some pics when you can.

 

Yea I'll def get some pics up soon, and what should a new timing belt run with labor so I don't get hosed?

 

Pics, Pics, P I C S.......... W E L C O M E !

 

Check this link out.... The Volvo belt is like $26 bucks and maybe pay 2 or 3 hours of labor depending on the shop......or DIY. http://www.fcpgroton.com/category-ex...136/by_year/45

 

Should I change the water pump at the same time? Or can that wait till after my tune up.

 

Personally, when I do my t-belt, since you are already in there I do the water pump and also the tensioner... At a MINIMUM do the belt AND tensioner! Check this thread out from a few days ago..https://volvoforums.com/forum/volvo-s60-v60-10/105k-service-question-33326/

 

Found the USB cable to my camera!!! Now I just gotta wait til the girlfriend goes out for the evening to have a proper photo shoot. It's gonna be so hot. Pics up tonight!!!

 

I agree. Do the timing belt, water pump (make sure the bolts are replaced or recoated w/ thread sealant), idler pulley and tensioner. Do it all and you won't worry.

When you get a quote, look at both parts and labor costs. A decent shop should be able to do it in 2 hours. It's not a big job when you have the camshaft sprocket locking tool.

 

I have owned eight Volvo's since 1985 and never changed a water pump. When I do my 210K on the white one I will probably do it then, and that will be the first one ever. The water pump rarely goes bad on the 850. Do the belt, idler pulley and tensioner though. At 210K I will do the water pump, but probably not the tesnioner and Idler Pulley since they were done at 140K.

 

So here's my car.








Pretty sweet ride, I'd say!!!!!

 

Wow, that's the first 850 I have seen with PERFECT leather on the drivers seat! Sweetness...... Get some dye for the bumper trim and you're golden!

 

LOL its almost perfect. There's a little tear right in the middle that I think can be repaired.

 

WOW, so nice
My 850 looked clean like that 8 years ago when I bought it. NOT any more
Is that coolant level over max?

 

Yea I noticed that too. What should I do?