I picked a 96 850 T-5 the other day with a locked up motor. There is oil sprayed inside the engine bay but I cannot tell from where just yet and the oil is full. I tried to get it to turn over a few times and no joy. I pulled the plugs and blipped the the starter a couple of times and the motor turned. I put the plugs in and it will turn but will not fire (I am pretty sure the motor is toast I was just curious). It does not sound like there is any compression.

The po states that the timing belt and the water pump was replaced within the last 2 years. The story is the car was running fine they sat the car for a couple of months while the son was at school. They were going planning on taking it out for a drive and the engine was "ticking". They figured it was a sticky lifter and took it out on the Interstate they motor shut down and has been unable to start since.

So where should I start on my hunt?

 

You tried to get it to turn over and it wouldn't. You pulled the plugs and it did. You reinstalled the plugs and it turns over but doesn't sound like any compression ??

That doesn't make any sense to me why it wouldn't turn over in the first place unless you pushed out some coolant or added a jumper to it.
Are you forgetting something between it wouldn't turn over and pulling the plugs and it will ??

You should try using a compression tester to get an idea of where the cylinders are at.

 

I Would pull the plugs, disconnect the ignition & fuel system, crank the motor to clear out the pistons, do a compression test, and go from there. There is a good chance that the car has a blown head gasket and the PO didn't want tell you.

 

I purchased the car knowing the engine may be shot. Got my answer what was up when I removed the intake manifold.

 

You sure did find the answer. Glad you were not disappointed, the engine is shot.

 

I guess it threw a rod...

 

Robert, quit jumping to conclusions. There is always a chance the PCV was blocked and the PO just added a "port" to allow excess blowby to vent out of the engine ......

Still, buying it thinking the engine is shot is a bit different from it being ventilated from the inside out by internal parts trying to be free. Hopefully you weren't thinking of rebuilding it as that isn't going to happen now. If you were going to replace it anyway then you can relax and just have a beer and start your search.
Seems a little fishy it "shut down" on the freeway when it looks like it grenaded and there would have been noise, a loud noise and some oil.

The PCV looks fairly new, too bad it looks like the piece that got free cracked the housing.

Maybe the reason it cranked when you pulled the plugs is the connecting rod that had the engine jammed shifted the last time you tried starting it before pulling the plugs and it was just chance that it spun once the plugs were out.

No matter, let the build thread begin

 

Out of curiosity what you pay for it? Looks in good shape

 

LOL

Hmmm, I have never seen a roof rack like that before. Maybe it's custom.

You can get these cars with bad motors real cheap. I've seen a nice white wagon for either $700 or $800. I got the black one that I rebuilt for $280, '96 R.

 

Wow, that must have been one hell of a tick!!



Well the rest of the car looks nice...

 

[QUOTE=gdog;369197]Wow, that must have been one hell of a tick!!

No kidding!!!

 

One hell of a tick indeed!! Anyway trying to locate a motor now without paying out the nose. You would figure with the amount of 850s on the road it would be an easy task but so far nothing.

 

Took me a month to find the one I purchased. From Little Rock to Memphis to Dallas. Found a '94 motor with 194,000 on the dash. The motor was strong as an ox ($175 at Pull A Part).

 

Try these three websites....Car-Part.com--Used Auto Parts Market Used Auto Parts | Used Car Parts | Auto Salvage Pick-n-Pull » Home

 

Robert, were you able to hear the motor you got at Pull A Part before you purchased it or how does that work?

Psaboic : Thanks, I love your list of cars by the way. I had an 83 300D, I sold it a couple of years ago when the tranny started to go out in first. The guy I sold it to is still driving it.

 

Just got a call A friend may have found a motor local.

 

WOW, I love the picture of the 300D. That is one really nice color/car!

 

Update: Found 94 855 t5 at Pull A Part Norcross Ga. Checked mileage.



The engine was complete, I searched the car and found the service book. Purchased 10/94 with 14 miles, Last Volvo Service 8/2010 at 37.5K Checked over the car I did not find one aftermarket part even has a Volvo oil filter. Checked with the yard guys says the car was donated in July they purchased it and used it as a "yard car" until October. I figured it was worth taking a chance on it. $236.80 later car is home complete, I would have had the transmission too but it got damaged during removal (they are not delicate about it). I did a compression test by hand (yes i know not accurate) but i got 90 psi across all five cylinders so off to a good start.

 

lucky nice score on a low mileage engine

 

Everything I run across is a used up rusty mess.

Good score !!