Hi All. After reading through a few posts on this site, I went to look for the date stamp on my spark plug wires. They are volvo parts, and the only stamp I can see is in bright yellow "95-36". Is this the date? The car is a '96 850 turbo, 185,000kms (115,000 miles). ALL the maintenance seems to be pretty up to date so I'd be surprised if the wires have never been replaced. But you never know.
Thanks in advance!

 

Huh?? Uh, your welcome for the advice...I guess.

 

Thanks for the reply....i think?? My question is that according to the posts I've read, the date stamp is supposed to be "year/month". But "95-36" doesn't quite fit that configuration. Do you think this is the date code (meaning 1995), or should there be another stamp on the wire?

 

Year / Week. So, those wires have NEVER been replaced.

They were manufactured the week of Sept. 3rd - 9th, 1995.

 

Thank you. I am now off to buy new wires. Cap, rotor and plugs too while I'm at it......

 

The thing about maintenance is, a lot of things that need to be replaced over time is not on the list for replacement. Wires being one of them.
https://www.customers.volvocars.com/...8_1.html#pg8.4

A good example of that is the idler and tensioner rollers. They advise the mechanic to inspect them, but I replace them ever other belt change.

I guess there is a chance that plug wires could last 15 to 20 years. Espcially if the car is kept out of extream weather and maybe the motor is rarely stressed with high rpms. But my guess is that those wires are weak and the computer is doing all it can to keep the car running smooth.

People have a bad habbit of driving cars till they have part failures. Run those wires until you are missing. Drive on those old shocks until the ride is so harsh you can't stand it any longer. Run the tires until the tread is gone, regardless of the dry rott and how slippery they are, yada yada yada.

I can also assume that the cap and rotor is orignal as well.

 

I know what you mean. I just bought the car and I'm trying to get on top of where everything is at. It has a full service history, but I only have the stamps in the book that it was serviced, not what was done in detail. I know for sure it need some rear suspension work. It likes to give a little tail wag when going over bumps in a turn. I'm hoping to have that looked at in the new year. In the meantime I pickup a set of sachs rear shocks and front struts on ebay for $219 (the set from FCP....currently selling for $388). If I don't need them now, I'm sure I will soon.

 

It sounds like you have looked through the New Owner Info in the 850 section. That's the smartest thing to do. I wish everyone would look through that. It's sad to read when someone blows a timing belt or oil seals.