1996 850 GLT
Auto Trans
165,000 miles

I posted recently about a thumping from the front of my car. Tech suggested I check my motor mounts. Sure enough the upper mount was completely shot. I just changed out the mount a couple days ago, hoping it would fix the problem. Well it certainly was something that needed to be fixed, but I think the engine is misfiring and that was making the engine flop around when it would miss. I've been reading here a lot and have come to the conclusion that I should probably give her a tune up. I was considering making a run to Autozone and having them scan it. I don't know how long its been since everything has been changed. I've only had it for about a year and the guy I bought it from said he changed out the timing belt right before I bought it. Other than that he didn't say much.

I checked out the wires and the look ok except the yellow stamped # on them says 95-37. I assume this means the wires are probably the originals? If so then I would say regardless of what Autozone would come up with, they should have been changed a long damn time ago. It doesn't miss all the time. It seems to run fine when first started; after being driven for a while is when it starts. I only notice the problem while sitting and idling. I was considering that this could also be a problem with the fuel filter?

I'm sure there are a lot of different possibilities what this problem could be. Do you think I should go ahead and go to Autozone and scan it, or go ahead & order the tune up kit & fuel filter from FCP Groton? Also I had to have the rear main seal replaced in December and the shop didn't enter my radio code. I got directions and the code from them and it still doesn't work. The code they gave me should be correct as I found the same code in a couple of old maintenance documents. Any suggestiond there would be great as well. Thanks in advance for the help!!

 

I would order and do the tune up.

As for the radio code I would stop by the local Dealer and bring the radio inside with you as well as your regristration for the car and they should be able to give you the code from the radio. Someone might have changed the radio out before and not wrote the new code down.

 

Thanks Tech!! I'm going to try the radio code again today and if that doesn't work, then off to the dealership. This will be my 1st tune up on this car. Hopefully all goes well. I can't afford to have a mechanic do it. The cost of replacing the rear main beat me up pretty badly. Seal + Flame Trap + Drive Axel = $1200.

 

I know the feeling.
If you need help we will be here.
Thats why I like coming here and helping. This way people can stay from shops if they need to.

 

The regular members here would help you likeno one else would, and they have great expertise.

See my 2nd reply at the following post for tune-up items:

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

Good luck,


JPN

 

Thanks JPN!!! Great list. The plugs, wires, cap, rotor, air filter, and fuel filter are on the way. I think that will give me a good start. I just changed the oil & installed a new upper motor mount a few days ago. I'll have to search around and find all the proper info on servicing the PCV, throttle body, etc.

I did finally find the radio code. The car must be on its 2nd radio because the code the dealership gave me did not work. I was digging around through all the old paperwork and found a business card w/ 4 random digits written on the back. I figured what the hell? Thank god it was it. 6 months with no radio is brutal.

I'm so glad I found this forum. Everyone seems eager to help and very knowledgeable. If I had more tools and a hoist available that car would never see a shop again!! Thanks for the help everyone and I'll keep ya posted. Hopefully she'll run like new in the next couple of weeks.

 

We shall be waiting for the update!


JPN

 

Update: The parts arrived and I got workingon her Wednesday night. I took out the battery, air box, swapped out the old plugs and wires and took off the cap. The screws heads of the screws holding on the rotor were stripped, so i spent a while trying to get them off and had no luck[:@]. I ran out of daylight, so I had to put it all back together and leave the old rotor on there in order to make it to work yesterday.

When I got off work yesterday I tore it all back apart and got the screws out with vice grips. I got everything put back together and she fired right up and ran nicely. I tried to start the car again right after I shut her down and just got a click. I tinkered with the battery cables and got it running again and took it for a 20-30 minute drive. Lucky me as soon as I get the car running the damn passenger side headlight goes out.

I guess the next project will be installing the new fuel filter, head light, tranny flush, and cleaning the throttle body. I was going to do the new fuel filter before I came to work today, but I was worried I would have troubles getting the car running.

 

Glad it is running better now.

 

Be sure to relieve the system pressure when you do the fuel filter. I usually idle the engine and pull out the fuel pump fuse while the engine is at idle, then with the fuse out, crank the engine for about 10 seconds. However, ask Tech to see if he knows better way of doing it.

Did you replace the battery? I hope you did, and I hope you bought a decent battery. Cheapo franchise batteries can fail prematurely (I once had one that failed after 3 months or so, and the electrolyte was below the tops of the plates). I always use the Interstate Battery.

Also remember that once the battery is disconnected, the engine needs to re-learn idle. I usually let the engine idle for about 10 minutes with ALL electrical devices turned off. I even disengage the parking brake just to turn off the brake lamp on the dash and keep my foot off the brake pedal. I am not certain if this is the correct procedure, but so far it has never failed me.


JPN

 

Update: I changed out the fuel filter on Saturday. I did not know about needing to relieve the pressure from the fuel system, but the car had been sitting overnight and it only leaked a little bit of gas. Its amazing how a simple 5 minute procedure like this can turn into a 2 hour job when you mix 3 guys and a case of beer with it. Anyway the car spit and sputtered the first time I started it. The 2nd time she fired right up and ran like a champ. I drove the car about 300 miles over the weekend and never felt it miss at all.

I did not purchase a new battery. I think i just had a bad connection and it hasn't given me any fits since I tinkered with the cables. When I do buy a new battery for my cars I always buy high quality unless I am getting rid of it very soon. Thanks so much for the help. I'm sure I'll be working on something else in the near future and will pop back in with questions and updates.

 

>The 2nd time she fired right up and ran like a champ. I drove the car about 300 miles over the weekend and never felt it miss at all.

Yay!!!


JPN