Hello All.

I recently purchased a 96 850 turbo wagon with 91,000 miles on it. I really love the car, but have NO knowledge of cars...now I am having some problems. I have an appointment to bring it to a Volvo specialist this afternoon, but was hoping to get some insight into what it could be before I go (as I am a 30 something woman and always worry about getting totally ripped off).

so, The car occationally smells like it would if you drove with the hand brake on for a while. But, the hand brake isn't on. We had brakes redone and the smell still happens occationally.

also, the a/c runs cool, but not cold...

and worst of all

the coolant light came on last week, so I added some coolant. My sweet husband went out to check it the other day and there was a small spot under the car, and the level was low again...so, I assume we have a leak of some sort.

could these things be related? Am I looking at thousands of dollars I don't have? What would you guess is worng? I know it's hard to tell just reading this, but thought it was worth a try.

seems from reading here that it could be a radiator, waterpump, or head gasket? eek, that sounds expensive...

thanks for helping a new (but excited) volvo lover....

 

Sounds like you have a coolant leak somewhere that is dripping onto the exhaust manifold,which is causing the smell. This will have nothing to do with the A/C running cool, but not cold though. These cars are known to have problems with the evaporator, and the replacement will run you between $1300 and $1500. If it really is a brake smell, you could have a stuck caliper.

 

OK, so no air conditioning then eh? bummer....

I wonder what the worst case senario is with a coolant system leak? Am I looking at thousands there too?

 

First try to visually identify the source of the leak (hoses, thermostat housing, coolant reservoir, radiator). If you don't have any luckadd some dye to the coolant, use the car for a while and then see where the leak comes from.

Once you find the source of the leak post the results in this thread.

Oh, don't forget to keep pre-mixed coolant in the trunk just in case you want to top off.

Good luck and prepare your wallet

 

It could be something simple like a hose needing to be replaced which shouldnt cost much. It would help to know the exact location of the leak on the ground under the engine. If the smell is kind of a sweet, candy like smell, then you are smelling coolant like Jim mentioned. It could also be something minor like a plastic bag getting caught up onto the exhaust pipe and baking on there [8D].

If it was the head gasket, Im pretty sure from experience that would have lots of white smoke coming out the tailpipe while driving.

Let us know what you find out from the dealer. Hopefully its something small. And i don't blame you for fear of getting ripped off.Its very hard to find a honest mechanic these days.

 

For the a/c evaperator, if your husband/you are handy w/ tools, and have a free after noon, an evaporator is only 100 bucks.

Only problem is that it's an absolute pain in the *** to replace.

 

For the a/c evaperator, if your husband/you are handy w/ tools, and have a free after noon, an evaporator is only 100 bucks.

Only problem is that it's an absolute pain in the *** to replace.

 

turns out there was a LONG list of things that needed to be fixed, most of which are really little...and inexpensive BUT...

the coolant tank and a few hoses are leaking...$150
There is an oil leak (thus the burning smell)...$150
and the A/C needs to be recharged (the guy said it is NOT the evaporator)...$250

and the other little stuff adds up too...a total of $718.

The GREAT news is that I feel like I can really trust this guy, and I think he's good...but do those numbers seem outrageous?

Also good news is that we got the car for a decent price, so adding these costs still it is a good deal

 

^You can get an a/c recharge kit for 30 bucks...

So judging by that, seems like your estimate is pretty inflated..

 

I think all the pricess look farily reasonable especially if this is a guy who really knows Vovlos. I can see the $250 for an A/C recharge too, but why does it need recharged? To properly recharge the A/C it should be totally emptied and then refilled. The recharge kits you buy for $30 just add refrigerant (R134A)to the system. Which can be fine once or twice, but you can't just keep doing that. You will do more harm than good. If he is charging $250 to recharge the system and find the leak that's money well spent most likely. As I said before the A/C should not need recharged EVER. There is a leak somewhere and 90+% of the time, it's the evaporator on these cars. If the guy says it's definitely not the evaporator that's good news, but there is still a leak or something somewhere.

 

hum...I'll question him further about the evaporator then and see what he says. I would hate to have to pay $250 for him to do it and have that NOT be what's really wrong with it.

He does really seem to know Volvos, as he has owned this shop (where they ONLY do volvos) for the last 30 years. So, I don't mind paying a little more if it's a good place.

Also - we had the transmision flushed (by a different garage before I found this one) about 3 weeks ago and now this new guy is saying that it needs to be done again. He says the fluid is black and muddy...which is exactly what the other guy said. Is it really possible that I need to do this again after less than 200 miles?

I really do appreciate all your help

 

If the other guy did an honest to goodness flush, there is no way it would need it again. But if the other guy just did a drain and refill he only replacedabout a third of what the system holds. That's not a flush. If the Volvo guy says it needs, I would have it done. He will also know the correct type of fluid to use. Dexron III.

 

I wouldn't have it flushed. I'd do it myself. Using the reflush kit even a blind dog can do it, and you will save $$$$.

 

Hm.........Recharged and completely empty the system.....That's where you're going...

All my Mechanic did was he used a giant machine and it re-pressurized the system and I was blowing cold air for about a week since my evap is totally gone.

 

do you think I have any leg to stand on to call the guys who did the "flush" a few weeks ago to ask them to do it again for free? I mean, they charged me a bunch of money to FLUSH it and if they didn't do that, then I shouldn't have to pay someone else to do it right, should I? Maybe I should, I don't know...what do you think?

 

You can't prove they didn't do a flush. Unless you can get the Volvo guy to testify that they didn't. You could literally get this down to a small claims court, but probably not worth it. No harm in calling them and telling them that a Volvo mechanic said the Transmission needs flushed and I just paid you toflush it and see how they respond. I would be interested hearing what they have to say.

 

If you have a receipt, and if it's already bad after 200 miles, call them up. Can't hurt.

 

On my first 850, we put about 200,000 miles (estimated, since the odo died around 150k). For the last 5 or 6 years we owned it, I would pay a friend about $40 at the start of each summer to refill the A/C system, and it would last until the next year.

I now have my own tool (see the "$30 recharge kit" mentioned previously) and a can is only about $9. You can add ALOT of refrigerant for what an evaporator would cost.

If it needs to be recharged every two months or so, though, then I'd probably do the Evap change - but NOT if only needs to be recharged once a year. Simple economics, IMHO.