Hello all,

New to the forum and new to the Volvo world. I just purchased a 1993 Volvo 850 GLT. Car looked good, ran, and was cheap. Where could I go wrong? I got it home and found out this was not your typical underhood vehicle. (To many electronics for the old school, do it at home mechanic) My problems: 1st, I knew that the inside fan blower did not work. I have read many post regarding this. Fuses are all good. The lights on the control head do not come on. Does this mean that the control head is bad? If so, I was not going to go into the motor and the resistor. Driver seat motor is working, however, will not recline. Saw Tech's response to this and would like to thank him for posting it. Very detailed!! My main concern is the radiator fan. It does not come on at all. I know that it should come on if the A/C is on, however, that was my first problem. I have found the relay but have not checked it yet. I found this out last night while sitting in a drive in. Car began to smoke from under the hood. It boiled all of the antifreeze out of the overflow resevoir, however, the temp gauge inside was exactly in the middle. Let the car cool, and replaced fluids so I don't think any damage was done. (Hopefully) Since the gauge was in the middle, I figure I have a bad temp sensor or something also. Also, the map lights next to the rear view mirror and the lights in the rear are not working. Fuses are all good and I have replaced the bulbs. Oh well, enough for now. Any and all help would be greatly appreciated!!! Forgot a few details. Vehicle has 145,000 miles on it. Previous owner told me that he replaced the ignition coil, fuel pump,thermostat, andfuel filter. This is a non-turbo engine. Timing belt was replaced at 90,000 so I figure it's time again? Again, thanks for any coments!![]

 

1. Temp. gage not displaying right temp-I'd replace the temp. sensor-I think next to the thermostat.
***IF T-STAT NOT WORKING RIGHT/NOT SENDING THE SIGNAL/ FAN MOTOR MAY NOT GO ON..
it should go On w/ AC ON

2. Fan motor-I saw this trick-not so old geo prizm was overheating when in park, but not when moving, so the mechanic made me wait w/ engine on until the temp. gage was up above normal, fan was not On, so he took long screwdriver and slightly hit the fan motor -it started working.
Somethng to do w/ brashes in fan motor...
3. I think on 1993 T-belt change interval was 50K.

 

Hey now,

Nice that you got yourself a "boxy, but nice"

For your over heating issue, it may be as simple as replacing the overflow cap.

When I first got my '94 850, the Anvil,almost three years ago I found, after several boilings, that the cap, grey in colour, had a small crack and that there was a recall, of sorts, and there is a replacement that is supposedly better designed and is green in colour.

The cap cost me $11(CDN) and after the replacement the problem of over heating seemed to go away.

I, to, am having a problem with my fan not coming on, even with the A/C on and I'm going to be looking for a replacement fan relay as I have put the probe to the fan and it does work.

I have changed the temp sensor and the thermostat in new as I had to change the engine a while back, so I'm certain that it isn't the problem.

I'm going to check out a couple of "you pull it" (always get a kick out of that term ) and see whats available as summer is here and I really don't want/need to replace another engine.

Let us know more and any solution that you might find and I'll post up after I check out the salvage yards tomorrow morning. Working the midnight shift so I gotta get ready.

[sm=icon_cheers.gif]

[IMG]local://upfiles/14053/AE853611F09146349B1DC41D39D4A934.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]local://upfiles/14053/32DFC5D8F1874A5E9535CB52A282DF78.jpg[/IMG]

 

Thank you both for you input. I am off today, therefore, I plan on working on the car at some point. I will post back later to tell you what I found.

 

Hey now,

Checked out a couple of yards in the area this morning, but with no luck. I did see what was left of an '95 t5r, but [sm=insomnia.gif]man was it messed up.

I'll check for some salvage yards online and see what I can come up with as I really want to find The relay.

Mine (relay) seems to click when I put the probe to it and my fan turns, so I know that it works. I have a Hayne's manual and I'll look up the wiring diagram and see if there is anything there that might help us both out.

Let us/me know what you find and if the manual does have a diagram for this I'll attach it as a pic as this might help.

It's 15 degrees Cel. here and the sun is shining brightly , bummer cause I gotta get to bed. Midnight shift [:@] is all I have to say.

Pic's 1 - 3

High K's - Tinted Black - The Anvil


[sm=icon_cheers.gif]

[IMG]local://upfiles/14053/AC1A55C939AE4EFBAA0F9EC7D74E45E5.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]local://upfiles/14053/E462830198024A1A9AEC3556AD9ADB56.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]local://upfiles/14053/8243248DFC3C462487A2E802890593D9.jpg[/IMG]

 

1. No lights on the controller usually means it is bad. But the bulbs could also be bad.
2.I would check the relay. If you grouns one of the small wires in the center plug with a test light the relay should activate and the fan should come on.
3.The lights might be a bad main panel by the mirror.
4.Not 100% positive but I belive the 1993's were 30K timing belt intervals and not 50K.

 

Welcome, In 93 to early 94, 850s were fitted with 17mm wide T-belts.Volvos service disc says 50k is the time line. If you are going to do it your self, get a universal twin cam gear lock tool. While your at it replace the oil pump housing o-ring and seal. These seals and o-rings like to leak onto the motor mount directly below the crank pulley. If you have some extra coin, replace the belt idler wheel. A dry T-belt is a happy T-belt, which can buy you some time if you cannot replace the belt at 50k. I have driven up to 60k on a belt, which still looked great. Just completed #5 T-belt service at 318k. FYI (buy your parts from import only stores like IPD, All European Auto Parts,,, Stay away from the ginsu-auto parts like Auto****, Pep**** the quality and parts origin in my opinion is questionable.)

 

As I believe was said earlier. Check your coolant overflow cap. If it is gray, replace it. Timing belt sounds like it is due. Be sure to replace both belts, all roller pulleys and the tensioner. Might want to do the water pump whiule you are in there. The interior lights are almost assuredly a bad main panel by the mirror. Blower fan motor might be bad, or the connection might simply have come loose.

I would suggest a good tune up as well, just to round things out.

Good luck.

 

Hello again,
It has been some time since I first posted. OK, I replaced the control unit. Now, when I turn the key on, the REC and A/C lights blink for some time and then go off. The blower is still not working in any position. I know that the other unit was bad because the board was burnt and a capaciter fell out when I took it apart. I pulled the codes and it only shows a 4-1-8 code. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I have not been driving the car because it is now to cold here TN not to have heat.

 

418 code is for the resistor for the blower motor.

 

Thanks Tech! I am going to pull the resistor and the blower motor and check them both. Also, I did not hear the A/C compressor kick on when the button was pushed. Would the resistor control that as well? Thanks again.

 

Sometimes it will and other times it won't. But yes I have seen the resistor take out the A/C and blower motor.