I have a chance to buy this car, but I really don't know what I should be paying for it. It apparently runs poorly and the current owner thinks it might be a headgasket. It has ~200k miles on it. My experience is all in VWs so I just don't know much about these cars. Any advice or things to look out for would be great!

 

personally, i would try to buy it simply on the rarity factor. the exterior looks pretty good from what i can tell, minus the front bumper. whats the interior like? 200k miles is not a lot for these engines if well maintained. why does the owner think head gasket? i think if you have worked on a lot of VWs you won't have much trouble working on one of these

 

If it was a head gasket I'd be worried by the amount the tires look to be sunk into the ground how long it's been sitting with coolant leaking into the engine.

I'd pull the engine oil and transmission oil dipsticks and see if they look cloudy from being mixed with antifreeze. Same for checking the antifreeze expansion tank.

Best info here:
https://volvoforums.com/forum/volvo-...-thread-13678/

 

The better question for us is, "is ??? to much to pay for this car?"

Could be a burnt valve, etc. As the Prince said, the motor can be locked up. Have you started it?

 

Take it from someone who is dealing with a similar issue.....Headgaskets are fuuuuuuun!

 

Just buy it, or tell me where it is and Ill but it...

Even if the HG is bad and the motor is fubared It takes a couple hours to drop a motor in...

 

My first love was V-dubs, but I got tired of chasing electrical problems constantly, and dealing with bad transmissions. I enjoy my Volvo's way more.

I don't find head gaskets to be a big deal, but that may be because I've done a bunch of them. As was pointed out, dropping a motor in is easy. It's almost easier than pulling the motor apart, and can even be cheaper too, depending on what you pay for a motor. A head gasket set, new head bolts, resurfacing and pressure testing the head... all that stuff adds up quickly.

My biggest concern with a blown head gasket it the time it's been sitting. I bought an 850 once with a blown head gasket, and when I pulled it apart I found that the cylinder walls were badly rusted from the water inside. It was beyond simply honing the cylinders. The only way to save it was to bore it out for oversize pistons, and for a Volvo that's about $1100 for 5 pistons. I found a motor at my local wrecking yard for $200.

Pull the plugs, crank it, and see if it shoots water out. If it does, and it's been sitting more than a couple weeks, you'll probably need a motor. Not a deal killer though, depending on the price.


If it's in the northwest, I'd be interested too

 

+1. Either way you should get it.

 

im about to get another yellow sedan form texas. Just have to work out shipping. I would love a third.

 

you guys are so lucky lol ive never even seen one in person

 

[QUOTE=MattyXXL;366793]im about to get another yellow sedan form texas. Just have to work out shipping. I would love a third.[/;QUOTE]

Now you just getting greedy. Lol

What's going on with it?

 

Slow down and share, Mat! If the OP doesn't move on it, I'd love another one, too! Where is it?