Hi all,

I'm looking to change my thermostat because the car doesn't even heat up to its normal temparature until I reach home from a 20 minute drive on the highway. If I stop driving on the way, it'll reach the correct temp but not while the car is on highway speeds.

Am I right to think that it could be an issue with my thermostat? Or is this normal with other drivers with the same car?

I am thinking of replacing it myself to see if it gets better.
Any ideas on where to get the proper thermostat(87 C or 90 C) and around how much. I called volvo and theirs is 29 bucks and it's 90 C. I know I can find cheaper ones online though.

So is my thermostat the issue? And where can I find the proper one/ right price?



Hope to hear from you guys.

 

I have a 99 S70GLT, I just replaced the thermostat last week. It was running cool on the highway and slow to warm up, now it warms up fast and runs at the right temp.

My car takes an 87 degree thermostat, yours may be different. I paid about $13 for a Wahler, which is OEM at eEuroparts.com. If you need more items, you can get free shipping with a $49 order. Fcpgroton also sells them for about the same price, but you usually need to order more for free shipping.

If a new thermostat doesn't fix the problem, you may want to replace the coolant temp sensor, which plugs in just below the thermostat, and costs about $50 for OEM online.

It's an easy job, if you get the torx screws loose without stripping them. Takes a T40 socket. You need to remove the top timing belt cover for access, takes a T30 socket. And you need to drain the radiator. If you loosen the drain you need a deep 13mm socket. You can also loosen the lower radiator hose. Be careful not to overtighten the drain if you do it that way. If the coolant is old, you may want to replace it at the same time.

I also removed the plastic shield under the radiator for easier access. Takes a 10mm socket and some tugging.

Writeups are here:

http://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/200...0-c70-or-xc70/

http://volvospeed.com/Repair/thermect.php

 

I just went to autozone, they had a few to choose from and i think i paid like $12 for the "fail safe" i think they called it. If it goes out it stays in the open position and not closed.. Working great with no issues.

 

Well... hope it goes well. I refer to those 'stats as the fail- sure, though. They tend to lock themselves open for no apparent reason quite often- do a quick google on them to see. I usually use Wahler or Vernet- FCPgroton or my local international parts supplier is where I go, and they're not much more expensive than the AZ ones. T- stats don't usually stick shut- it's usually in the open position anyway.

 

thanks a lot guys for the info and the details.

i've removed the timing belt cover before that's no issue.
do I really have to take out some of the coolant i heard of some guy doing it without emptying any coolant.

also I live in Toronto so I dont think the shipping for me would be free, even if i ordered over 50 dollars worth of parts they'd still charge me cuz I'm in canada, i'm pretty sure of that.

today i tried opening one of the torx40 screws on the thermostat housing and they are damn tight. wouldn't even move. gotta head down to the hardware store and buy a proper heavy-duty conversion for my ratchet.

 

I replaced my thermostat last week. Now, it heats up quicker and stays there. Before that it was just like what you describe. I got mine from eeuroparts 87 degree wahler together with OEM ECT sensor. I think if you pinch the expansion hose you won't loose coolant too much. I sprayed PBblater on the t40 bolts and it was easy.

 

So i ran out of patience and got the part from a store named NAPA here in toronto. Then I went to volvo and compared the parts and I realized that the NAPA one was flimsy compared to the actual volvo thermostat(90 celsius) so for 10 bucks more ( at 29 dollars) i just got the volvo one and returned the NAPA one.

I let the car cool down for a bit and did the job using WD40 on the bolts and a torx bit with a proper ratchet and extension. Lost a little coolant but topped it back up. Everything took about 15 minutes and the problem seems to be solved now. Car heats up faster and stays there nicely. I think it even affects the drive a little doesn't it. from what I feel at least.

BTW Where exactly is the sensor? Is it the clip right in front of the thermostat housing with two wires connecting below where the thermostat sits?

And what is the ECT ?

thanks guys/girls

 

ECT sensor = engine coolant temperature sensor. The sensor is just below and in front of the thermostat.

 

oh ok. simple replacement as well?

 

Should be easy. I have not replaced mine. Check out the 2nd posting in this thread, the 2nd link has the ect replacement in it. The sensor costs $50 online for oem, I don't know the dealer price.

 

If you ar going to change out the ECT sensor, be careful not to drop the washer when you screw out the sensor. I lost mine and went to part store. Fortunately, I got something reasonably close, but the job would have taken only 5 min otherwise.

 

The washer must have turned the 5 minute repair into a one hour job, thanks for the heads up.

However, for now it seems like the thermostat did the job and the car heats up much faster once i get driving. And the fact that the coolant was on almost minimum didn't help either i guess, i topped that up too as mentioned before(which by the way is green and not blue like I heard Volvo coolant is supposed to be)


Today I experienced another odd little issue which doesn't really fit into this thread, has to do with my trip computer saying "disc" every once in a while. Just doesn't seem to read certain things right anyways, but I should start a new thread on that one.

 

No need to start a new thread. Your "INFO" switch is wearing out. There's a sticky in this forum that tells you how to fix it.

 

The issue with the trip computer is that it says for example my average speed/km per hour is 57 km and i know for a fact that that cannot be right.
Also sometimes i'll have it on the setting where it reads the current fuel usage in litres per 100 km, and in first and second gear it reads crazy amounts anywhere from 25- 30 litres and then moves down to around 10-15 or so.
Is that accurate? Or does mine sound like it's not reading things right?