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Volvo 850 Wagons

505 messages,  Last post on Jul 03, 2012 at 8:37 AM

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What is this discussion about? Volvo 850, Wagon

Messages Page 41 of 52

#392 of 505 Re: Looking at 850 Wagons [volvomax] by donebeingcool

Feb 08, 2006 (2:00 pm)

Replying to: volvomax (Feb 08, 2006 9:36 am)
Thanks for the response! If you had to choose between a newer american car (eg 2000-2001 Saturn, Ford Focus or similar with 50-80 K miles) vs a 1994/95 Volvo 850 Wagon with 120-140 K miles, what is a better buy in terms of reliability and maintenance costs?
 
I also read that non-turbo Wagons are pretty sluggish. Will I have problems with these if I have to pass a truck on the highway? Or drive up the mountain with the car full of camping gear? How much worse is performance if you only use regular gas? I am also looking for fuel economy and maybe I should think of a smaller car, it does seem Volvos aren't too gentle on fuel use and definitely out of the question for my budget if I have to put in premium. Any feedback is appreciated.

#393 of 505 My 2 cents on the 850 by 3boys1dog

Feb 19, 2006 (1:16 pm)

Hi - I bought an 850 GLT wagon '95 with 106k on it about 6 months ago. I sold my Grand Caravan minivan with 116k on it. My friends thought I was crazy to give up the van for a smaller car (we also have a Suburban so I didn't need two large automobiles) I just love the 850 - I love driving it, love parking it and we have had no (fingers crossed) problems with it at all. I fill it up with premium but my husband fills it up with regular - I cant really notice a difference. Recent cold spell and it starts like a charm. I have the non-turbo and yes, it is NOT very perky - my van with a 3.6L engine had a lot more pep. You may consider a turbo if you are in need of extra power. We plan to give this volvo to our oldest son in a few years so we'll be happy he'll have a non "drag racing" car, and, just how cool CAN you be in a station wagon? LOL We paid cash - Just under 5k and think we got a great little car - good luck!!!

#394 of 505 Re: My 2 cents on the 850 [3boys1dog] by donebeingcool

Feb 20, 2006 (11:15 am)

Replying to: 3boys1dog (Feb 19, 2006 1:16 pm)
Many thanks for the feedback. I ended up buying a 1999 Toyota Corolla with 85 K miles for $5700. I checked out a few Volvos in the local area and _all_ of them had check engine lights or ABS warning lights on. My girlfriend also mentioned that a friend of hers always bitches about her Volvo having the check engine light on for something as stupid as not turning the gas cap all the way tight to 3 clicks and whatnot. One Volvo I looked at needed to have the headgasket replaced at 110 K miles. That is really too soon for that kind of repair! My old clunker (1991 Pontiac Grand Am) has 172 K miles and still the original engine.
 
From what I've read in other forums and JD Powers reviews (it does seem Volvos have their cult-like fans just like Mac computers or VW bugs so the postings here are a bit biased - no offense!), the 850 Volvos can have serious electrical problems that are expensive and time consuming to trouble shoot (e.g $1000 to fix an ABS control unit!). I guess all those electronic sensors are a mixed blessing. However I did not want a car that would nickle-and-dime me to death with $300 bills each time one of those lights goes on (I am not a do-it-yourself kind of guy) so I went for the Toyota which has consistently higher ratings. Maybe one day I'll be able to afford a new Volvo and then the warranty will take care of any check engine light problems.

#395 of 505 '95 850 turbo wagon - transmission problem or ??? by gingco

Mar 02, 2006 (2:41 pm)

Love my wagon. Bought it from original owner at 83,000 miles. All service records from volvo dealer; meticulous attention to service schedule etc. Now, at about 85,000 mi, automatic trans will not shift out of 1st gear if car hasn't been driven for a couple or three days. It takes several miles of stopping, restarting, driving (very slowly to keep RPMs under control -- most inconvenient!)and so on before shift occurs normally. At times "Winter" light comes on and stays on; at times "Check Engine" light comes on and stays on. Mechanic has replaced "Switch" ($389). Car starts right up all the time, no problem, and after going through the above described hissy fit drives normally and beautifully. Also, if driven every day this doesn't happen at all. Think it shouldn't be necessary to replace transmission at 85,000 miles, especially after sterling service record (which I have also continued to maintain). Help, please and thank you.

#396 of 505 850 s/w by billsky1

Mar 04, 2006 (9:28 am)

I looking to buy an 1997 850 s/w, how relieble are these cars,this one has 87000/nonturbo? dont want an

#397 of 505 scary noise: 1996 850 wagon, 100K miles by njvolvo

Mar 04, 2006 (6:56 pm)

My neighborhood mechanic is stumped, and I am afraid of the cost of taking it to a dealer. The noise is a strange, mechanical sounding one, that could be described as a clicking that starts up arouind 15 mph then progresses to a spinning, and finally whirring sound when car goes over 40 or 50 mph. Engine and road noise drown it out then, but it is audible again when car slows down. The maddening thing is that IT WILL NOT HAPPEN when I take the car to the mechanic. This has been going on for months. It happens randomly, tho I have sometimes noticed that it starts immediately after I hit a bad patch of road which, because I live in northern NJ, happens frequently. the mechanic has checked the wheel bearings and they are ok. Any ideas?

#398 of 505 97 - 850 high mount brake light by calviny

Mar 11, 2006 (4:16 pm)

I have the bulb changed & tested the continuity on both terminal (it's ok)...but, still..I can not get 12volts on it....
(everything on fuse box is good as well)
 
Please advise if any brake switch I have to check in engine compartment..or any best bet to keep trying before I take it to dealer...
 
thansk any kind of help..

#399 of 505 White smoke from exhaust by tansycas

Mar 16, 2006 (1:42 pm)

1993 volvo 940 turbo wagon. 165000 miles.
 
White smoke from exhaust. So much smoke I could not see cars behind me in day light. Then car died and had to be towed home.
 
What do you think the problem is? And should it be repaired?

#400 of 505 Re: White smoke from exhaust [tansycas] by frederick1

Mar 25, 2006 (12:54 am)

Replying to: tansycas (Mar 16, 2006 1:42 pm)
whoops........sounds like you might have a blown head gasket. Not a nice thing to see. If that is in fact what happened you are gonna see that smoke again and again. If water seeped into the oil you will usually find white condensation spots on the bottom of your oil filler cap or on the dip stick when the engine cools.
 
I hope I am wrong because if I am not this is gonna be a heft repair bill. If the car over-heated when this smoking occured then you could also have a warped head ontop of a blown head gasket. In any case.....this is probably not somethin you'd wanna just leave alone.

#401 of 505 Electrical problem with A/C, need help PLEASE by montdabomb

Apr 25, 2006 (8:49 am)

I have a very strong feeling that my ac compressor is not working due to an electrical problem. I have had my '95 850 GLT Wagon for a year and a half, and ever since I got it the A/C hasn't worked. The fuse for the A/C compressor is the same fuse for the cabin air fan speeds 1-3. Those have never worked either. The fuse for fan speed 4 is a different fuse and fan speed 4 works just fine. Now, the fuse for the ac compressor is not blown. But, I think there is a connection bewteen the compressor and fan speeds 1-3. It's not the fuse, but it must be electrical or a component is broken that governs both of these devices. Where do I look? Am I wrong altogether? Any Suggestions. Thank You, Monte

Messages Page 41 of 52

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