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93 960 check engine light[ALL/1998] posted by K M BOOTH on
Monday, 15 December 1997, at 9:04 p.m.
Can any volvo tech,s help me? I,ve got a 1993 volvo 960 check engine light on. I know why it was on and have repaired the problem(towed in with broken timing belt....and a few bent valves.... and a few broken valve guides.....etc.)Can the light be reset with out any special tools, if so how?
Re: 93 960 check engine light[ALL/1998] posted by abe crombie on
Monday, 15 December 1997, at 10:20 p.m.
Find out your radio code first and then disconnect battery for 3-4 minutes. You may also remove the engine computer fuse, look at your fuse cover and see if you can find the labelled as such. Pulling the fuse won't lose your radio function, so no radio code would be needed.
Re: 93 960 check engine light[ALL/1998] posted by LKB on
Tuesday, 16 December 1997, at 3:53 p.m.
Sorry if this is off the topic, but... How do you like the 960?
I'm thinking of getting a used one from '92 or '93. I'm specifically concerned about the reliability, seating / driving position, handling, and acceleration of this model. Any of your first-hand impressions and experiences would be much appreciated. (ignore me if this the wrong message area for this type of question, I'm new to the board. :-).
Thanks a lot.
Re: 93 960 check engine light[ALL/1998] posted by S.Smirnoff on
Tuesday, 16 December 1997, at 7:00 p.m.
Try disconnect reconnect battery., works for 91 240 But make sure you have radio code B-4 you do this!!!!!!!
Re: 93 960 check engine light[ALL/1998] posted by Shatz on
Wednesday, 17 December 1997, at 4:49 p.m.
I own a 92 960 wagon and I love it! It has given me no problems (see exception below), but has only 46,000 miles on it. It is definitely a different Volvo. The only thing I dislike is the milage which is less than 25 on the highway and the small gas tank (15.6), making a shorter range than I would like. We do tend to drive it at the maximum safe speed (5-7 mph over the posted speed limit), so that probably doesn't help. But this car cries out for highways. It has great accelaeration and drives very well at highway speeds, including high-end accerlation, as my two speeding tickets in two years will attest to. It's not that I am a maniac on the road, but it takes very little to increas your speed 15+ mph and both times I got caught accerating.
The 92 and 93 are quite similar. The big difference starts in 95 when they redesigned may many things, including giving it a 21+ gal. gas tank. The newer ones, I believe, have a more refined look inside. All have most every bell and whistle you could want for most reasonable drivers. The transmission is smooth and my understanding that the engine is flawless., except for those ever- threatening timing belt intervals.
I have had a pesky problem with my front washers. According to Randy Riggs, my Volvo mechanic friend, these cars are plagued with faluty check valves for the nozzles. I have never heard of these things for a windshield washer , but apparently they fail regularly. I wonder if similar models have had the same problem. Not an expensive part at less than $10, but aggrevating.
My advise, if you find a clean on with low milage, go for it. You'll love it, but don't expect it drive like a 240.
Re: 93 960 check engine light[ALL/1998] posted by Rick Sparks on
Thursday, 18 December 1997, at 7:12 a.m.
I have a 92 960 with 124,000 miles it has weeping cracks in the Block. This is a manufacturing defect and I know of 14 92 Volvo 960s with this problem. No help from volvo. I was told by Volvo "Sorry but your warranty period expired and if it were a latent defect it would have shown up before 124K". I would steer away from the 92 960 for sure unless you can find one which has had the block replaced under warranty. The car also has drivability problems. It runs great on the open road but the transmission searches around town(shifts up and down often). I do not know if this problem has shown up in any other years on the 960 model. If you are having to add coolant to the system every so often I would be suspicious. On the 92 model a warning light illuminates whenever the overflow resorvior is low. A feature which will keep most of this model year from overheating due to low coolant level. The problem manifest itself by first losing coolant over several months. You top it off and think nothing of it. Then you start smelling the coolant when you shut the car of and walk by the hood(nothing on the ground). Finally you loose enough coolant weekly to have to top it off to get the warning light to turn off(coolant on the ground).
Rick
Re: 93 960 check engine light[ALL/1998] posted by Shatz on
Thursday, 18 December 1997, at 4:22 p.m.
Yikes, the engine block weeping is a new one on me! I wonder if it was a particular casting set that were flawed. Mine was manufactured late (June?) in the model year.
As for the tranny and handling, I guess it depends on what you are used to. I drive it in the city and have never been able to feel that shifting, or at least I haven't felt or heard any cues that I might pay attention to. I find the handling very competent, bu it is a Volvo, after all. I've owned a number of 240s and have an 86 240 GL. It may simply be a matter of age and model differences, but it turns about as well as the 240, and although it could be stifffer in cornering, it does seem to track well enough. Brakes are typical Volvo.
Re: 93 960 check engine light[ALL/1998] posted by Robert on
Thursday, 18 December 1997, at 10:06 p.m.
Shatz,
Don't panic. I have a 92 965 like yours. No problem. I am around these cars every day and have close contact with Volvo. I have not heard of weeping blocks. Any thing is possible but it certainly is not an epidimec. I would suspect a leaking head gasket or other coolant leak before a weeping block. I was worried when Volvo discontinued the "last forever" red engines, but I have seen many high mileage white engines still running great.
I think we have discussed the transmission ECU before. Very early 960s could have what was considered a hunting transmission. A new TCM was available to improve shift programing. I did not notice much difference. This transmision is electronicly controlled. It has 3 forward gears and overdrive. It can lock the torgue converter in 2nd, 3rd, and over drive. The gear ratios available are numerous and since it will try to choose the best ratio for fuel economy and drivability, it may seem "busy" at times to someone not used to it. You have a fine car Shatz. Chill out!
Have a merry Christmas,
Robert
Re: 93 960 check engine light[ALL/1998] posted by Shatz on
Friday, 19 December 1997, at 9:25 a.m.
Thanks for the comforting words! I also doubt whether the whole lot of them are bad. Being a late production car, mine may be a different diecast lot. So far it's been great, just have to keep on training my foot to be somewhat softer on the pedal...
Re: 93 960 check engine light (To LKB)[ALL/1998] posted by Lee Lowrey on
Wednesday, 24 December 1997, at 6:19 p.m.
To LKB:
I would very much recommend a used 960. I drive a '94 960 (our ninth Volvo) and it is a wonderful car. I love the power and smoothness of a straight six engine and the all-aluminum, 24-valve Volvo 2.9 is a real honey. It's nearly as sweet as the wonderful German straight sixes in BMWs and Mercedes. My 960 has 66k miles on it and has never had a mechanical problem. All 960's use the same engine. Two years ago Volvo reduced the horsepower from 201 to 181 horsepower -- although the new six has less horsepower, it reaches it's peak horsepower earlier in the rpm band and has higher peak torque (American's like torque in their cars.) You will be impressed with the power and wonderful "song" this six sings at full gallop! The seats are great in 960's, but they sit higher in the car than the manual seats in "lesser" Volvos. I like the seating position in my wife's 740 much better, but her seats feel "softer" than mine (both cars have leather). 960s feel "heavier" when you drive them than 740s or 940s. I don't know if its the slightly heavier six or the effect of the independent rear suspension (the steel components of this independent suspension was changed to aluminum by Volvo when they reduced the engine's horsepower). My 960 takes rough-pavement corners without any upset, while my wife's solid-rear-axle 740 "dances" just the slightest bit. The overall feel of the 740s and 940s we've owned is as if the car is always "on its toes" -- that is, they always have felt light and nimble for such a boxy car. My 960 rides more substantially -- almost Mercedes-like.
The only problem I've had with my 960 has been the electric mirrors. The passenger side mirror has a short either in one or both of the mirror adjusting motors or the joystick adjuster in the armrest. Since the automatic temperature control unit is on the same fuse as the mirrors, the fuse blows if I adjust the passenger mirror. I haven't bothered tracing the problem yet.
Good luck in your search for a 960.
960 Thanks for the info[ALL/1998] posted by LKB on
Tuesday, 30 December 1997, at 4:01 p.m.
Thanks for the recommendation. I am partial to rear-wheel-drive cars in general, so that's why I asked. I've driven two loaners from my Volvo dealer, but they were both 850's. I'm hoping one of these days they'll let me have an S90 as a loaner.
Re: 93 960 check engine light[ALL/1998] posted by Mark Klein on
Friday, 19 December 1997, at 10:20 p.m.
I am somewhat surprised anyone with the ability, tools, and knowhow to repair the damage done by the broken belt cannot reset the check engine light.