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Windshield washer fluid odor[850/1995] posted by meb on
Monday, 23 March 1998, at 2:45 p.m.
Has any 850/S70 drivers experienced the following:
When the winchield washer is used there is a strong odor of the fluid in the
cabin even though the windows are closed. My concern is that when it rains, or the car is washed water may also be entering the cabin. I experienced heavy rusting in the floor boards of my '84 245T though the car was babied; and don't
want to go through that with the 850.
Regards,
meb
Re: Windshield washer fluid odor[850/1995] posted by Crispin Glymph on
Monday, 23 March 1998, at 4:08 p.m.
I wouldn't worry about it unless you are finding fluid drips inside the cabin. Volvo's air system is NOT sealed from the out side. You will get strong oders regardless of your windows being closed. The fresh air regulator on the dash doesn't have a zero position, it just has "less fresh air comming in" to "a lot of fresh air".
Although, there might be something that I am missing.
Re: Windshield washer fluid odor[850/1995] posted by Steven Sallberg on
Monday, 23 March 1998, at 5:54 p.m.
I have not seen any indication of fluids entering the cabin of my 1996 855. I think there is an air intake near there, to loose the smell, go to recirculate before you wash your window.
Re: Windshield washer fluid odor[850/1995] posted by Bear Files on
Monday, 23 March 1998, at 10:55 p.m.
I have not smelled the odor until today, but I just went thru a bugstorm, got carried away with the spray control, and accidentally sprayed some juice on the side window. When I then pulled the bonehead move of opening said window a few drops of fluid dripped onto the inside door panel, and as I wiped it off, WHEW! What a stench! Is the fluid supposed to smell like death?
-Bear- 96 854t
Re: Windshield washer fluid odor[850/1995] posted by abe crombie on
Monday, 23 March 1998, at 11:40 p.m.
That is entirely normal on that car. The excess solvent, which contains alcohol, is running down and puddles below the windshield on the plastic cover that covers wiper linkage and fresh air intake for ventilation system before it drains away. If you fill the reservoir with a less odoriferous solvent it will fix your problem. The factory stuff, which is really good at cleaning and won't freeze, seems to be some form of Swedish moonshine and is the strongest smelling of any I've ever had in any car. The 850 I used to have did what you describe but never got any water in floor. The V70 I drive now is still heavy with that moonshine stuff and it wakes me up every time I clean my windshield.
Re: Windshield washer fluid odor[850/1995] posted by Andy on
Tuesday, 24 March 1998, at 3:00 a.m.
The area at the base of the windshield is a high (air) pressure area. Early CanAm racers (like the Camaro) had a duct to the air cleaner box atop the carb to take advantage of this "free" supercharging.
Thus, Volvo and other mfrs put the intake for cabin air at this location. As others have said, when the fluid is sprayed and swept by the wipers down to below the cowl, air entering the cabin evaporates the fluid and picks up the odor.
Here in SoCal, I use a 50/50 mix of Prestone BugWash and soft water, plus a shot of Rain-X concentrate. Cleans well and rejuvenates the Rain-X; I can drive at freeway speeds in the rain without wipers!
Hope this helps.
ANDY
94 850 76k miles
89 740 (mom's)
92 740 (mom-in-law's)
Re: Windshield washer fluid odor[850/1995] posted by Richard on
Tuesday, 24 March 1998, at 7:26 a.m.
Moonshine eh! Hmmmm! I've got it! A mixture of George Dickel (I like sipping whiskey) and water instead of that foul smelling stuff. Smells good, doesn't freeze, can be used in an emergency when stuck in a blizzard and is a handy party mix!!
Wait till the folks in Tenn. hear about this.
Richard