Hi-
I'm wondering if anybody has any ideas about this. I recently changed the radiator on this car. After installing the radiator I noticed that the temperature doesn't get up to what it used to. Before the new radiator it stayed just above the mid point. After the new radiator it stays at about 1/4 on the water temperature guage. We recently took a short trip to Canada. While up there the water boiled over in the fill tank. The temperature while driving also stayed very low. Just above the first line. That is where the temperature has been staying lately. I consulted with my Volvo mechanic and we both thought the thermostat should be replaced. We also replaced the pressure cap. The cap we replaced it with is a little less capable than the recommended cap, but we figured it would perform better than the older one I had. It didn't seem to fix the problem though. The temperature still stays at about 1/4 or less and today my wife called and informed me that while driving slow through a parking lot the water boiled over again. Is it possible that my water pump is out? Or could the pressure cap not be rated high enough for the water to heat up? These are my only ideas. Let me know what you think. Justin

Get a new OEM cap. The pressure keeps the water from boiling, the lower the pressure, the sooner it boils. After the engine is cold, check the level in the overflow bottle, it could be very low.
Most thermostats fail in the open mode so the engine will run colder than normal.

Klaus
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(V♂LV♂s 1995 854T, 1998 V70R)

I would suspect a bad thermostat, but more than that a bad temp. sensor...it is the thing that prodrudes out of the thermostat housing. Also, might be wise to check your coolant with a test gauge (cheap at any auto parts store) to see if the mixture is "sound" to cool your car. Sounds almost like to much water was mixed with the coolant for it to boil over like it did.
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1998 S70 T5 Emarald Green Metallic, 2004 V70 2.5T Ruby Red, Previous Owner of Black '94 850 Turbo Wagon. My cars have been running so well lately they've got me worried.

Is the electric cooling fan coming on at all? You can do a quick check just turning the A/C compressor ON and watching for the fan to come ON in front of the radiator. If it does come on normally with the A/C, turn OFF the A/C and see if it comes ON with the car just sitting there idling once it's warmed up. The fan should come ON when the water in the radiator warms up. If not, you need to further investigate the fan switch there on the radiator.
You can feel the radiator and the radiator hoses to see if each is getting warm. Did the thermostat you put in there have the little bleed hole in it? That's to let air out of the system. Yes it's possible the water pump is out but you'd get overheats all the time. Those are just some ideas to look at. Good luck.




Mike
'95 850T

My parent's 850 had the same problem after the Volvo dealer in Southern California installed a new radiator and fan. Make sure that the fan is properly grounded-this was the culprit with my parent's car/