Hello All - I've been enjoying my year old 1994 850 Turbo Wagon (originally 88K! - and not a scratch on it!) immensely and feel like an executive driving a Mercedes when i'm in it. Summers here and it's time to start the travel season so I have a few questions; maintenance and such.
1) I had my local PepBoys install brake dust shields and they worked fine for a couple of weeks until I ran the car thru the auto wash. It seems that when the attendant used his brush to clean the rims, he bent the shields causing them to rub on the caliper,..I had them taken off. My question is: is there a better way to shield brake dust? Are all shields very thin (making them maleable or are some of better quality?

2) I would like to raise the height of my 850 to bring it up to about Cross Coutry height. I often feel lost in the shuffle between SUV's and trucks here in the NE and think the extra height would help. Am I spinning my wheels here? Should I just buy a used Cross Country (or VOLVO SUV)?

3) I replaced the battery and of course the radio went dead. I didn't have the codes and used up the 3 tries. I now have the code but the radio/cdplayer won't let me put them in. I even took the radio completely out to no avail. Any advise on this issue.

4) Finally - I seem to be getting only 14.5 miles to the gallon here in NYC and my research tells me I should be getting 20. My mechanic says I don;t need a tune-up. Any thoughts on this one?

thanx for any help and I remain a loyal Volvo owner (until I can find a Mercedes station wagon w/ low miles for the same price)!

If you want to get rid of brake dust, I suggest getting PBR metal master pads for the front wheels. Forget dust shields.

Even the Toyota Camry rides higher than you! Forget changing the ride height, anything you do will either compromise the handling or cause lower fuel milage on the highway. You could get Koni adjustable front shocks and screw them down, or get progressive springs to lift the car up an inch, but neither will get you up to the level of a Ford 500. If you want visibiltiy and stay on the streets of the 4th largest city in the USA, get an F150! One that already has dents on all 4 corners so you won't care about new ones.
Just give yourself enough room behind the SUVs and drive just slightly to their left.
The radio must be left on for 2 hours when it says ERR, before it resets itself to read CODE. Just leave the key in position I and make sure no one steals the car!
14mpg is pretty bad. Have you checked the diagnostic codes? Easy to do yourself (while waiting for the radio to reset). Just remember to "clear" all of the codes you find, those that will not clear need attention. If there are no codes in A2 and A3, then check the temp gauge in the dash when the car warms up. It should point to 3 or 6 o'clock. If it stays cold, then you need a new thermostat.
I suggest to all city dwellers that you never drive with the gear selector in D, the speed limits are too low to warrant an overdrive gear. The low rpms result in sludge buildup and dirty egr valves. Even on the FDR Drive! Try to keep the rpms over 2,000 to make the engine happy.
Do you have a clean air filter? Does your car even have a cabin filter? If not, order a new cabin filter and plastic holder from FCPGroton and put it in before the dust and pollen destroy your AC evaporator.
You have a fun car, don't forget to wax the bottom lip of the rear tailgate at least twice a year to keep rust away.

Klaus
--
1975 164 w/174,800mi (Sold) 1995 850T w/91,000mi, 1998 V70R w/129,000mi

cobyco,

1. Dust is the price you pay for excellent braking and longer rotor life. The OEM pads are somewhat softer material than most aftermarket ones and Volvo seems to have the formula right. Dust shields may effect brake cooling and are probably not a good idea.

2. Why??? You will sacrifice handling by raising the center of gravity. If you want higher seating then get an SUV or XC.

3. Leave the radio ON for about 2 hours. I think that resets the lock-out and you will be prompted to enter the correct code.

4. Could be many reasons--such as a bad oxygen sensor, grade of fuel, failed thermostat, etc. How are you calculating the MPG? Frequently it's because the engine in staying in choke (rich mixture) mode. Others on the board are more knowledgable about this.

Enjoy,
Bryan