So I got some prices for a few things I need done on my 95 850T with 135K from an Indy repair shop I have gone to for several years. I need a reality check and some options here folks!

Heater core replacement: $565??

Strut bushings(both sides)-He won't do just the bushings but insists on new strut assemblies as well-$730

Timing belt,tensioner,Pulley: $535

Rear shock replacement:$540


My thought is to leave the rear shocks alone. I think they are fine.
Replace the heater core myself...$120 plus the replacement coolant.

Have someone else do the just the strut bushings. I believe that is the problem. I hear a rattle on the right front and you can feel it for sure when you hit bumps.

What is the going rate for the timing belt work?

Thanks folks!

Heater core and strut bushings costs seem OK. The timing belt service actually seems on the low side compared to the others but the shock replacement is definitely way out of line unless your shocks are $150 each. All these repairs add up to almost what the car's worth.

$565 for the heater core replacement is way out of line I think. The part is $120 delivered from eEuroparts.com! I can do that one myself.

Sears did the struts for $480 which included alignment and tire rotation.
New Monroes, new spring seats, new mounts,bolts etc... The car drives great. I was reluctant to use Sears, but I have to say they did a good job.Monroes might not be OEM, but I have read and heard people say good things. If they turn out to be problematic, they have a 6000 mile/6 mos. warranty. I'm good with that.

I ordered the heater core and O rings. Will install next week. The timing belt is good for another 7K anyway.

Thanks guys.!

See what you think about the heater core job charge after you've done it yourself. It's not that easy!! It's probably 3-4 hours work at 60-100 $/hr.

It is hard on a 240, sure. But on an 850? Took me less than an hour the first time I did one.

Just be sure to have a trash bag without a hole in it under the core as it comes out!

Nate

If a Volvo shop can't replace a heater core in less than 1 hour, they need to remove their sign and put up one for a Yugo.

Klaus
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Praying for Cynthia Amendt, heaven bound

I think you can see the theme of the responses: DIY

I can only speak from experience for the front struts. Hadn't a clue what I was doing and took 3 hours on one side, 20 minutes for the next. Yes the learning curve was that steep for a dummy like me. If you read the forums and search, you'll find some good instructions. Wish I had!!!! The assembly comes out complete, and then you need the spring compressor (easily gotten at most auto parts store like Auto Zone). Definitely a DIY.

Jerry
01 V70 T5a
107K miles

My daughter in Ann Arbor, MI, just had the timing belt and serpentine belt in the V70 changed for $500 at a local shop. This was with stock Volvo belts. The specialist shop, Swedish Engineering, quoted $650. My local mechanic here at home said he would do it for $250, but this is Mississippi, where many services are a bit cheaper.

Where are you? Come to Mississippi, stay a couple night at a motel, tour around, and have the car fixed here.

Order a new heater core, 2 O rings, and do it yourself. If you have 2 vice grips, you can set them to squeeze the hoses shut, just not too tight. Slip a baggie under the core before pulling it out. I would say 2 hours, start to finish. Only a 1 beer task.

You need a timing belt and tensioner roller, not a new tensioner. And probably a new S belt which has to come off anyway. $535 is a good price.

Rent a good spring compressor, get 4 new bolts from the dealer and spring seats for an XC90 that last a long time. 2 hours for the first wheel and 1 hour for the second. Changing the shocks in the front takes just as much work as replacing the seats. 3 beer task, done for the day!

Your rattle just might be the sway bar end links. Just reach behind the wheel and grab the thin veritcal rod and push/pull. If it moves, that could be the culprit to the noise. Get a nice pair from IPD, they last longer.

Rear shocks are probably good for another 20K+ and are a separate task.
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Praying for Cynthia Amendt, heaven bound

Heater core?! $#@%# no. Do that one yourself...it'll take you an hour.

Leave the rear shocks alone, unless the car bounces up and down when you go over bumps. Put one foot on the bumper, set all your weight on it, and then jump off. It shouldn't bounce up more than once.

Timing belt is actually reasonable...I had it done for $426 on the dot, but that was 3 years ago and rates differ. Then again, mine was a mechanical tensioner, which is more expensive.

By strut bushings, did he mean spring seats? You can do those fairly easily by yourself on a weekend if you rent a spring compressor. I did one of mine, and it took me about 1 1/2-2 hours at most. Do the front struts bounce back up if you brake hard or take bumps really stiffly? If not, you can probably leave them alone too.

The front struts DO make sense to replace at that mileage though - I know mine are worn out and feel like a Jeep over potholes, and you don't necessarily have to use OEM shocks if you don't drive your car really hard...opinions differ, but you can pick up some good-quality aftermarket ones for both sides for much less than the OEM ones cost.

I think spring seats is the correct name. I have read that the front shocks/struts rarely go on these cars. Still $700 to do this even replacing the shocks with new ones seems steep to me. I thought $300-$350 for the seats alone would be fair. I don't have the time to do this one. I will do the heater core, get new seats installed and do the heater core myself. Any pictorial guides for the heater core job out there? Thanks!

$700 is steep. Get a second opinion from someone else, any basic tire/alignment shop can do this work. The struts are usually pretty worn by 150K miles, so it makes sense if you can afford to have it done now since all the same labor is involved to change the spring seats as is to change them out with new struts. Up to you though.

Here is a link with a tutorial and parts list (use FCP's links to the parts for your 850 instead of mine). You don't necessarily need all of the hoses, but definitely order the O-ring kit.

http://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=25408&start=0

Wow, you've got a pricey mechanic(?)
135K mi is a baby. how is everything else? you like driving it? you work on it yourself?
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'97 855na, Mobil 1, K&N, various IPD's and eBay's

Location, location, location. Up here in the twin cities, I priced new front struts at a local shop = $900. That's why I bought a spring compressor :) and put Koni Sport on :) :)

A front end alignment is $100, even at the dealer.

Klaus
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Praying for Cynthia Amendt, heaven bound