My 1995 Volvo 850 may have seen its last day yesterday. It took a good hit and protected my teenage son while he swerved off pavement and hit the leading edge of a guard rail. He came away with a new appreciation for what can happen in a car and luckily no scratches.

The guard rail height seems to have taken the passenger fender off plus the hood and headlamps. It would not start at the accident scene and had to be towed. Somehow no fluids were on the ground afterwards. It was dark at the time so I'll get a better look at the car later today at the garage it was towed to.

The car has some sentimental value as well as being in excellent shape prior to the accident. Since both airbags deployed is there repair work associated with fixing these that I'm not aware of? My thinking was to eventually do the evaporator and the pick and pull near me has airbags for 850's all the time. It's not so much a financial decision as I can get a used 850 for $2500. I just want to know what I am missing beyond the obvious body work.

By the way, the car took a pretty good shot and held up well enough that I'm even asking the repair questions. This is the reason we drive Volvo's. And why my kids will be in this Volvo or another in the future:)

When air bags go off, the sensors and control module must also be replaced. The steering wheel bag is easy, the dash will need to be replaced. 1995 has belt tensioners, they will need to be replaced.

Then you are stuck with replacing the inner/outer fenders, the lights, and front frame member that holds the lights and radiator in place.

You are better off getting a 'new' 850/70 and transfering the good stuff to the 'new' car.

I am sending you a PDF that lists SRS for many Volvo models, pay attention to page 10 for the 94-97 850.

Klaus
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Did you do your Random Act of Kindness today?

The seats will need to be checked also to ensure the WHIPS is still working. The seat is designed to catch the occupant, thus protecting them, but basically destroying the seat. A seat that has been through a crash is no longer safe.

I have read the procedure for checking the WHIPS in VADIS but can't remember it right now. Maybe someone else can elucidate?

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1998 V70 AWD->FWD->AWD Turbo 220k+

Thanks Klaus for the PDF file. I knew there where some this to replace wasn't sure about the interior components. I guess the actual sensors on the outside are part for SRS system that also needs to be replaced.

The front unibody structure looks to me (not sure if this is correct) as having a piece that comes out from the main body with a top and lower that comes out like this:

=
=
=
=========== This is the part that is mangled.
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=
============

The lower part looks good but the upper is mangled. I see these are welded to the main body. The strut tower looks good it's just everything else plus the fender. For giggles I was wondering if this is something that would be fixable from a structural point of view. I know the math doesn't work but the car is like a family friend and if Irv Gordon can keep his Volvo on the road as long as he has (with accidents repaired) maybe I can get it done. I'm looking at $2000 for a half decent 850/S/V/70 and then at least $1000 of deferred maintenance to do. So I have $3000 in my mind for repair work and parts hunting. I figure half for parts the other have for labor. Can it be done??

Most body shops will bang it straight and slap some paint on it. It will rust in a couple of years because the zinc will be cracked and allow waer to get in to the steel. You also forgot about paint...

My 1998 had been a sandwich in a crash before I bought it. The hood never rested on top of the cowl correctly since. The headlights were aimed right, but didn't look simetrical to the rest of the grill.

As nice as your car 'was', it will never be that nice again.

Yes, it is repairable. No, I wouldn't buy it from you even if it was repaired.

Klaus
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Did you do your Random Act of Kindness today?

Glad to hear your son is okay. Safety is one of the primary reasons we all drive Volvo's!

The air bags will have to be replaced. Replacing them will most likely make it a cost prohibitive proposition. Don't know the specific costs, so I'll let others who know more than I elaborate.

Thanks for all your help in deciding what to do with the family 850. Well it looks like I have to part with our 850 after all. I bough the car new in 1995 for safety reasons and seeing how many systems are in need of being checked or replaced I will always be questioning what may be wrong. Besides, any wire rubbing metal could cause me hours of headaches figuring out were the short is, etc. Having to find a parasitic drain this spring makes me appreciate a good working electrical system. I did get some numbers to fix by a reputable Volvo shop but I think it is time to part ways.

The good news is people buy our old Volvo's in the event of an accident totaling the car. Apparently enough people drive without checking the oil or trans fluids and good working parts cars are in demand. Example, I have no usable hood, front fenders, lights or bumper and I had offers of $350 from a local pick-n-pull to $600 from a Volvo shop that takes parts for customer cars. The shop that towed my car from the accident scene offered to "get rid of it" for free. The look on his face told me to start making calls.

I may have found a replacement 850 in my area. I'm taking a look hopefully after work today. I may have a picture to post soon.


RIP 854 GTA

I think you made the right choice.
Also agree w/ Klass's opinion to sell it to the garage that can keep others on the road with it's parts.
Let it go. You kid is alive...

You still got more years out of the 850 than most people get from the average car. It served you well, so sell it to the Volvo garage that wants donor parts because that way you are helping other 850s remain on the road. Think organ donor.

The 1996 cars require a scanner to read the generic and sometimes misleading diagnostic codes. 1998 S/V70 was the last year for a throttle cable and somewhat easier maintenance.

Beware of cars that have temperature displays in Centigrade, they usually have had the battery unplugged to hide a CEL, which will come on shortly after you proudly park it in your driveway :)

Good luck,

Klaus
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Did you do your Random Act of Kindness today?

Well it didn't take long to find a great replacement for our Volvo 850. I picked up a 96 855 TLA (Platinum Edition). The car was a Craigslist find and all there but hogged up beyond belief. (I never could understand whey people abuse their cars.) Straight body with the exception of the hood which for cosmetic purposes will need to be replaced due to a trunk denting the bend around the grill area. The rest of the body is surprisingly straight and the interior hasn't one crack in the leather. How that happened I have no idea because I have seen farm equipment look cleaner than this car.

Anyway, it will be a worthy replacement for the 854 and a nice future collectible. Only car I'd rather have stumbled upon is a 95 T5r yellow wagon. And my youngest son will never see this car. He is moving to another 850 NA we have in the family. Thanks again for all the great advice on rebuilding vs buying a replacement.