Thanks for all your help, as i suspected, it was the thermostat (thanks for the advice, but i found a 3/8 drive T-40 bit worked fine for me, the 1/4 inch drive was too flimsy (snap on, go figure-i did'nt want to strip em)

Pulled the thermostat and found it was shot, drove it for 40 minutes, then let it idle for an hour. not a blip of overheating.

So, for the whopping price of $450 us dollars, i picked up a 1994 Volvo 850 GLT sedan, dual climate control, abs/srs/ice cold air, leather, am/fm/cass cd changer, nice spoke alloy rims, power everything, with 103k miles.

it will need a heater core (thanks to cheap thermostats) and the floors are being deep cleaned of the anti freeze as i type. but for 450 i cannot complain.


thanks in advance, anyone wanna guide me on the heater core replacement?

Great board.

Huey

The heater core can be replaced without removing the dashboard and climate unit, according to the Haynes manual for the 850. It requires disconnecting the heater lines at the firewall and at the heater core itself, and removing the kick panels and carpet backings on each side. There are some screws that hold the lower part of the climate unit to the upper and when you remove them it is stated to be possible to drop the heater core down. It will be a messy job due to spillage of coolant retained in the core. Contrary to what it says in the Haynes manual you can't get to the a/c evaporator this way.

You make the call, was it worth it?

$450.00????? hech yea!!!!!!

Stuart

Great decision!!! When I went looking for a car to replace my tired old Bonneville SSEI, I looked for something inexpensive, quick, and fully equipped. It took a while, but I found a '96 850 Turbo Wagon for $2000.00 from the original owner with 107,000 miles, well maintained mechanically, but absolutely filthy. It cleaned up like a jewel, and I couldn't be happier. Like yours, mine had a "gremlin".... an unpredictable "no start" that had the poor lady exasperated for over a year. Turned out to need a fuel pump, and pump relay. No more gremlin! Just a word of advice... Volvo engines are "interference" engines... if the timing belt breaks, the valves hit the pistons, and your motor becomes a coffee table. If the original timing belt wasn't replaced, do it NOW.

Lots of luck

Marty
'96 855T

the timing belt has 22k on it (sticker on timing cover) this car is pretty similar. was an executives car for a local religious organization, not particularly filthy, but more like it wasnt cleaned ofter (seemed very dusty)

this being my 9th volvo (first in the 850 series) i see the similarities.

Just went to the auction and purchased an 86 and an 88 740 sedan and wagon, probably going to sell the sedan to one of my step kids.

Now, to figure out if the heater core in this 850 is going to be a nightmare.

Huey

The 740's up through '87 all had the crumbling engine wire insulation problem. Check out "www.bartonharness.com/volvoharnesses.html" before selling the '86 to a relative.