Volvo RWD 200 Forum

INDEX FOR 2/2026(CURRENT) INDEX FOR 12/2000 200 INDEX

[<<] [>>]

THREADED

THREADED EXPANDED

FLAT

PRINT ALL

MESSAGES IN THIS THREAD

REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE

Replies to this message will be emailed.

SAVE

Carfax Is Driving Me Crazy! 200 88

posted by someone claiming to be Victor Viscomi on Thu Nov 30 08:42 CST 2000 [RELATED]

Help! As many of you know, I've been looking at DL wagons. The 92 I looked at scared me off because when I tried the jiggle test, if I didn't hold onto the cap, it probably would have shot clear in the air from the pressure! Then I found what may be the perfect car for me- an '88 wagon in good shape for only $2000. It's a private seller, and it feels solid. The odometer says 101,000, but carfax says that in '96 it had 133,000.

The thing that has me wondering about Carfax is that the car is an '88, but the only title it shows being issued in the one in '96. The seller says he bought the car in '97, and I believe him. Could Carfax be wrong here?

Thanks!

REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE

SAVE

Re: Carfax Is Driving Me Crazy! 200 86

posted by someone claiming to be eric on Sat Dec 2 16:14 CST 2000 [RELATED]

This turkey has had the odometer tampered with. The current owner may not even know it! It had higher miles when someone sold it, and lower miles now? Believe carfax!

REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE

SAVE

Re: Carfax Is Driving Me Crazy! 200 88

posted by someone claiming to be Gene Stevens on Thu Nov 30 14:19 CST 2000 [RELATED]

If that '92 was so nice, why not grab it and service the breather right away. Once you get rid of the pressure, you get rid of the likelyhood of popping seals.

As for the Carfax report - didn't you hear bells ringing??? That info is exactly the reason for checking history if you want to know mileage (which isn't all that important on an older car). The car had 133K just before the current owner bought it...DUH! Now find out what it read when he got it to see how far they kicked it back.

Not all State agencies report the same way which could explain how they missed the original sale title record.

REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE

SAVE

Re: Carfax Is Driving Me Crazy! 200 88

posted by someone claiming to be Victor Viscomi on Fri Dec 1 17:20 CST 2000 [RELATED]

The '92 was nice, but not so nice that I wanted to jump on it right away. I haven't ruled it out.

Yes, bells did go off when I saw the carfax- I think I was trying to ignore them because I really wanted the car. But I couldn't silence the bells, and I told the guy I wasn't interested.

REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE

SAVE

Re: Carfax Is Driving Me Crazy! 200 88

posted by someone claiming to be dave lotman on Thu Nov 30 10:51 CST 2000 [RELATED]

Carfax would drive anyone crazy. Who cares about their info. You are looking at cars. You will learn more here on this web site than a site

like carfax. No offense but web sites like that are for people that buy

new or slightly new cars and don't want to spend any time really looking

into what they are buying. You are looking at cars that are at the newest

7 years old. Condition, how it was cared for, not the mileage is what's

important. I'm sure you'll find really nice car, be patient.

Dave 82 242ti 243k mi

REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE

SAVE

Re: Carfax Is Driving Me Crazy! 200 88

posted by someone claiming to be Victor Viscomi on Thu Nov 30 13:45 CST 2000 [RELATED]

"Be patient"....You said the magic words!

I've only looked at 4 so far, and I have to keep reminding myself there are more out there.

Thanks!

REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE

SAVE

Re: What is the jiggle test? 200 88

posted by someone claiming to be Landin on Thu Nov 30 10:46 CST 2000 [RELATED]

I'm curious.

REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE

SAVE

Re: What is the jiggle test? 200 88

posted by someone claiming to be Michael on Thu Nov 30 11:13 CST 2000 [RELATED]

Start the car

Open the hood

Unscrew the oil filler cap but don't take it off

The oil filler cap should be held down due to negative pressure from the engine. If the cap "jiggles" or "dances" around, the crankcase has positive pressure and the flame trap is probably clogged and needs to be cleaned or replaced.

REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE

SAVE

Re: What is the jiggle test? 200 88

posted by someone claiming to be Victor Viscomi on Thu Nov 30 13:48 CST 2000 [RELATED]

In this case, the cap was ready to take off like a rocket! I was worried that the rear main seal may be ready to pop out.

REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE

SAVE

Re: What is the jiggle test? 200 88

posted by someone claiming to be Don Foster on Thu Nov 30 14:03 CST 2000 [RELATED]

The so-called "jiggle test" is not as reliable with the lighter plastic cap because it's, well, lighter. So cars that still have enough crankcase vacuum can still display some jiggling. Sometimes a new, soft gasket acts somewhat as a damper, and also seals well enough that the vacuum prevails and the cap doesn't bounce around.

But if you say, "ready to take off like a rocket..." then it sounds serious. You're right to worry about your rear main seal, the three front seals, and also the plug in the back of the head.

Candidates include the flame arrestor, the big hoses, the flame trap housing, the oil separator, and especially the small hose and the brass fitting in the intake manifold.

I've measured the crankcase vacuum at idle on 4 of my Volvos, and all are around 1.5" to 3" (of water). One car had a plugged oil separator and measured about 8" of pressure. Roto-rooting the separator fixed it, and it returned to about 2" of vacuum.

Don Foster (near Cape Cod, MA)

REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE

SAVE

Re: What is the jiggle test? 200 88

posted by someone claiming to be Josh Lasserre, formerly josh lasserre on Fri Dec 1 16:36 CST 2000 [RELATED]

What and where is the oid separator?

REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE

SAVE

Re: What is the jiggle test? 200 88

posted by someone claiming to be Don Foster on Sat Dec 2 00:00 CST 2000 [RELATED]

Just as John described, and sometimes called the "breather box." This box permits the tiny oil droplets and oil mist time to coalesce into larger drops that will dribble back into the crankcase rather than be burned in the cylinders.

You can reach it under the intake manifold with one hand and a 12mm (or maybe 13mm) wrench, remove the two bolts, and carefully lift the separator straight up and remove it.

It's a plastic box thingy — you can either flush it out or simply buy a new one. Personally, I'd wash it and reuse it.

I've kinda forgotten — watch for a gasket or coupla O-rings.....

Don Foster (near Cape Cod, MA)

REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE

SAVE

Re: What is the jiggle test? 200 88

posted by someone claiming to be john in vt on Fri Dec 1 17:35 CST 2000 [RELATED]

This is not the place to talk about oid seperators....sorry I couldn't

resist.......anyway the oil seperator is part of the pcv system.....

there's a hose from the flame trap that runs down to it ...it's

under the intake manifold, mounted on the engine..two bolts hold it on

.....it allows droplets of oil to collect and drain back into the

crankcase.....it can get crudded up and cause a pressure build-up

bentley's has an ok description...and steve ringlee's 700-900 faq

has good info...also the archive...

REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE

SAVE

Re: Carfax Is Driving Me Crazy! 200 88

posted by someone claiming to be Peter Hertzing on Thu Nov 30 10:13 CST 2000 [RELATED]

I would ask the owner if he has any knowledge of the odometer beeing replaced. Keep in mind, when you are a "smart" buyer, milage is not the most important factor. It is normally pretty obvious if a car has a lot more then the stated milage. If the report shows no flood, accident or other negative history, i would not depend on it as a litnus test for purchasing a car. Look in the door sill to see if any notations have been placed about a new speedo.

Good Luck

<< < > >>

Brickboard.com is not affiliated with nor sponsored by AB Volvo, Volvo Car Corporation, Volvo Cars of North America, Inc. or Ford Motor Company. Brickboard.com is a Volvo owner/enthusiast site, similar to a club, and does not intend to pose as an official Volvo site. The official Volvo site can be found here.