I've been part of this board since inception and I'm beginning to see pattern failures every year. Just about this time in the Spring, air conditioning breakdowns occur due to system leaks over the winter, not discovered until the a/c is activated on a hot day.

In about three weeks, we will start to see the cooling system failures: "steam under hood; coolant leak; my radiator leaks; my engine overheated" etc. This is one problem that will send your Volvo to an early grave. The Volvo cooling system is a wear item: it lasts about eight years and is then living on borrowed time. Your plastic radiator side tanks will fracture and break; your hoses will crack; your heater water valve will split open. The only question is the exact time this will happen, but the failure incidence goes up dramatically after eight years. This is especially so if your car is a turbo or is operated in hot weather.

So read the FAQ section on "Loss of Coolant" and make plans to replace those aging components that, on failure, will definitely cook your engine. These include thermostat, all hoses, radiator, and the heater valve.