I can haz Volvo 850, aarrghh

[skattrd]

More pics another day, just to say I'm home and happy after a couple of detours on the way.

The car is not without fault, there are a few, but nothing major, or that I wasn't aware of before purchase.

The ride is firm, but the seats are very comfy so make up for it. It handles well and stops as it should. The car is quick and I mean that, I'm not sure if it's been chipped or not but it can shift. I've done 205 miles so far and according to the computer thingy it's averaged 28.5mpg, so lets say 25mpg for now.

 

To do list:

Drivers headlamp - lens broken, replacement likely ebay

Service - oil & filters, asap

Odometer not working - investigate, apparently common fault?

Turbo gauge in dash no work - not major, but turbo definitely works.

Stereo - absent, hopefully I should have one this week.

Lacquer peel on bonnet & roof .. consider speaking to local bodyshop if it bothers me, currently not bothered.

 

I now have a box file of service history and owners manuals for bed time reading.

Does anyone know the cambelt interval on the T5 motor?

[ruffgeezer]

As far as I can make out, it's "92 to 94 MY 850 should have new cambelt every 50,000 or 5 years, a 94 MY on needs it done every 80,000 or 8 years."

 

Also this looks handy; https://www.volvoclub.org.uk/tech/service/850/MaintenanceInfo.pdf

 

What are you selling now then?

[skattrd]

Cheers Tim, blue Aerodeck and Tipo TD are likely gonna be up for sale in a few weeks, once I've fixed them a bit.

[ruffgeezer]

 blue Aerodeck and Tipo TD are likely gonna be up for sale in a few weeks, once I've fixed them a bit.

 

 

Ha ha, so a summer sale for them then?

[skattrd]

With my work schedule, summer is optimistic

[hairnet]

mmm tipo td............

[Skizzer]

mmm Aerodeck.............

[Eddie Honda]

Volvo ICE sounds great, I think it's made by Alpine.

Some of their kit is Alpine, but in this case and a lot of the old Volvo Sound stuff, it's Mitsubishi Car Audio.

[Lacquer Peel]

Some of their kit is Alpine, but in this case and a lot of the old Volvo Sound stuff, it's Mitsubishi Car Audio.

That's interesting, when I was looking into adapting my SC-805 head unit to accept aux in or USB I found out the CD changer plug is the same as an Alpine one. 2+2=5 from me there.

 

Skattrd, Richard on here has fixed a couple of 850 odometers, might be worth PMing him for advice.

[holbeck]

I now appear to be in Kent. I always thought they spoke French round here.

 

In Kent, the car radio's speak French

[doobietoo]

In Kent, the car radio's speak French

 

But as you didn't have one you wouldn.t know this ...

[Richard]

This is the guide I followed. They left the passenger side of the dash top attached but it's only one (I think) more screw to take the whole thing off and put it out of harm's way. http://www.odometergears.com/documentation/Volvo_850s_Odometer_Gear_Repair.pdf 

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Volvo-850-92-97-Odometer-Gear-Repair-Kit-with-VDO-instrument-cluster-/361470984048?fits=Car+Make%3AVolvo|Model%3A850&hash=item5429597f70:g:QhsAAOSwEeFVB3Ic

 

I didn't bother changing the bigger gear on either occasion because it wasn't broken and the old one didn't look as if it would come off cleanly.

 

The brass nut described (but not pictured because it's not a turbo car) in Step 19.5 is the pipe for the boost gauge, if you're lucky you'll find an obvious and easily rectified reason why it doesn't work while you're in there.

 

It's worth changing the dash bulbs at the same time. The four main illumination bulbs are 504 (NOT 501, they fit but will damage the circuit tracks). The two computer bulbs are R509T, which I can only find in tens now (I'm not really a fan of LEDs where bulbs should be) http://www.autobulbsdirect.co.uk/R509T-Dashboard-Bulbs-12V-1.2W-black.htmland the warning lights, which I would only change if any don't work, are 286.

 

[skattrd]

Thanks for the info and links Richard, much appreciated. The dash bulbs seem ok, but one of the computery bulbs is gone. As you said, if I'm removing dash to fix odo gears I may as well change all of the bulbs at the same time.

 

Checking the history shows many thousands of pounds spent at Tivoli Volvo specialists in St. Leonards on Sea, which makes it look like the car was well looked after. There was lots of money spent on Pirelli P-zeros, spark plugs and brakes, including a new ABS ecu last year. That said the last owner liked Toyo Proxes, so it's recently had 4 of those, no complaints from me, I like Proxes.

 

The last recorded change in mileage was May 2015, but the MOT in August shows the same as the current reading so the odo broke sometime between May and August last year. Checking the history the previous owner had the car for 6 years and did 21k in that time, so I doubt it's done much mileage since the odo stopped working about 6 months ago and it was being sold due to lack of use.

 

Cambelt, apparently done at 87k in 2009, so 80k 8years, not due until next year on age or 40k miles more.

 

Ok, right time to see if I can find anyone with service parts in stock locally and open today ... doubtful.

[skattrd]

I've just been in to town and fuelled up 27.7mpg which was about 200 miles of mainly steady driving with occasional hoonage. It wouldn't surprise me if this is the best mpg the car ever sees with me.

 

Pics:

 

 

 

 

 

[Skizzer]

Gosh, I'm liking that interior an awful lot.

[Richard]

That is nice, it's good to see one in mostly original condition. Is that the bulb failure light on? That proves it's a proper Volvo.

 

If there's an OBD socket under the coin tray you can get diagnostics for the price of a cable that you probably already own. LP or I can advise on that. If it's pre-OBDII the diagnostics are done the old fashioned way with flashing LEDs etc.

[rantingYoof]

27mpg is fucking amazing for a T5. Someone I know had one a long time ago and they were pleased to get 20+.

 

No petrol Volvo ever made will average more than around 30mpg over your average tank. I drove the S60 back from refilling it with pez earlier, 2.2 miles, mostly town driving and a bit of hoonage because the noise is nice, but still 30mpg. LOGIC = NONE.

[HMC]

Love that Interior! This one looks more or less cosmetically standard on the body which IMO is the whole point of these- discrete speed.

[skattrd]

Richard: how long do you reckon it takes to swap the odo gears over? including taking the dash apart.

 

Can anyone tell me who was doing the "SVM approved" stickers? and as long as they approve, am I allowed one?

 

Oh, and thanks for the comments on the motor, the interior was one of the selling points for me as well, I think it's rather lovely.

[Richard]

I think I took about two hours including looking for tools and tidying up. It can be done in an hour I believe but I was taking my time to avoid breaking anything. I did one for a guy on the Volvo forum (and Pistonbheads) because his garage wasn't keen.

[skattrd]

Cheers Richard, I'll bank on 2hrs then ... That's half a Saturday morning in the garage by my reckoning.

[worldofceri]

This is making me miss my S40 T4.  There can't be many better Q-cars out there, especially now they look like old-bangers to many folks' eyes.

 

Bags first refusal when you come to sell!

[RichL]

Excellent. Those R wheels are possibly the best alloys fitted to any Volvo, ever.

 

I like that interior too, the 800 series carried the lighter trim really well.

 

Hope it behaves itself!

[Craig the Princess]

 

Can anyone tell me who was doing the "SVM approved" stickers? and as long as they approve, am I allowed one?

 

That was Mr WilsonWilson, he had two left in May.

http://autoshite.com/topic/16714-new-decals-pg9-restock-no-pineapple-and-not-arnold-clark-content-090415/page-4

[oldcars]

Christ that interior is almost* as nice as my 75. Like a lot.

[Tetleysmooth]

I want that.

When can I have it please?

Ta.

[skattrd]

Minor update, today I fixed headlights, fitted a stereo and gave the car an oil and filter change.

 

 

Cheers for the stereo Lankytim, it looks and works great.

When I was connecting it up I noticed that not only does the car have a cd changer, it has an amplifier as well. Oh and bonus 6 cds in the changer; Gary Moore, Sade and other stuff I can't remember.

 

Next on the agenda is fix the aircon (seized compressor) and Odo, little gear wheels need replacing..