S
Sharky
Hi. I am looking for some opinions on the car in the topic. I found one
today while browsing for used cars, private sale. It has 210,000 kms and it
is in good condition overall. A few spots of surface rust on the paint,
nothing rotted thru, it had been smoked in, but the interior is still fairly
clean and does not stink. Took it for a test drive, the engine runs smooth
and is plenty powerful for its size, seemed to handle well for its size. I
noticed a few small quirks, such as the rear hatch will not open from the
outside, the rear pass. power window switch goes down but not up from the
center console switch up front.
Here is my main concern after doing some research on the internet.
Apparently the engine is an interference type and pretty much every person
who has wrote a review has mentioned that the timing belt should be changed
at an exact interval, 7 years or 112,000 kms. Now, seeing as how this car
has 210,000 kms, it won't be much longer until the timing belt needs
replacement again. Which brings me to my first question. How much money
would I be looking at to have the timing belt, water pump, belt tensioner
and anything else that needs to be replaced? I've already priced the water
pump, which is either $74 or $125 depending on the engine serial number, the
tensioner is $90, there was no listing for the timing belt and so far I've
heard quotes from $300 - $500 for dealership costs. This may be a repair I
can do myself, as I am an avid backyard mechanic. Unfortunately I am more
familiar with domestic cars, and have not dealt with many imports.
Now, the plus side of this car is that the price is only $3000, which I
think seems like a good deal given its condition. I think I can probably
talk the owner down to $2700, but I want to find out first (if it hasn't
already been done) whether the second timing belt/water pump service has
been done, and if it hasn't, how much it is going to cost me. The smaller
items I can fix myself, and I will probably just have the paint touched up.
Overall, the car seems as if it should be a very reliable car that will last
me 4-5 more years with regular maintenance.
Any replies are appreciated regarding the timing belt replacement and
overall reliability of these cars from mechanics/owners who are more
familiar with Volvo vehicles than I am.
Sharky
today while browsing for used cars, private sale. It has 210,000 kms and it
is in good condition overall. A few spots of surface rust on the paint,
nothing rotted thru, it had been smoked in, but the interior is still fairly
clean and does not stink. Took it for a test drive, the engine runs smooth
and is plenty powerful for its size, seemed to handle well for its size. I
noticed a few small quirks, such as the rear hatch will not open from the
outside, the rear pass. power window switch goes down but not up from the
center console switch up front.
Here is my main concern after doing some research on the internet.
Apparently the engine is an interference type and pretty much every person
who has wrote a review has mentioned that the timing belt should be changed
at an exact interval, 7 years or 112,000 kms. Now, seeing as how this car
has 210,000 kms, it won't be much longer until the timing belt needs
replacement again. Which brings me to my first question. How much money
would I be looking at to have the timing belt, water pump, belt tensioner
and anything else that needs to be replaced? I've already priced the water
pump, which is either $74 or $125 depending on the engine serial number, the
tensioner is $90, there was no listing for the timing belt and so far I've
heard quotes from $300 - $500 for dealership costs. This may be a repair I
can do myself, as I am an avid backyard mechanic. Unfortunately I am more
familiar with domestic cars, and have not dealt with many imports.
Now, the plus side of this car is that the price is only $3000, which I
think seems like a good deal given its condition. I think I can probably
talk the owner down to $2700, but I want to find out first (if it hasn't
already been done) whether the second timing belt/water pump service has
been done, and if it hasn't, how much it is going to cost me. The smaller
items I can fix myself, and I will probably just have the paint touched up.
Overall, the car seems as if it should be a very reliable car that will last
me 4-5 more years with regular maintenance.
Any replies are appreciated regarding the timing belt replacement and
overall reliability of these cars from mechanics/owners who are more
familiar with Volvo vehicles than I am.
Sharky