'94 850 Turbo Dealer estimate for repairs:

Here is the death knell delivered by my Volvo dealer:

"Timing belt pulleys throwing metal shavings. Estimate to replace
idler pulley, tensioner pulley, hydraulic tensioner, and timing belt $913.
Turbo oil return line leaking oil
Estimate $106.
Left and right inner tie rods worn Estimate $478 plus alignment $89.95
Vehicle needs tires."

Add say $350 for tires, and the total is more than the car is worth.

The car has about 100k miles. Has always run well.

Has anyone heard of the problem mentioned about the "timing belt pulleys
throwing metal shavings"?

Anyway, I have purchased a car to replace the Volvo. So, I am wondering
what to do with the Volvo?

I could donate it, but I do not itemize, so that is not a good option.

The car owes me nothing, it has been a good car for many years.

I can have the car delivered to a mechanic in the Houston, TX area, by AAA
towing.

I guess, I am wondering what you experts think about the problems above?
Should I get a second opinion? Does it pass the smell test?

 

Erm...that's a bit less than $2000 for the repairs.

The Kelley Blue Book gives the 'suggested retail value' for such a car,
in excellent condition, as ... $5800.

Is yours not in excellent condition, that you underestimate it so
direly?

cheers,

Henry

 

http://catalog.eautopartscatalog.co...del=850-T-001&category=A&part=Timing+Belt+Kit

$214.00

Only one of three at all oem for the tensioner - but less then 200 I would
warrant...here are three:
http://www.volvopartsdirect.com/epc-items.asp

While you are in there it would be criminal not to R&R the water pump
http://catalog.eautopartscatalog.co...&model=850-T-001&category=All&part=Water+Pump

$65.00

Say 450-500

A decent tech can do the job in less the 5 hours

4x90=360

860 with the water pump that the dealer does not include.

Tie rod ends (inner)

http://catalog.eautopartscatalog.co...O&model=850-T-001&category=M&part=Tie+Rod+End

60-90 each.

1 hour a side seems generous!

90x2=180+90x2(labor)=180=360 total+ alignment 60-80 bucks.

so we have 850 for the timing belt job TOPS
tie rods 440
Tires 400
and just add oil for a bit to the engine, checking it every fuel stop.

1690 worth of maintance, not repairs for a great car that has at least
another 100,000 miles in it.

5000 (car value guess from other comment in thread)
(1700) Repair cost
(200) Good detail job

You should yield around $3000 if you fix and resell.
If I lived there I might buy it!

BTW all the stuff sounds reasonable, however the turbo leak might be minor
(ignore it) or major (fix it NOW)

 

What is the recommended time/miles for replacing the timing belt for that
engine? If it hasn't been changed, it should be and it's routine to replace
those moving parts anyway - along with a water pump.

If the turbo oil return line is somewhat similar to the one on an S-40, it's
just a cheap rubber gasket that needs to be replaced.

With only 100K - assuming the car is in otherwise good shape, I'd have the
work done and run it for another 100+K. I'll bet a competent independent
shop could do the same work much cheaper.

 

In addition to the above, the car has the following defects

1. Odometer stopped working at 72,502 miles.
2. Left rear door check that holds the door at an intermediate position,
is detached from the auto body (broken weld). The door still works fine, so
I did not spend the money to fix it.
3. The AM radio has nothing but static after being on for a short time. FM
portion & CD changer (Sony 10 cd after market changer) are OK.
4. Windshield has a very small star type crack (3/8" diameter)

Other than these items, the car is in good shape. Paint Excellent, Leather
good, Power windows, cruise control, moon roof etc. all work fine.

My understanding has always been that the Odometer problem means that the
car is almost worthless. Perhaps not, but it precludes anything like
excellent or even good or even fair condition. If this is true, then
spending money on this Volvo would be throwing good money after bad.

I read somewhere that you could use the on board computer which among other
things turns on the "Service Light" to get the miles in thousands by certain
codes entered into the under the hood maintenance computer, then counting
the flashes. Does anyone know, in detail, how to do this?

 

The Timing belt is supposed to be changed at 70,000 miles.
It was, in fact, replaced at 68,088 miles, on 11/30/2001..

I do not know??

I have already purchased a replacement car, so my motivation would be to
sell the
Volvo to someone who could and would drive it AND take care of it. I would
not sell
the car without disclosing all relevant negative information.

Anyone recommend a competent independent shop in the Houston, TX, area??

Thanks for all your input!

 

(re: '94 850T)

According to my mechanic at the local Volvo dealership, the timing belt
is "supposed to be changed" not only according to the distance
measurement but also / instead according to a _time_ measurement;
according to him, 'Volvo recommends every five years'. (Not only that,
but here in the Frozen North -- the car is in Finland -- because of
the severe climate, they make it every _four_ years.)

I have a '95 850T with very low mileage ( <75 000 km.). I had that belt
changed in 2001 and this spring when I take the car in for the 75K
service I expect they'll tell me it should be done again. I'm debating.
Is it really necessary now, or would another year be OK? Decisions,
decisions. On the other hand, a broken belt can cause the kind of damage
that would definitely haunt your nightmares.

cheers,

Henry

 

Mark Garcia at Downtown Automotive on Fairview.

SC Perkins

 

None of those are completely surprising needs for a car of that age.
You should be able to get the work done much cheaper by an independent
Volvo specialist. Or, to the DIY route and it can all be done for a few
hundred dollars in parts. www.eeuroparts.com should be able to provide
all the needed bits at a good price. www.tirerack.com for tires


John