960, what to look for?

Discussion in 'Volvo 960' started by Marc Onrust, Oct 29, 2005.

  1. Marc Onrust

    Marc Onrust Guest

    Hi,

    I might be interested in buying a Volvo 960 because they are relatively cheap to
    buy and offer so much comfort and luxury in return. Although I recently owned
    an 850 and later an S60 D5 (sold it because I started my own company with
    office at home), I'm totally new to the 960. Can someone tell me whether this
    car has specific weaknesses I should know? I'm especially interested in the
    facelifted modell ('95 and later?) with the 2.5 or 3 liter engine and automatic
    gearbox. Probably it will have run 250,000kms (156,000miles) or more.

    All information, hints etc are seriously appreciated!

    Cheers
    Marc
    The Netherlands
     
    Marc Onrust, Oct 29, 2005
    #1
  2. Marc Onrust

    James Sweet Guest


    Keep up on timing belt changes because if it breaks the engine will be
    destroyed before you know what happened. Other than that they're pretty
    solid cars.
     
    James Sweet, Oct 29, 2005
    #2
  3. Marc Onrust

    Marc Onrust Guest

    Thanks for your answer. So I shouldn't worry too much about automatic gearboxes,
    differentials and electronics?
     
    Marc Onrust, Oct 30, 2005
    #3
  4. Marc Onrust

    Randy G. Guest

    With a 960 of that mileage I would make sure that they can show that
    regular oil changes (around every 3000 miles, +/-) and tranny fluid
    changes (about every 25,000-50,000 or so is what I like) have been
    done throughout its life. Longer intervals are acceptable if there is
    evidence of synthetic lubes being used. Additionally, open the oil
    fill cap and look to see if there is a lot of crud builtup in there.
    Pull the tranny dipstick and smell it to be sure it doesn't smell
    burnt. Test the anti-lock brakes at around 35mph. If the suspension is
    good it will stop with authority without excessive pulsing or
    suspension hop. Once it is warmed up put the tranny in S mode (if so
    equipped) and stick your foot in it and check that it shifts with
    authority.


    __ __
    Randy & \ \/ /alerie's
    \__/olvos
    '90 245 Estate - '93 965 Estate
    "Shelby" & "Kate"
     
    Randy G., Oct 30, 2005
    #4
  5. Marc Onrust

    James Sweet Guest


    Well you should check that all that stuff is working, but there's no
    glaring weak spots in any of that stuff.
     
    James Sweet, Oct 30, 2005
    #5
  6. 960s should use fully synthetic ATF from factory which Volvo say does not
    need replacing during the life of the car. In UK we recommend that fluid is
    replaced every 100,000 miles as an extra precaution.

    All the best, Peter.

    700/900/90 Register Keeper,
    Volvo Owners Club (UK).
     
    Peter K L Milnes, Oct 31, 2005
    #6
  7. Marc Onrust

    Tim.. Guest

    50k or even less if you regularly tow is the recommendation actually.

    Tim..
     
    Tim.., Oct 31, 2005
    #7
  8. Marc Onrust

    Marc Onrust Guest

    Thanks for all your answers. It appears to me that the 960 is a pretty
    problemless car if it is maintained at the right intervals. Buying one with
    150k + miles (220k + kms) should give me at least 100k miles of driving
    pleasure without the engine or transmission dying on me. Well, looks good to
    me.
     
    Marc Onrust, Oct 31, 2005
    #8
  9. Marc Onrust

    Rob Guenther Guest

    That its been maintained properly... Pretty much it, you might find the A/C
    doesn't work, many people don't repair those... ours was just a series of
    bad gaskets and one bad section of pipe... Some people assume it's the
    condensor or evaporator and leave it.

    Our power drivers seat memory kind of sucks.... you have to manually correct
    it to get it right.

    The radio stopped working on Tape and FM - I got a used radio from an 850
    for 30 bucks.

    Rear shocks are expensive

    Our brake rotors lasted 160K Kms tho! all around, and no new calipers.

    Make sure the tranny fluid and timing belt changes were kept up.

    Ours in a 1993 and it feels pretty new aside from the squeaks from the
    dashboard.
     
    Rob Guenther, Oct 31, 2005
    #9
  10. Tim I made the recommendation on behalf of the VOC which stands at 100,000
    miles if using the correct fully synthetic ATF for the AW30-40 and AW30-43
    gearboxes fitted to 960/90 series cars. Also for The Europe market 2.5 Litre
    models with M90 gearbox (manual) which also uses fully synthetic ATF.

    All the best, Peter.

    700/900/90 Register Keeper,
    Volvo Owners Club (UK).
     
    Peter K L Milnes, Nov 1, 2005
    #10
  11. Marc Onrust

    Randy G. Guest

    Hey there, Rob! Haven't talked to you in some time... How's it going.
    As you can see by the sig, we gots us tu-u-dem now! ;-)



    __ __
    Randy & \ \/ /alerie's
    \__/olvos
    '90 245 Estate - '93 965 Estate
    "Shelby" & "Kate"
     
    Randy G., Nov 1, 2005
    #11
  12. Provided you change the cambelt at the stipulated regular intervals.

    All the best, Peter.

    700/900/90 Register Keeper,
    Volvo Owners Club (UK).
     
    Peter K L Milnes, Nov 1, 2005
    #12
  13. Marc Onrust

    Rob Guenther Guest

    My Volvo newsgroup stopped working for months... literally MONTHS...
    Everythings good... the old 960 feels like its new again with her new
    suspension and brakes all around. And her A/C is now ice cold since they
    fixed all the leaks and recharged it with some "colder" refrigerant (new
    technology stuff I guess)... Engine still pulls hard and such - and it
    drinks 0 drops of oil... and it broke the illustrious 100K Mile/160K Kms
    mark (has 169K Kms on it now!!)

    She had a minor electrical fault with the taillamps this summer tho... I put
    a new bulb in, cleaned the contacts but the bulb fail light still lit...
    restarted the car another time and it went away :)

    The Volkswagon fleet (the 2 Golfs) have been running perfectly with no
    problems other then routine maintenance.

    Congrats on the 2nd Volvo... Gotta love the 240s... I want to get one for
    some amateur racing, but I'm sure that will cost me too much damn money.
     
    Rob Guenther, Nov 1, 2005
    #13
  14. Marc Onrust

    Randy G. Guest

    The local independant Volvo guy campaigns a 240 that is quite trick.
    he even went completely over the pan to make it as aerodynamic as the
    rules allow. It is even street legal.. sort of. It does have a plate
    and before a race, to be sure it is ready, he runs it up a local
    canyon road. I would love to race but, as you stated, it is a hobby
    for folks without either life, wife, or financial restrictions...
    maybe all three! ;-)



    __ __
    Randy & \ \/ /alerie's
    \__/olvos
    '90 245 Estate - '93 965 Estate
    "Shelby" & "Kate"
     
    Randy G., Nov 1, 2005
    #14
  15. Marc Onrust

    James Sweet Guest


    *drool* a 960 with an M90 gearbox would be a fantastic car, over here
    the entire 900 series only has the silly slushboxes.
     
    James Sweet, Nov 1, 2005
    #15
  16. I have a feeling that someone has done that over here, like stuck an M90 on
    a three Litre 960/90. It sure does perform sweetly!!

    All the best, Peter.

    700/900/90 Register Keeper,
    Volvo Owners Club (UK).
     
    Peter K L Milnes, Nov 2, 2005
    #16
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