BIG Trouble with '96 850 GLT

Discussion in 'Volvo 850' started by Dan Behr, Nov 14, 2003.

  1. Dan Behr

    Dan Behr Guest

    Not a good day. What appeared to be a simple flat tire on the left rear,
    turned out to be much more. Here I am, cruising along about 60 and I
    hear what sounds like I'm going over serations on the shoulder. About a
    mile later, I hear flapping, indicating something's come loose and/or a
    flat tire. Sure enough, I stop and I hear a loud hissing sound and the
    tire going down fast. Quickly, I zip into a State highway maintenance
    facility, so I'm off the road and I can change I tire if I need to.

    Fortunately, I was with the mayor of the city, we called a city car to
    get us to a meeting and I left the car there. When I came back, they
    changed the tire and I fired up the car to leave, but heard a strange
    metallic sound, much like something was rubbing on a pully. And, as I
    was driving, every now and then, there would be an ever-so-slight
    reduction in power, then the engine would pick up again.

    All was normal, until I stopped for gas. I shut the car off and noticed
    that the radio and lights were still on, despite the fact that I removed
    the ignition key. Hmmm. So, I restarted the car (didn't want to be stuck
    at a tollway oasis gas station 60 miles from home), and heard that muted
    metallic scraping sound again.

    So, I start heading home, not going too fast - 70 mph or below, since I
    have one of those "space saver" spares on the right rear.

    Enroute, from time-to-time, I start seeing almost all of the instrument
    warning lights illuminate momentarily and then extinguish. I also
    noticed that the temperature gauge is not working. The instrument lights
    start flickering on and off with greater frequency, as I keep on.

    About 49 miles later, the engine loses power and starts bucking. I pull
    over to the side and try to keep the engine going, but it stops. Despite
    the ignition being turned off the radio and lights remain on. I start
    the engine again and it bucks and misses, then comes right back to
    normal power.

    Now, I'm beginning to smell an alarming smell; kind of an acrid, almost
    sufuric acid smell. I keep going, as I'm only 10 miles from home, by
    now.

    There's less bucking and heaving after I get off the expressway, but I'm
    still worried. Finally, I arrive at home, convinced I have a severe
    electrical problem.

    I pull into the driveway, get out the tools and remove the positive
    battery cable from the battery. As I retrieve my items from the car, my
    flashlight beam cuts a swath through what is now a slightly smoke filled
    interior, which smells like a cross between a severe new car smell and
    boiling battery.

    I'm not in a good mood. What gives?
     
    Dan Behr, Nov 14, 2003
    #1
  2. Dan Behr

    James Sweet Guest

    Sounds like belt problems on the engine, if this belt also drives the water
    pump then you most likely destroyed your engine by continuing to drive, if
    the engine is still ok you certainly caused a lot more damage. It sounds
    like an idler pully had a bearing failure, the warning lights were coming on
    because the alternator was stopping, the smoke is burning rubber from the
    belts.
     
    James Sweet, Nov 14, 2003
    #2

  3. If you find out please let us know.

    ttfn.....Alistair
     
    Alistair Ross, Nov 14, 2003
    #3
  4. Dan Behr

    Dan Behr Guest

    Here's what's known thus far:

    1) #5 fuse (30 amp) to heater fan 4, keeps blowing. When I touch the
    contacts of the fuse to the terminal, the windshield wipers slowly begin to
    operate and then the fuse blows.

    2) #31 fuse (25 amp) for heater fan positions 1-2-3 was blown, but I
    discovered that there was only a 15 amp fuse installed. I replaced it with
    the proper fuse and started the car. The blower fan did not work in any
    speed position. Numerous warning lights began dimly illuminating, flickered
    and then illuminated fully. Those warning lights are:

    - SMS (air bag)
    - windshield washer fluid low
    - low fuel
    - hand brake
    - abs (brakes)
    - hot engine (fan symbol)
    - alternator (battery symbol)
    - check engine

    There are a couple of others, which I don't remember right now.

    3) When I start up the engine, there is a rasping mechanical noise, which
    appears to be coming from either the alternator or the idler pulley (or
    both?)

    4) The burnt smell in the passenger cabin seems to be burnt insulation of
    some form.

    5) Belt is in place, in good condition and accessories appear to rotate
    freely, noting #3 above.

    6) The temperature gauge is still not functioning

    7) The electric fan blade (I think there's only one fan) seems to rotate
    freely

    Any new ideas?
     
    Dan Behr, Nov 15, 2003
    #4
  5. Dan Behr

    John Horner Guest

    The ignition switch on these cars is prone to failure and does so with all
    kinds of mysterious electrical strangeness symptoms. On my '96 850 the
    instruments began to work and not work at random times.

    See if wiggling the key in the ignition switch modulates any of the
    behaviours.

    Luckily the switch portion can be replaced without much difficulty. I used
    the directions found at:

    http://www.volvospeed.com/Repair/ignit_switch.htm

    Considering how often these seem to fail, the switch might be considered an
    automatic 75k mile maintenance replacement item. I have read that the weight
    of key chain the driver uses *might* correlate to the failure rate.

    John
     
    John Horner, Nov 21, 2003
    #5
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