Opinions on 1987 Volvo 760 Turbo?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Donn Smith
  • Start date Start date
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Donn Smith

I have the opportunity to buy a 1987 760 Turbo with 212,000 miles for $1500.
I've been driving the car around for a couple of days and haven't found any
major problems. It needs a new tailpipe and a brake job, the dome light has
come loose and is hanging down, and the rear power windows and parts of the
power seat don't work.

I did notice last night, when I drove it to supper, that the headlights at
first wouldn't come on. Fiddling with them finally got them back on, but the
speedometer shot up as high as 60 mph and the odometer started turning -- in
park. When I started driving, everything seemed to settle down and behave as
expected, and there were no problems on the return trip. So I guess I'll
have a bit of wiring trouble to track down.

The current owner is my boss (it was his wife's car originally) so I happen
to know that it's been taken good care of. It's had only premium gasoline,
regular service, bi-weekly detailing, etc. all its life. It has mostly sat
idle for the last year or two, though it does get driven about once a month
on average as a back-up car or on loan to a friend.

All in all, I'm inclined to buy it, but I thought I'd better post here first
and see if anyone knew of any common problems with this model that I should
check into before I fork over the cash. This would be my first Volvo after
many, many years of Hondas.

Advice?

Thanks,
Donn
 
All in all, I'm inclined to buy it, but I thought I'd better post here first
and see if anyone knew of any common problems with this model that I should
check into before I fork over the cash. This would be my first Volvo after
many, many years of Hondas.

Advice?
Click to expand...

You didn't mension rust. Have you checked the floor?
If you check underneath the front carpets, you might find rust.
If you find rust here, it could be the front window is leaking,
and water could also have messed up the electrics.
Also check the lowest parts of the trunk.

- Jan Rune Bjorkelo -
 
Donn Smith said:
I have the opportunity to buy a 1987 760 Turbo with 212,000 miles for $1500.
I've been driving the car around for a couple of days and haven't found any
major problems. It needs a new tailpipe and a brake job, the dome light has
come loose and is hanging down, and the rear power windows and parts of the
power seat don't work.
Click to expand...

Check the engine wiring harness, '87 was one of the years that had the
biodegradable insulation. It's a $180 4 hour do it yourself with a good
used replacement harness or $600+ dealer job.
Dave Shannon
[email protected] (Spring Valley CA)
1988 240 DL 19X,XXX
1984 245 DL 20X,XXX
1984 245T 19X,XXX
'01 Jeep Wrangler Sahara 14K
http://www.homestead.com/volvo2/
 
Jan Rune Bjørkelo said:
You didn't mension rust. Have you checked the floor?
If you check underneath the front carpets, you might find rust.
If you find rust here, it could be the front window is leaking,
and water could also have messed up the electrics.
Also check the lowest parts of the trunk.
Click to expand...

Thanks, Jan. I checked this morning and found (happily) no rust anywhere.
 
Dave Shannon said:
Check the engine wiring harness, '87 was one of the years that had the
biodegradable insulation. It's a $180 4 hour do it yourself with a good
used replacement harness or $600+ dealer job.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I'll check into this. I'm pretty much resigned to having to do some
extensive rewiring, anyway.
 
The crazy speedo/odometer suggests a problem inside the instrumentation.
The speedometer is electronic and operates on pulses from a sensor at
the differential. In order for it to show 60 mph while parked, something
would either have to generate pulses into it, or there is an internal
problem. I dont know if a poor connection (fuse with oxide or so) could
trick the speedometer.


The fuses are in the center console. Remove the ash tray to get to them.
I would start by checking them. Pull one at a time and make sure they
look nice, clean and free from oxidation. Our 940 never had trouble with
fuses. 740/940 have the fuse box in a dry place, while 240's have it at
the left front door where (in cold climates) you easily get
condensation and in worst case leaking water from the windshield. I have
seen the difference!

--
Gunnar

240 Turbo Wagon '84 200 K Miles
940 Wagon '92 150 K Miles
on Swedish roads
 
The fuses are in the center console. Remove the ash tray to get to them.
I would start by checking them. Pull one at a time and make sure they
look nice, clean and free from oxidation. Our 940 never had trouble with
fuses. 740/940 have the fuse box in a dry place, while 240's have it at
the left front door where (in cold climates) you easily get
condensation and in worst case leaking water from the windshield. I have
seen the difference!
Click to expand...

Indeed! I have a 240, and my fusebox is often wet from rain.
Sometimes the wipers won't work, and to fix that I'll have to
pull out the fuses and clean them from oxidation. :(

- Jan Rune Bjorkelo -
 
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