'94 850 Turbo Dealer estimate for repairs:

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

SNIP

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 (

"John Smith" wrote in news:5sjrh.11036$ snipped-for-privacy@newsread4.news.pas.earthlink.net:

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.

John