Pre-1999 Volvos
(850/940/740/240)
Service recommendations for these models
Disclaimer: while the 850's are not rear wheel drive, they fall into the pre-VIDA category
Disclaimer: while the 850's are not rear wheel drive, they fall into the pre-VIDA category
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4 dedicated snow tires (not all season) during the winter:
Maine allows studs from November until April. We recommend steel wheels in the winter as they are more resistant to damage. Attention to the drain holes in the frame:
A major weakness of the 2/7/900's is rust. These models have drain holes that often are plugged and force the water back inside the car. Once inside, the water just sits and completely rusts out floor pans. Oil change every 3,000 miles:
We recommend the use of 15W-40 oil for these models. On 850's, replace one quart of oil with a quart of Mystery Oil to help prevent sticky lifters. |
Volvo 244 DL
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Beware of poor installation of aftermarket windshields:
So many times we have seen good condition 240's come in with an aftermarket windshield that was just simply installed over rust existing on the windshield frame. When a new windshield gets installed here at the shop, we take special care by checking the condition of the surface that the seal actually sits on. If there is rust build up, that is the time to sandblast/prime/paint the area so that the windshield will seal correctly. If this is not done, your windshield gasket will allow water to enter the car. This will cause the same damage as listed above; rotting the floor pans away completely. If you have chronic wet floors or water under your floor mats, this is likely caused by a leaking windshield, and rusting your floor. Floor chassis rotting is the #1 cause for state inspection failure and end of vehicle life, and in most cases completely preventable. Click to see an example
So many times we have seen good condition 240's come in with an aftermarket windshield that was just simply installed over rust existing on the windshield frame. When a new windshield gets installed here at the shop, we take special care by checking the condition of the surface that the seal actually sits on. If there is rust build up, that is the time to sandblast/prime/paint the area so that the windshield will seal correctly. If this is not done, your windshield gasket will allow water to enter the car. This will cause the same damage as listed above; rotting the floor pans away completely. If you have chronic wet floors or water under your floor mats, this is likely caused by a leaking windshield, and rusting your floor. Floor chassis rotting is the #1 cause for state inspection failure and end of vehicle life, and in most cases completely preventable. Click to see an example
Volvo 945
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Brakes:
Unfortauntely, most brake work that we does is to re-do recent insufficient work done elsewhere. Tons of money is wasted at other service venues installing good parts poorly. Brakes need to be installed having had the work surface cleaned of rust, lubricated with the correct silicon grease and the fluid changed. If this isn't done, the new parts will get stuck and wear out prematurely. Correctly installed brakes should wear evenly and last up to 30,000 miles if used properly. Our VMA will let you know the condition of your brakes. Click here for pictures of poor condition brakes, specifically a 240, upon entering our shop |
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PCV System *850's especially*:
Positive Crankcase Ventilation, as it is otherwise known as, can be very problematic if neglected. This system retains all of the residue picked up by the car's oil. Frequent oil changes are a great way to keep this system healthy, but inevitably, some hoses and flame traps need to be replaced. When it goes beyond topical cleaning and part replacement, this system can require a complete overhaul; here is an example. Timing Belt *850's especially*: The life expectancy of an 850 timing belt is 70,000 miles, since engines made after 1993 are "interference engines". Rather than just assume that your belt is going to make it to that mileage, we recommend checking it (see our VMA) annually. The ramifications of a broken timing belt is a broken engine, something that neither the customer, nor the repair shop, want to see happen. Timing belt breakage can also occur from pulley and/or tensioner bearings going bad. These parts should be, but not always are, changed when the belt is changed. For this reason, any new sounds from the engine compartment should be brought to the attention of your service person immediately. |
Volvo 850 Engine
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Quality of parts being installed:
Volvos aren't made in China, and neither should their replacement parts. Our parts department spends a lot of time and resources on quality control. Many aftermarket parts are so inferior that we are finding recently replaced suspension parts in such poor and unsafe condition they fail state inspection. Make sure you know what your service vendor is using (Volvo quality parts or proven equivalent). Our shop only uses parts with a proven track record of acceptable performance, and we are always on the alert for subpar parts.
Volvos aren't made in China, and neither should their replacement parts. Our parts department spends a lot of time and resources on quality control. Many aftermarket parts are so inferior that we are finding recently replaced suspension parts in such poor and unsafe condition they fail state inspection. Make sure you know what your service vendor is using (Volvo quality parts or proven equivalent). Our shop only uses parts with a proven track record of acceptable performance, and we are always on the alert for subpar parts.