Bangernomics 850

[Targarama]

I'm taking my Brother to view a super cheap 850 Estate tonight. It is a 2.5 10V SE model, manual gearbox with 105,000 miles on the clock, appears to be good provenance, well serviced, good tyres, cambelt done, oil service, long MOT too. My Brother wants something to smoke around in for the winter that will hold his mountain bike too. Considering this is a £600 car what should we look for? What goes wrong? Any catastrophic issues? I'll take my ODBII reader along, can someone tell me where the port is on this model?

We missed out on a nice 20V Auto btw, that would have been my preference.

[Rockatansky]

Your OBD reader won't work. The 10v will need a flash code reader, if you're keen you can make one very simply:

http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=838...

I'm not aware of any specific issues with the 10V, but they're not that nippy - the 20v does seem like the better n/a package. My Dad has a 10v S70 and I do find that sluggish, but I'm a bit more used to a slightly nippier Volvo

They're pretty robust cars in general, if it goes ok and sounds ok then it probably is ok. Easy and not that expensive to work on either.

There are plenty out there, so I wouldn't be afraid to walk if it doesn't seem right.

[Targarama]

Thanks!

[Targarama]

Well we went, test drove, prodded, looked, shook on a deal, paid, left. Then it wouldn't start on his drive. Bad timing for him. Got the money back while he sorts it.

It was barely catching them cutting out. Not fuel or battery. Any ideas? The engine was warm but not hot after a 2 mile drive. Felt like fuelling but can't be sure.

[Rockatansky]

I'm not *too* familiar with the 850, or with the 10v, but I am aware of seeing threads about fuel pump relays failing - could be that?

When we got my Dad's S70 10v it would quite randomly fail to start - that turned out to be the camshaft sensor on the way out. The fault light was lit, well, it would have been if the bulb hadn't been removed.....

The forum most likely of use will be: http://volvoforums.org.uk/

I don't think you have to be a registered member to use the search function, and there is a reasonable amount of info on there.

[morgrp]

They are super strong - check the top engine mount for perishing. Check the idle is good, the 10 valves run a fenix injection rather than Bosch and the idle control valves can fail. Check under the oil filler cap hasn't got black sludge - they tend to block up their breathers and flame traps when run on crap oil - not a difficult fix but they can end up blowing the rear main seal. Cam sensors can fail but the car would barely run if this the case and abs modules and master cylinders can go - the abs modules are easily repaired.
Rear exhaust brackets fail and rear brake callipers can seize.

They really are well proven machines and very easy to repair and run

I've just bought a winter snotter - a 2.0 20v saloon for 100quid and she is a little cracker - (thread to follow) lovely jubbly!