Unmolested Volvo 850 GLT
Discussion
rednotdead said:
When I was there in the '90s it was one brand new tax free vehicle per entitled person in a 12 month period (so 2 cars a year for a married couple). To sell back in the UK it had to be at least 6 months old with c3250 miles on the clock. Not long after I left the rules changed. If you picked your brands and models right you could upgrade easily for no extra outlay - I had a friend went from a boggo 850 to T5 in about 4 cars with no extra cash changing hands. Saab 900 convertibles, Jeep Cherokee 4.0, Audi A4 avants and any Merc were all good bets to 'earn' some money or have an easy upgrade path.
Sounds similar to around 10 years ago.It was Range Rover Sports then. Hand them back after a year and pocket £12k, rinse repeat.
On Tuesday when I was out in the 850 there was a terrible rattle coming from somewhere on the passenger side, it wasn't there last year before I tucked the car away for the winter but I had noticed it a few times this year and it was getting worse so I decided to investigate.
Pressing different parts of the door card gave various noises and my initial thought was the door bin or the interior handle as most of the noise seemed to be coming from around these areas. I removed the door card and dismantled it. The door bin top fixing was broken so I used epoxy glue and reattached it, I then used Tesa tape to cover all the surfaces that would come in contact when I put it back together.
My attention then turned to the interior door handle, all the fixings for the recess cover were snapped off and I carefully epoxied them back into place, however the handle mechanism itself was held in by one bolt and the others were hanging loose so I tightened them, no doubt this was the cause of the broken pins. Next day when putting the recess cover back on the fixings all snapped off so I need to get new recess covers. I temporarily put it all back together and the recess cover is just placed in.
Went for a drive and I'm pleased to say the 850 is quiet as a mouse inside now, no squeaks, no rattles, it's wonderful.
Top fixing of door bin epoxied on
Tesa tape applied to all contact surfaces
Sadly my handle recess pins hack didn't work out
All nice and quiet again ( SWMBO was operating the camera whilst I was driving.
Pressing different parts of the door card gave various noises and my initial thought was the door bin or the interior handle as most of the noise seemed to be coming from around these areas. I removed the door card and dismantled it. The door bin top fixing was broken so I used epoxy glue and reattached it, I then used Tesa tape to cover all the surfaces that would come in contact when I put it back together.
My attention then turned to the interior door handle, all the fixings for the recess cover were snapped off and I carefully epoxied them back into place, however the handle mechanism itself was held in by one bolt and the others were hanging loose so I tightened them, no doubt this was the cause of the broken pins. Next day when putting the recess cover back on the fixings all snapped off so I need to get new recess covers. I temporarily put it all back together and the recess cover is just placed in.
Went for a drive and I'm pleased to say the 850 is quiet as a mouse inside now, no squeaks, no rattles, it's wonderful.
Top fixing of door bin epoxied on
Tesa tape applied to all contact surfaces
Sadly my handle recess pins hack didn't work out
All nice and quiet again ( SWMBO was operating the camera whilst I was driving.
I was lucky enough to find and purchase 4 door handle recess inserts in the correct shade of grey. They have not been available to buy from Volvo for many years and I was extremely glad I found these.
3 of my original 4 inserts were cracked, this is caused when the inner handle mechanism bolts work loose over time and the inserts crack as the door is pulled shut. Now they have been replaced the interior is back to original.
Front doors
Rear door
3 of my original 4 inserts were cracked, this is caused when the inner handle mechanism bolts work loose over time and the inserts crack as the door is pulled shut. Now they have been replaced the interior is back to original.
Front doors
Rear door
Couple of pics (not mine) from the Dumfries show
I was captured giving the car a quick wipe over when I arrived. I left Glasgow and by the time I reached Kilmarnock the heavens had opened. When I arrived at Dumfries it was dry, even the grass was dry and we never saw any rain all day. Result...
I was captured giving the car a quick wipe over when I arrived. I left Glasgow and by the time I reached Kilmarnock the heavens had opened. When I arrived at Dumfries it was dry, even the grass was dry and we never saw any rain all day. Result...
@ EdmondDantes Not sure if my car was supplied with the SIPS sticker but it should have been and therefore I felt compelled to have one fitted...
One of the first things I did when I bought the car was to have 4 new tyres fitted. I ordered 4x 205/50R16 tyres from National Tyres and they were fitted the very day the UK went into Covid lockdown. Once fitted the car was taken a short drive and then tucked away in the garage as we were not allowed to go out, I did notice on the drive that the balance was not correct but with everywhere closed there was nothing I could do. A few weeks later when in the garage tinkering I noticed the front nearside and rear offside tyres were 205/55R16 and the other two were the correct size. I contacted National tyres and they ordered in another two tyres the correct size. When I went to have them fitted I told them that I thought the balance was out and after they fitted the correct size tyres they re-balanced the wheels saying they were indeed out, however there has always been a slight vibration starting at around 65mph.
3 years on and coming back from Dumfries at the weekend and at motorway speeds I decided I had enough and took the car into RD Tyre Service (as recommended by a number of PH members on the forum) to have them re-balanced, Gerry was a pleasure to deal with, he was careful not to mark the wheels and torqued them to the correct 110Nm. His findings were O/S front 10 grams out, N/S front 15 grams out, O/S rear 30 grams out, N/S rear was fine.
Took the car a blast up the motorway and it's as smooth as butter.
One of the first things I did when I bought the car was to have 4 new tyres fitted. I ordered 4x 205/50R16 tyres from National Tyres and they were fitted the very day the UK went into Covid lockdown. Once fitted the car was taken a short drive and then tucked away in the garage as we were not allowed to go out, I did notice on the drive that the balance was not correct but with everywhere closed there was nothing I could do. A few weeks later when in the garage tinkering I noticed the front nearside and rear offside tyres were 205/55R16 and the other two were the correct size. I contacted National tyres and they ordered in another two tyres the correct size. When I went to have them fitted I told them that I thought the balance was out and after they fitted the correct size tyres they re-balanced the wheels saying they were indeed out, however there has always been a slight vibration starting at around 65mph.
3 years on and coming back from Dumfries at the weekend and at motorway speeds I decided I had enough and took the car into RD Tyre Service (as recommended by a number of PH members on the forum) to have them re-balanced, Gerry was a pleasure to deal with, he was careful not to mark the wheels and torqued them to the correct 110Nm. His findings were O/S front 10 grams out, N/S front 15 grams out, O/S rear 30 grams out, N/S rear was fine.
Took the car a blast up the motorway and it's as smooth as butter.
Rear wheels off today to clean the old balance weight glue from the rims and I have to admit that the only non Volvo part on my car is standing the test of time. The only reason I have aftermarket discs and pads fitted is because they were in the boot when I bought the car and the original 1997 discs were still on but in need of replacement. 3½ years of use and they are still in almost new condition. I know from experience if this was Volvo discs they would be rusty AF by now
Last day of the month therefore the last day of the year for the 850 to be on the road. This morning I took it for a 30 mile drive to get it all nice and warm, came home and washed all the coo poo off it, blasted the underside with the hose, washed the wheel arches, towel dried everything including the door shuts, then went out for another 5 mile drive to dry off any water that was still on the car.
Tucked up in the garage now with the carpet snail blasting air over it for the next few hours and the engine will not be started again until the middle of March next year.
Not been waxed for 3½ years and still beading nicely
Tucked up in the garage now with the carpet snail blasting air over it for the next few hours and the engine will not be started again until the middle of March next year.
Not been waxed for 3½ years and still beading nicely
When taking the 850 to car shows it’s always a problem trying to hide tools, cleaning products, spare bulbs etc. when the car is on display. I managed to find a genuine NOS CD cover, the type that was fitted to cars with 6 disc players in the boot and it arrived today. I cut a piece of plywood and screwed it to the bottom of the unit and fitted it into the car.
I love ongoing tales about ownership. I have no desire to own a Volvo, but the type of car doesn't matter, it's the constant slight improvements and attention to detail that fascinates me. Every time I have to dismantle something on any of mine I try to make sure when it goes back together it's been properly cleaned, painted and fitted with new bolts etc.
I might not want one, but it's a lovely thing.
I might not want one, but it's a lovely thing.
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