23 replies to this topic

[SwedeRacer]

When is it time to call it quits?

I take my car to the mechanics once again becuase the engine was smoking due to the an oil leak. Some sorta filler cap seal split. Luckily it wasn't the valve cover that had to be replaced. But when I picked it up from the mechanics it's always a good feeling to know everything is good and hopefully it will be a while before I have to worry about it again. But this time was the complete opposite. It didn't even start.

Something, that begins with an L collapsed they said? They finally started it and said it would be fine. I dunnnnnnnno about that. It would be a 500 dollar repair if it's not fine. I'm sick and tired of driving a car that I can't drive cause it's always broken. it's got 203k on it. I'm thinking about calling it quits. Or maybe it's my mechanics? I like those guys. Anyone know much about Marco Motors in PA? I even bought this car from them is the ironic thing. My sister just sold back her 240 she bought from them two years ago. I'm torn, we've been a volvo only family and now i'm the only one left. Should I give up or keep on going?

[theunderlord]

swweeet! sell it, and get a T!

[kenhoeve]

what they said is a lifter collapsed. they're hydraulic on our cars, and sometimes if they sit long enough, it takes a while to pump them up and have the valve operate normally. if your car runs fine now, I would say it isn't a problem. just like they said.

[VolvoT5]

It depends if you like the car or not!

I absolutely love my T5, it's my ideal car in almost every respect, and because of this I don't mind pouring money into it! I've only had the car since September and already I have had a couple of large service bills and a new engine!

If you don't love the car enough, then it's time to change!

[WhiteT5]

Or maybe it's my mechanics?  I like those guys.  Anyone know much about Marco Motors in PA?  I even bought this car from them is the ironic thing.  My sister just sold back her 240 she bought from them two years ago.  I'm torn, we've been a volvo only family and now i'm the only one left.  Should I give up or keep on going?

OK, clearly somethin funny is goin on with the mechanics. Everyone knows that 240's are indestructible. You will save tons of money, learn lots of cool stuff, and know that what needs to be done gets done if you work on your car yourself. It's uber easy.

[Che'_Moderator]

OK, clearly somethin funny is goin on with the mechanics.  Everyone knows that 240's are indestructible.  You will save tons of money, learn lots of cool stuff, and know that what needs to be done gets done if you work on your car yourself.  It's uber easy. 

LOL blame the tech. I thought he had an 850.... far from indestructible

[550]

wait you are a girl.... stay with volvo .... STAY!

[MrWinkey]

You know there are many good mechanics in PA have you tried searching the dealership /independant section here? Maybe you should get a second opinion?
Good luck or perhaps try CarTalks website there are many good ones listed there as well that specialize in Swedish cars. A second opinion would not hurt

[djjoby]

Well, I'll tell you what....I had an late 80's or early 90's 740 (I can't remember which,) but it was given to me by my brother-in-law. It had about 195,000 on it when he gave it to us. Anyways, the first thing that happened was the oil leaks. Buttloads of oil all over my back hatch and back windshield. Oil grease muck coating the undercarriage of the entire vehicle. It was so thick and dark, in order for mechanics to find out where the leaks were, I had to have the underside of the car and the engine steam washed! Over the next 6 months, I probably spent close to $3000 fixing everything that was wrong with the car. One after another, problems showed up, and I thought finally after spending $3000 on it, there would be no more problems. Then guess what.....cracked a head. Shaving cream for oil. I said screw it, sold it for $500 as is and didn't look back. I always have loved Volvo and always will (as I now own a 98 V70XC,) but I think when they reach about 200,000 miles, it's either time to sell it for a new one or buy a whole new engine (because you'll spend probably just as much fixing everything that goes wrong on it anyways.) I wished I would have just bought a new engine when I found out the cam seals needed replaced....but like the hopeful person that I am, I figured "hey, there can't be that much that goes wrong with it, right? after all, I got it for free!" I was dead wrong...I paid over $3000 for a car I got to drive for 6 months....make that 5 months.....since it was in the shop for probably 1 month alltogether.

Edited by djjoby, 31 May 2005 - 11:11 PM.

[WhiteT5]

Well, I'll tell you what....I had an late 80's or early 90's 740 (I can't remember which,) but it was given to me by my brother-in-law. It had about 195,000 on it when he gave it to us. Anyways, the first thing that happened was the oil leaks. Buttloads of oil all over my back hatch and back windshield. Oil grease muck coating the undercarriage of the entire vehicle. It was so thick and dark, in order for mechanics to find out where the leaks were, I had to have the underside of the car and the engine steam washed! Over the next 6 months, I probably spent close to $3000 fixing everything that was wrong with the car. One after another, problems showed up, and I thought finally after spending $3000 on it, there would be no more problems. Then guess what.....cracked a head. Shaving cream for oil. I said screw it, sold it for $500 as is and didn't look back. I always have loved Volvo and always will (as I now own a 98 V70XC,) but I think when they reach about 200,000 miles, it's either time to sell it for a new one or buy a whole new engine (because you'll spend probably just as much fixing everything that goes wrong on it anyways.) I wished I would have just bought a new engine when I found out the cam seals needed replaced....but like the hopeful person that I am, I figured "hey, there can't be that much that goes wrong with it, right? after all, I got it for free!" I was dead wrong...I paid over $3000 for a car I got to drive for 6 months....make that 5 months.....since it was in the shop for probably 1 month alltogether.

Wow, my sister's ex had a '90 740 turbo w/ nearly 275k miles on it and it ran like a champ. Original engine and tranny. I work with a guy that has an '86 240 that now has over 815,000 miles on the original engine and transmission. He still drives it every single day and he swears that it hardly uses a drop of oil b/t oil changes.

[djjoby]

Wow, my sister's ex had a '90 740 turbo w/ nearly 275k miles on it and it ran like a champ.  Original engine and tranny.  I work with a guy that has an '86 240 that now has over 815,000 miles on the original engine and transmission.  He still drives it every single day and he swears that it hardly uses a drop of oil b/t oil changes.

why didn't my brother in-law give me that car?

[pete0r]

whoa whoa

i'm seriously considering bringing my car there, but i didn't expect the prices to be 160+ for the 130k service, so i think i'm going to do it myself.

you like the place though? are the prices good?

[Mesoam]

i say try to get a few years up...93's are known to be problematic

[AirSquid]

Look,

It's 12+ years old and got over 200k miles. Yes, Volvo makes some reliable cars. Yes, you will find a couple out there with half-million miles...but if you need a highly reliable daily driver or a long road-trip mobile and it's within your budget, you've gotta give up the nickel-dime repair on any car with over 200k miles on it, and look to trade it while the engine starts. Non-running trade in with mechanical problem is gonna collapse any trade-in or resale VERY quickly. If you've got other mode of transport and a decent set of tools and some mechanical inclination...keep it till it has a major failure....else give up the ghost.

Had the same heartbreak with old Ford F-150. Fun to drive....easy to work on...but stranded me twice and I had to put it down. The newer GMC is bulletproof....

-Squid

[dylant]

I've got almost 200k miles on my '94 855T. I've owned it a little more than 2 years, and I've replaced suspension front and rear, 1 turbo rebuild, 1 fuel pump, 1 radiator (failed from hitting something on the road). I've done most of that work myself, and I'm really happy with how simple it is to work on this car. This site helps immensely.

I love driving this car, and it's great on long trips. I would love to see another 50k+ miles from it, but won't be surprised if I lose a rear main seal or transmission. I will be scratching my head over a tranny loss, but it'll be a tough call.

If you don't love the car, consider trading it in on a newer car.

-Dylan

[billr99]

Its all about maintenence. If the car hasn't had it or you're not willing to do it, probably doesn't make much difference what kind of car you have in the end. They all need things fixed, even Hondas. Easy answer is to learn to do the regular stuff yourself and leave the hard stuff to the pros. That way, you can afford to have just about any car you want as long as you know what you are getting into upfront. I've had 43 cars over the last 35 years of driving, some good, some bad, some really bad. Pretty much all the "premium" stuff and Hondas as well.

But the bottom line here is that if you are not comfortable with the reliably of the car, ditch it and get something you are comfortable with. Andmaintain whatever it is that you end up with. In any case, cars cost money to buy and operate and you will never get clear of that.

Good luck,

[gdizzle]

get a honda or toyota.

[fastboy]

get a honda or toyota.

Yeah do it!!!!

[Plan_B]

swweeet! sell it, and get a T!

sell it and get an 850, or a Lexus

[SwedeRacer]

Thanks for all the info peoples. It's still really a tough call. I'm a college student that drives a lot of miles per day. That's why if I've got a problem with it that's very bad. I'm usually out of the area and a lot of mechanics wont touch volvo's. Dealerships are evil when it comes to repairs if you have an older car.

I've already put over a grand into it since i bought it two years ago. I really didn't know I had that much to spend on it. I take it two two mechanics to save money.. I like to pin them one against the other. They are the only ones in the area that will work on it. What I do like about volvo's when it does have problems.. it will keep going until you get to your location.

So at least you'll get somwhere. It's not as bad as my sister's 240 was. That thing was worst than anything on pimp my ride. She had problems like she'd get water in her car when it rained. She'd have to play with the fuse box all the time to make turn signals work, breaks work, break lights... ect. I called it tilty cause the Darn thing slanted to one side. It was a MESS.

I am in love with that car, I bought it myself after a long fight of " your not getting a luxury car for your first car". I just deffently don't wanna end up like the guy who put 3 grand into it and only sold it for 500. Though this would be the end of the line for me and volvos at least till i'm a very wealthy adult. Then I'll have a garage full of them.