deNs
Just a quick one! My retired father is driving (read: hooning) around in my T-5 I recently purchased and has mentioned something that I'm not sure about. He mentioned there's a coolant smell lingering after the car's been run and warmed up, though there's no smell inside the cabin while driving or idling. It's only when standing outside afterwards does it become apparent.
No coolant loss, and he said the carpet isn't wet, so thinking it's not heatercore-related, but just wondering if there's any cause for concern.
Cheers!
Ex850R
Slow coolant loss?
Check small hose behind head in front of driver.
Plan on doing the hoses , definately do the thermostat ASAP and a coolant temp sensor.
Is the coolant reservoir clean ? N oil?
deNs
No coolant leaks as far as I've heard, though I suppose that would only be obvious when idling, but no mention of the coolant level light coming on either.
Have been pricing up all the maintenance items from the main 3 sites (Partsforvolvosonline, FCPEuro and IPD) and PFV ends up ahead by miles. Priced up a few things I *may* need in the near future:
(may not be 100% correct)
To properly check it I'll likely need to have a look myself once I finally see the car for the first time next week. Cheers
@Ex850R :)
BradC
It takes very little hot coolant to give you that smell. I got it from a tiny weep on the bleed hose on the top of the radiator in the 740 and it took me months to track it down by going over all the cooling system with a torch looking for dried residue. I was losing less than 100ml a year. Fixed by lopping 15mm off the hose and clipping it back on.
Anthony
Agree with Brad, a little leak can smell.
The can even leak a little when started from cold but can reduce when warm.
Keep your eye out for anything suspicious, it's a warning sign.
Ex850R
That little bit of hose ate therear RHS of head is a common issue , so is the water pump which will weep and drip out a hole when its worn as is the radiator draiin tap wjhich you should buy as well.
Coolant bottle and cap , brittle...
Radiator , brittle...
deNs
Thanks guys - I definitely want to replace the turbo coolant hoses as from the service history I can't see them listed anywhere, but just going to need to find out what the right part numbers or hose names are, as I've mostly only found hoses for the overflow tank and for the main radiator hoses, though those tend to concern me less than turbo water lines. Will check out the hose from the head as well. Something to do once I see the car!
A 'timing belt kit' was put on ~12 Months ago, though I don't know if said 'kit' included a water pump. Some kits online seem to include a pump and tensioner, but I'll need to inspect that too.
Ex850R
If you dont know the pump was replaced then just replace it , you cannot tell if old or new mosstly...
Radiator hoses are as important , if they go , end of motor....
Had a leak at top hose at radiator when i went in to have it replaced the top part of radiator where hose goes crumbled as tech undid the hose....the palstic in the cooling system is cheese at this age ...
BradC
deNs;58200 wrotejust going to need to find out what the right part numbers or hose names are, as I've mostly only found hoses for the overflow tank and for the main radiator hoses,
Get a virtual machine and a copy of VIDA. Parts diagrams/numbers at your fingertips.
deNs
BradC;58203 wrotedeNs;58200 wrotejust going to need to find out what the right part numbers or hose names are, as I've mostly only found hoses for the overflow tank and for the main radiator hoses,
Get a virtual machine and a copy of VIDA. Parts diagrams/numbers at your fingertips.
Run a VM eh? How'd you know I didn't run Windows ;) I suppose I could be running OSX.. Anyhow, I've done just that, got VIDA and had a look, and found the two hoses in the turbo diagram. Incredibly useful. Thanks for the suggestion ;) I had seen a video of
this guy replacing the return hose and was surprised at that it was just a hose join.
Items 9 and 10 in the picture.
Given the location, is it a difficult job to replace the water pump, especially given it's driven by the timing belt?
BradC
I'd run a VM even if you *do* run windows. I put anything in a VM that has the slightest potential for putting crap on the system, and VIDA installs SQL Server plus other gumph. On top of that, I'll bet your source of VIDA is similar to mine and I don't trust that stuff as far as I can spit. If it's in a VM it's isolated, can be completely blocked from all net access and I don't care if it's virus riddled.
Good job however, it'll make your Volvo service life considerably easier. I've still got a copy of VADIS somewhere, and that was neat at the time too.
deNs
BradC;58260 wroteI'd run a VM even if you *do* run windows. I put anything in a VM that has the slightest potential for putting crap on the system, and VIDA installs SQL Server plus other gumph. On top of that, I'll bet your source of VIDA is similar to mine and I don't trust that stuff as far as I can spit. If it's in a VM it's isolated, can be completely blocked from all net access and I don't care if it's virus riddled.
Good job however, it'll make your Volvo service life considerably easier. I've still got a copy of VADIS somewhere, and that was neat at the time too.
100% agree with the reasoning, and I do the same on any Windows system when needing to sandbox environments for those kinds of reasons :) Just didn't expect to hear the suggestion of running a VM is all.
I suppose for the original issue - I'll have to take a closer look next week once I see it and get a chance to have a look underneath. Thanks for all the suggestions so far for things to look out for.
BradC
deNs;58261 wrote Just didn't expect to hear the suggestion of running a VM is all.
It's kinda a default answer for me. I've been using Linux on the desktop since about 96, and back then it was Windows 95 under Win4Lin for Eudora and Protel.
deNs
So over the past couple of days of trying to find it, the leak has shown itself, and has become worse. Looks like the culprit is the radiator:
Since those lines on the passenger side are the trans cooler lines (right?), that line above would have trans oil in it, and what I'm looking at is a busted end-tank potentially? Gonna talk with Berry Motor Group tomorrow morning to see what my options are and what kind of pain I'm up for. As soon as I got it back on the road after fixing the PCV system, of course this had to happen.
BradC
Look at it this way. Radiator much cheaper than a cooked motor.
deNs
BradC;59196 wroteLook at it this way. Radiator much cheaper than a cooked motor.
You speaketh the truth. The most annoying thing is that from the service history receipts, I can see a new radiator was installed in early 2012, at a cost of just over $800. Was hoping it was just a loose hose or something inexpensive to replace. Not expecting it to be cheap, but was hoping I could use that money to refresh the hoses, as they will need addressing too at some point most likely.
It feels like this car might be one of those cars where as soon as you fix one thing, something else comes up. So far, it doesn't inspire confidence. I feel like my 940 which was rather tired, was still somehow indestructible. Ah well.
Ex850R
Depends on the brand of radiator they used , price may only be what they charged if you know what i mean?
Some radiator stop leak run through after properly , flush out , run it till leak stops or a week , flush/fill with the coolant you dropped out , filter it back in. It will work for a good while , get new radiator on the order @Phillia Bear is doing with DO88 , not a crap one.
deNs
Cheers @Ex850R. I've unfortunately got to do a drive to Adelaide this week, with the only working vehicle available to me being the 850. I called Berry Motor Group who have a genuine radiator in stock, though getting an all-aluminium do88.se radiator is tempting, there's a pretty significant difference in price. I'm not sure which avenue I should go down - either replace it before I go with something that's likely to last me several years, or get the do88.se one which is also an upgrade as well, and should last forever.
To say the missus is unimpressed with the money I'm throwing at our 'new' car would be an understatement :\
Ex850R
It's part of the $2K to get an 850/x70 back to new again.
My missus's Camry needs so much work done its not economical to fix. CV joints/driveshafts. Head gasket , v6 so its engine and gearbox out . Interior is falling apart. Seatbelts are cactus. Window motors fail regularly. Suspension is toast incl steering gear. Cam belt etc....Any 1990s car with 200k on it isn't really worth buying unless previous owner fixed all that stuff. But I must say a Toyota is junk. Don't know how they got a bulletproof reputation , everyone she has had is future junk way before a 90s Volvo is....
Tell her ..