just wondering when to call it quits on this car. as i stated in a previous post,
                  i've had the car for about 17 months and have put $7000 into repairs and
                  maintenance. it seems like the car has had every problem listed and now it goes
                  into the dealer tomorrow to check out why the ABS and TRACS light came on.
                  the things i've had fixed are the evaporator, thermostat, knocks sensor, control
                  unit, ABS motor pump, pnp switch, seat warmer and the previous owner
                  replaced the air conditioner compressor. i'm just so worried that the next
                  problem is going to be the transmission. the car is at 65k and am wondering
                  whether it's worth keeping knowing that i've got to have the timing belt changed
                  and am due for brakes. any advice would be greatly appreciated! thanks,

                  jeanene

                  Sounds like you have had bad luck. That's sad. I have nothing but good luck
                  with both of my 850R cars.

                  Also, you are obviously paying a ton for labor on these repairs.

                  Lastly, it sounds like you might be taking it in every time one of the sensor
                  lights comes on. That was my first inclination as well. I soon learned that just
                  because the Check Engine light comes it doesn't mean that I am about to spin a
                  main bearing or something mechanically horrible. Actually, that's the crux of
                  the matter...those sensors and the subsequent idiot lights usually correcpond
                  with something electrical (ignition or ECC) or fuel system related. Rarely do
                  they indicate a mechanical condition such as low brake pads, bad ball joints,
                  bad tie-rod ends, burned out fuel pump, warped rotors, warn piston rings,
                  broken wrist pins (serious stuff), broken timing belts (serious AND obvious),
                  etc.

                  So, when the light comes on it IS important to find out what is going on. BUT, it
                  is not always necessary to have the repair (if it actually needs a repair)
                  performed at that time. Often times the light may come on solely to inform you
                  that the car may be running a little lean/rich. No biggie. I have a HUGE gripe
                  with Volvo about this darn light. What's more, some dealerships never can find
                  the problem despite the Check Engine light coming on continually (rare).

                  My Check Engine light has been on for a year. I know exactly what fault codes
                  I'm dealing with, so I know whether or not the problem is serious.

                  I'd say keep the car and find a different repair facility that won't rip you off for
                  the little stuff. The 850 is rock solid and has excellent resale value. Keep it and
                  enjoy it.

                  --
                  Black Adder: '95 T-5R, Bilstein, Eibach; '96 850R Wagon, stock

                  I wish that I could help in some way. I have 173000+ miles on my 94 854
                  Turbo. I love this car and can't contemplate driving anything else. It sounds like
                  you got the bad end of the stick with your car as the repairs and costs that you
                  describe are more than my car have ever seen. The 850 series are just a great
                  platform, don't give up on it. I would however begin to do some work your self
                  and look for a mechanic that you trust. The dealer that I have used in the past
                  has cost me more money with miss-diagnosed problems and BS repairs than I
                  am willing to deal with. The Volvo dealer I speak of has been brough up on
                  this site a few times with upset customers! Case and point, just cause they are a
                  Volvo dealer, it does not mean that they are good at mechanical work. Just so
                  you know, my car has just completed a 1500 mile round trip to Atlanta, I
                  averaged 26 MPG and maintained 85 MPH for 90% of the trip. My check
                  engine light has not been on in months, the car just "Fast Passed" Maryland's
                  emissions test with shocking results! The car has no rattles or whistles,
                  everything works on it...See Volvos can go the distance! Stick with it! You
                  have sunk a bunch of money into it already. Stay here with us at the board and
                  let us help you fix your own car. Do you live in the DC metro area? I can help
                  you with the car! I don't want to steal any fire from the local dealer, but they
                  will never touch my car again. These cars are a cake-walk to work on, you just
                  need the right info to start with. Just think outside of the box, and don't let the
                  car intimidate you. Best of luck in whatever it is that you choose to do. Just
                  stick with it, stop paying the dealer retail prices for mundane work, buy a
                  service manual, and spend the money that the dealer was going to steal from
                  you at the mall!

                  Prospero

                  Give up when you cant take it anymore. Otherwise seek a solution.

                  Jeanene sorry about your problem ... dealer will always clean you out...
                  many often taking what they can .. they there to make money...
                  Not all dealer are bad... surely wish you know some one can help...
                  Car is bad enought when you don't know any thing about it the problem and
                  worried will increase...
                  I am sure your car is a good car.. I have the same year 1994 turbo
                  Sure wish you can learn how to fix it yourself... I am all new at this ..
                  but this board been saving alot of moneys.... and I have learn alot...
                  and get all the support from this board....
                  I help many friend work on their car they paid for the part and I get to learn how
                  thing work... I am sick and tire of spending big $$$$ every time I
                  take it to the shop.. so I am determined to learn..
                  I have a few tools ... and do my own basic repair... we have 3 volvo in the
                  family...
                  I can only said is if it not fun to own the car any more time to let it go
                  People on this board are great but we must work on our own car...
                  Many people get panic and spend big $$$$ fix every little thing on the car this
                  add up $$$$ if you take it to dealer...
                  Seat warmer ?? do you really need to get it fix ?
                  Air condition why fix it?? just recharge it buy a can freon $6.00 last for 1
                  years.... this is a cheap fix
                  but some will go out and replace the aircondition system spend $2000 and
                  complain...
                  The point I tried to said is if the car sound strong no rust change the oil
                  do basic tune up... and run it........
                  If it come to a stop than fix it.... life never worried about little thing...
                  I love our volvo it do have it up and down but I have many people on this
                  board to get feed back....
                  Better luck with your next car....sorry about all your problem
                  we all know very well car do nothing but costing us.$$$$$$

                  I'm sure you need an ABS control unit and if your car is a 1994 your on
                  borrowed time with the transmission.
                  --
                  jv

                  Why do you say borrowed time for the transmission. I have 82K miles and I'm
                  on the orginal PNP switch and transmission. Are the transmissions in the 94's
                  know to be that much worse then the 95 and on transmissions? Thanks..

                  Scott
                  --
                  Scott K - 82K miles 1994 850 Turbo

                  Scott: Don't worry about all the trans hype. Ask how many people have
                  transmissions without problems. Just flush it every couple of years or so. I
                  have 143,000 miles on original trans and PNP switch, original sensors - never
                  a problem. I just flushed using Mobil ATF on my 93 850 using 13 quarts at
                  $5.00 per quart and a couple new O-rings and a new clip; quite simple. By the
                  way, I believe the new receiver dryer and copper core evaporator ran me
                  about $200 total.

                  I have a 94 850 turbo. When my ABS light went on, it was only a bad pedal
                  position sensor, not the ABS control unit. A much cheaper fix.

                  As far as the transmission, you can see by a number of postings, not all 94
                  transmissions are bad. Mine has 88,000 miles without a problem and I drive it
                  hard. Changing the transmission fluid once a year is cheap insurance.

                  When it comes to the cost of maintaining the vehicle. I have owned the car
                  since day one and I spend typically around one thousand dollars a year in
                  repairs and outside maintenance.

                  94 850 Turbo, IPD ECU.

                  This is only my opinion: I'd like to bet that most transmission replacements on
                  these 850's are due to misdiagnosis and not real transmission failure. Change
                  the damn fluid occasionally - it's so easy to do, and so cheap! We are so anal
                  about changing our engine oil and filter every 3,000 miles, but we ignore the
                  other important things such as: brake fluid, air filters, trans fluid, engine
                  coolant, thermostat, vacuum elbows, injector seals, flame traps, turbo hoses,
                  plugs, rotor, distributor caps, plug wires. These are all simple things to do - go
                  buy a damn Haynes manual and get off the damn couch and put your mind that
                  God gave you to work. If I can do it you can. All the so called experts told me I
                  couldn't do my own evaporator replacement; bull - It took me two days but I
                  did it and did it better than the dealership - I used an aftermarket Copper Core
                  evaporator which should outlast me. Bricks are so roomy! Have you ever
                  looked at the legroom and interior room of these cars? They don't call them
                  bricks for nothing. Plus, they kick ass and are so smooth and quiet.

                  I like Bou Bous idea, that most tranny problems are related to misdiagnoistic
                  tests, nice spelling huh?, anyway we love our 83- 850 with now 120k and the
                  tranny has only been flushed, no other service, maybe we are lucky We are also
                  fortunate to have a very good mechanic for the things we can not do, a former
                  dealer mechanic on good terms with them so that they still let him borrow
                  special tools etc when needed. I hate hearing all these tranny problems because
                  it makes me worry. Of course if anycar is driven year round like it is at
                  LeMans it will need help.

                  Bou Bou, where did you get the copper core Evaporator? I think I'm due for
                  another Evaporator and I don't feel like replacing it again in the future. How
                  much money was it as well? Thanks

                  Scott
                  --
                  Scott K - 82K miles 1994 850 Turbo

                  Scott: It was manufactured by a company somewhere in Pennsylvania
                  (according to the sticker - can't remember the name now) but was acquired
                  through, I believe, Worldpack, a very large parts distributor catering to
                  independent repair shops. I hear they are an excellent company to deal with. I
                  believe you can find them on the net. Not sure of the spelling - it may be
                  Worldpac. I don't think they cater to the individual customer, but your
                  independent parts supplier or repair shop should be able to contact them.

                  Regards.

                  Bou Bou,

                  How do you know when your Evaporator has gone belly up? What causes this failure?
                  --
                  Black Adder: '95 T-5R, Bilstein, Eibach; '96 850R Wagon, stock

                  jean anne,
                  I do not know all the sites in this forum. Maybe you should tell us where you
                  are and people can respond with names of mechanics that they know you can
                  trust. (Careful out there people giving names of people that are crooks, protect
                  ourselves and friends but watch out for slander law suits). You might even be a
                  neighbor of someone here who can give you a second opinion. even if someone
                  is a short distance it will be worth the time. We have had tons of volvos
                  ranging from 544's to our 850.Look out the window at night and you will see 4
                  volvos in our driveway, and of course my work truck, wish volvo made a 3/4
                  ton pick up, Aside from the maintenance we do ourselves it took us a while to
                  find a guy we trust so much we do not question him at all. He is 35 miles from
                  us, and worth every inch of the way. If you or anyone out there is in the
                  willammeetee valley in Oregon, check out Steve Kirklee in corvallis.

                       I see that you have gotten many reponses, but none have mentioned simply that when buying a used car
                       you don't know what you get. Some of your problems lead me to wonder if the car may have been in a
                       flood or other damage. These damaged cars are fixed up to "running" condition and shipped all over and
                       sold as regular vehicles. Check your VIN on carfax.com and see if you can track down the previous
                       owner(s). Perhaps once you find out what is in your Volvo's past you'll be able to decide what's in it's
                       future.

                       I found out mine had been donated to charity because of transmission failure and previous owner didn't
                       want to pay for fix.

                       thanks everyone for all of your input! i guess i'm just so disillusioned with the car. before i bought it i only
                       heard great things about volvo. maybe the car has turned out to be a lemon. it really seems as if i get all
                       the problems listed by people on this forum. very frustrating! but, what are the alternatives? i need a
                       wagon to haul gear around and haven't found anything i like as much as the volvo. i don't know, i've
                       never heard of a car with such low mileage having so many problems. i'd expect problems such as water
                       pump, brakes, etc., but it's this sensor and that sensor. ugh.. i've got to make a decision soon as it's
                       approaching 70k and will need a timing belt and new brakes. on a brighter note, i have found a new
                       mechanic which i like and feel as if i can trust! we'll see.......

                       jeanene