What’s The Fault With My Volvo 850? Alternator?

Hello and welcome back to my channel thanks for watching. Today I am trying to confirm what the fault with my Volvo 850 actually is.

[@bernardcox9307]

Hi Scott Great to see young fellas getting there hands dirty. 👍 Haynes can help with very basic tasks. Not great for diagnostic assessment s. Robert diy on the Tube is the saviour of many an 850 worldwide. Lots of videos and sites all over the net. The glove test is essential!! If the engine breathing gets blocked the car will die. FOR EVER!

[@user-go2kw5lr2b]

Hi Scott,great to see more content on the beautiful 850. The idle problem, just make sure the throttle cable is free and light. If throttle seems heavy could be showing signs of seizure, mine stuck open once and frightened me to death. And the smoke? Just take the plastic spark plug cover off, and check to see how much oil is on top of your engine, common prob.

[@scottr9785]

Thank you for the advice will try that out 👍

[@nebnorahs]

Check cam seals for that oil leak. It's a cheep and easy thing to check and they can leak alot of oil. And the pcv is probably clogged aswell

[@star.force1111]

That car is perfect for the race track, the good mods from that car 1. Coilovers 2. Ipd Upgrade the bushings 3. Upgrade brakes 4. Lightweight flywheel 5. Stage 1 clutch 6. Short throw shifters 7. Sport Low profile tires but the good size from that is 205/45r16 because it's good for handling. 8. Strut bars 9. Magnaflow catback universal depends if you want 3inch size Track is really fun better than street racing..

[@SuperFIFTHGEAR]

There's probably a Robert DIY video changing an alternator, but on my diesel my mechanic had to remove the power steering pump (left it connected, just unbolted to move it out the way), took the pipe off going to the ECU and there was then enough room to undo the brackets for the alternator to remove it. I just got a Bosch one, which is what Volvo use. Was a pain to remove, to physically get out, there's probably more room with the petrols. As I said on the last video, there's a couple of different types of alternator, check the output compared to yours, and then check the plug connector on the back matches the replacement. Might be worth getting a secondhand exhaust manifold if yours is corroded. I am breaking a 1999 V70 so if they're the same you're welcome to have it for a cheap price.

[@scottr9785]

Robert does have a video they are very handy I must say. Appreciate the suggestions

[@delukxy]

High idle. Check all of your vacuum pipes. Quite a few of them tucked away. Can have dropped off a connector or be split/cracked. Warming up may open a split. Air leak will them make the mixture weak and the revs rise. Computer can correct this to a degree so it does keep running. Robert DIY will show you how to change out the alternator. Exhausts are expensive. Might just be a gasket or loose nut on the manifold joint. As soon as it starts and everything is cold, get your hand down there and feel for leaks. If you have someone who can put a gloved hand over the tailpipe it will make the leaks very obvious.

[@scottr9785]

Will check them out thanks

[@joett4618]

When doing the alternator would be worth changing the belt at the same time especially if there is no history of it being done before.

[@scottr9785]

Appreciate the insight Joe thank you 👌

[@kaspararrowitz8730]

With alternator... Inside alternator there are little plastic gears. If belt is running nice but there is still no eletricity produced that probably means that those gears have been wear off. If you wanna get dirty cheap, it is worth to change only those gears inside alternator. That was actually what was done in one of my Volvo car.

[@scottr9785]

Good to know had no idea about that thank you for the advice 👌

[@dazbooker]

Make sure its not the ignition switch this is a common thing that can keep the lights on the dash When the cars started try turning the ignition switch back a little tiny bit without turning car off and see if they go out Mine did this and it was the switch

[@dazbooker]

When the switch goes faulty it stops a few things working and can also stop alternate charging and could also cause issues with idle Try this first scott

[@scottr9785]

Thank you for the insight I’ll keep that in mind

[@sjbock]

About the smoke, have you done the "glove test" to check the PCV? If it's clogged you will see smoke coming off the engine. You can also see smoke if you take out the oil dip stick while the engine is running. Are you familiar with Robert Spinner's KZbin channel for 850s? He has a lot of helpful videos that have kept my 850 on the road. I bought my 94 850 NA automatic trans sedan new in October of 1993 here in the US.

[@scottr9785]

Haven’t tried that will do thanks 👍

[@mellam3564]

Oh dear