[kakalak]

I have a 1995 850 turbo. Bought it used last month. Even though I had Gold Coast Volvo inspect the car, they missed the broken horn contacts in the steering wheel. Their only advice was to replace the leather wheel for $540.
I bought a used leather wheel for $100.
The question is if there is a Volvo or aftermarket replacement for the horn contact?

I took a look in the old wheel and found that the red insulating material which surrounds the contact had broken into pieces and created a permanent "contact" so that the horn sounded constantly.

It looks like a simple $10 wiring harness with 4 insulated contact points.

Does the $10 problem really require a $540 wheel replacement?

 

[Simon Linton]

You really wonder how someone could miss a fault that makes the horn sound continously...

Surely you have recourse against the inspectors, unless they have a disclaimer which you agreed to.

If it's an insulation breakdown, you can probably make up a replacement with material available from Tandy or RS Components.

 

[kakalak]

The wires were disconnected from the horns. So the inspector did not test the horn at all. I climbed all the way from that dealership in florida to William Ford's assistant at Ford. They acknowledged that the dealership "forgot" to check the horn but refused to do anything about it.

 

[JHEIII850Turbo]

Gold Coast? I bought my 96 850 Turbo from them. They left TOO MUCH stuff disconnected in my car. In the bearings, they left the big screw out. They forgot to secure my tailpipe *constant rattle over railroads*, my windshield fluid nozzles were disconnected, they gave me a non-programmed remote, mostly minor stuff, still quite annoying. I programmed the remote, secured the tailpipe ($100 for the *special* Volvo hinge), and connected my windshield washer nozzles myself.

BTW, this is a *certified* VOLVO Pre-owned vehicle. (certified my a$$) excuse my language

Good luck kakalak (what's ur name?)

 

[kakalak]

My name is Dave and here are a few photos of the 850 I recently purchased via EBAY
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/aw-cgi/ebayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=596652734&r=0&t=0

 

[S.R.]

Dave,

Really nice looking car! It looks like it is in excellent condition. That color (Emerald Green Pearl Metallic) is pretty rare from what I know of. BTW, how was the Ebay buying experience? Did it go well?

-Drew

[This message has been edited by InDy (edited 02-03-2002).]

 

[zippadeee]

Same thing happened to my sister-in-law's 93 na sedan and my 94 turbo wagon. She raised hell and they replaced it for free. I raised hell and paid $600 plus. I cringe everytime something craps out on her car because it invariably happens to me one year later. My 850 has been a nightmareish money pit. Always dealer serviced on time. Synthetic oil from day one. Rear seal blew out just after warranty. Stearing wheel horn contact. Trim pieces (roof trim strip 3 times), 3 coolant tanks. Eats tires like candy. Shift lock. Have to tap radio volume knob to get right side speakers to work. Evaporator core. AC had to be almost totally replaced due to incompetent dealer service...3 compressors. Water pump crapped out suddenly recently resulting in a warped head, a melted radiator and other various repairs. Turbo is now leaking and needs a rebuild. Knock sensor is out too. And this is a car that is not driven hard.

But given all of this, that steering wheel replacement galls me most. I approved the repair before I saw the fault. The plastic on the contact disintegrated and caused the horn to sound constantly. Now you would think Volvo could design a proper insulator. You would also think Volvo would recognize a design fault and provide the $10.00 repair wire to fix it. Nope. The only fix is a new steering wheel. I complained both to Volvo North American and to Sweden...basic answer was tough toenails, Bub.

I could go on and on, but the price gouging keeps on coming. I have bought my last Volvo.

Ed

 

[mrmandmman]

That sucks that all that stuff happened to your car.

My 95 850 likes it better if u drive her hard every once in a while....well all the time

Pete