View Full Version : $900 Volvo Fuel Pump!
trmcgeehan
08-27-06, 03:23 AM
I have a '93 Volvo wagon with 223,000 miles on it. The original fuel pump finally went out, and I soon learrned Volvos have TWO fuel pumps, one in the tank and one under the car. So I replaced both of them. $900 later, I was back on the road. I could have gotten a hell of a nice new bike for $900. Volvos are great cars, but when they break, they are mucho expensivo.
CommuterRun
08-27-06, 03:35 AM
Yeah, you could have bought a nice bike and a bunch of accessories for 900 bucks, but look at it another way. $900 worth of repairs ain't bad at all for a car pushing a quarter of a million miles.:)
i cannot believe two fuel pumps cost so much! i just replaced mine on a 91 nissan sentra for 100 bucks (including labor)
I-Like-To-Bike
08-27-06, 06:28 AM
i cannot believe two fuel pumps cost so much! i just replaced mine on a 91 nissan sentra for 100 bucks (including labor)
If you want to be amazed, check the prices for high speed bicycle pedals, seat posts, handlebars, shifters, brake levers, etc. Better yet check the prices on the latest high fashion styrofoam hats from the LBS boutiques.
Hippykid
08-27-06, 09:09 AM
Did you get genuine volvo parts or copy parts???
sringlee
08-27-06, 09:14 AM
You were had: see http://www.brickboard.com for more ideas and specifically the 700/900 FAQ:
http://www.brickboard.com/FAQ/700-900/
bmclaughlin807
08-27-06, 12:10 PM
I have a '93 Volvo wagon with 223,000 miles on it. The original fuel pump finally went out, and I soon learrned Volvos have TWO fuel pumps, one in the tank and one under the car. So I replaced both of them. $900 later, I was back on the road. I could have gotten a hell of a nice new bike for $900. Volvos are great cars, but when they break, they are mucho expensivo.
My entire ENGINE cost me less than that! Damn.
0_emissions :=)
08-27-06, 01:35 PM
Well, be glad you didn't have a diesel jetta or something like that...those babies I jeard cost over $2k!!:(
trmcgeehan
08-27-06, 01:51 PM
I bought genuine Volvo parts from a Volvo dealer. I live in a small town, and no one knows how to work on Volvos. So I have to use the dealer. They always do the job right, but they are expensive.
Yet another reason to not drive. If mechanics were smart and capable, they'd have a real job. Except for a very few who really enjoy what they do, and don't mind working overtime on poverty level wages for abusive customers. Those are understandably hard to find.
Go to another mechanic. These inepts are going to break your car, they didn't even bother to glance at the manual. The parts aren't that much, Volvo has been using the same pumps for decades. I'll bet you five bucks, the idiot mechanic didn't even look at the manual, (five more he doesn't even have it!) and removed the tank to change the pump instead of using the factory installed trapdoor meant specifically for this purpose. Peek under the factory installed plywood floorboards just behind the back seat, at the sheet metal. Yep, that little trap door. It's that easy. It's a one hour job. Dropping the tank is an all day headache, definitely enough to ramp up a $900+ labor bill. The other pump is right out in the open, one of the easiest parts on the car to get at. They don't know how to work on your Volvo, go find someone who does before they break it. If you need any more reason, hang out next time they change your oil, and ask to see the flame trap they replace. "Flame *what*?" The flame trap screens get plugged easily, and the resulting back pressure will blow out oil seals. The seals are cheap, but take a lot of labor to get at.
Four banger Volvos are dirt cheap to keep on the road, but only if you can find mechanic smart enough to not break it. Maybe not the most reliable, but durable as Stonehenge! I have an '86 240 wagon, very similar to what you have. (240/740/940, right?) They require some specialized knowledge and care, but even with that they're some of the easiest cars to work on and even most of the Volvo Genuine Parts are filthy cheap. Except for the 240's heater core, which seems to have been engineered by the devil himself.
But I hope it's the last car I'll ever own. I'm really tired of driving. And fixing. And maintaining. I hate parking. But if I drove anything, it would be that 240 or another like it.
Jerseysbest
08-27-06, 02:26 PM
If you want to keep a car with minimal maintenance expense, learn to do the work yourself. For $900, you could have gotten plenty of tools and a manual, the satisfaction of doing the job yourself and the confidence to take on bigger projects in the future.
Maybe you should just go carless. No matter how inexpensive the car, it's far more inexpensive not to have one at all, and it will enrich your life in innumerable ways. Walk towards the light, my friend....
lyeinyoureye
08-27-06, 11:24 PM
There are tons of places in the states where not having a car is more expensive than having one if you need to travel distances greater than ~30-50 miles. You could say, rearrange your life, and the lives of everyone around you just to go "car-free", but you may end up spending more money than if you kept your car.
There are tons of places in the states where not having a car is more expensive than having one if you need to travel distances greater than ~30-50 miles. You could say, rearrange your life, and the lives of everyone around you just to go "car-free", but you may end up spending more money than if you kept your car.
I wonder. Actually, I wonder a couple of things:
1. What's your motivation for posting here? I don't question your right to do so, it's just that I'm curious about what you might get out of promoting cars in a forum full of people who've decided to, you know, stop having cars.
2. How can it possibly be cheaper to keep one's car and and commute 30-50 miles a day? In addition,why would ANYONE want to sit in their car for several hours each week if they didn't have to? (And, realistically, most people don't have to; it's a matter of choice.)
cacatfish
08-28-06, 12:52 AM
I hate hearing of people getting taken for high $$ repairs. It is very rare for both fuel pumps in a 740/940 to go at the same time. Granted, the parts really are expensive if you want the right ones and not el-cheapos, but only one probably needed to be replaced.
Often they will run on only the external pump if the in-tank pump fails, since it's purpose is mainly to make life easier for the high pressre pump (the external one).
$900, if it includes labor, is not bad if they both were really bad. The in-tank pump is actually quite a nasty job. You can access the pump assembly through the trap door, but it is a PITA finagling the pump/filter out the hole without knocking it off, etc. Then, you have a mess of old, filthy pipes and a very forzen (usually) lid. Dont forget, inhaling gas the whole time.
I really like the old Volvos, and have done a number of DIY jobs on them, but next time I will leave that one to the pros. Just nasty. FYI, I believe the in-tank pump alone is about a 2+ hour book job.
lyeinyoureye
08-28-06, 12:57 AM
I wonder. Actually, I wonder a couple of things:
1. What's your motivation for posting here? I don't question your right to do so, it's just that I'm curious about what you might get out of promoting cars in a forum full of people who've decided to, you know, stop having cars.
2. How can it possibly be cheaper to keep one's car and and commute 30-50 miles a day? In addition,why would ANYONE want to sit in their car for several hours each week if they didn't have to? (And, realistically, most people don't have to; it's a matter of choice.)
I'm not promoting cars, just playin' devil's advocate. Why? Because generalizations are dangerous, especially this one! ;)
Starting with two... Seriously, most people can't physically commute ~30-50 miles per trip, two trips per day, five days per week, and depending on where an individual lives, public transportation can be more expensive, if it allows the individual in question to even commute, since there may be a patchwork of irreconcialable schedules from different public transit organizations. Going car free is not always more inexpensive than having a car, or even doable. Even going ~30 miles RT can be out of reach for those people with jobs involving lots of manual labor. Riding two hours a day on top of working eight hours unloading truck tires or mixing cement just isn't doable.
As for one, I'm here because I support and indentify with some of the views held by most car free individuals, and because of this, I am very critical of generalizations and claims made by those members that don't use their noggins. Going car free, car lite, DIY, etc... I'm generally in agreement with. But it may not be the best for everyone, and it's certainly not some great movement that could lead to a significant reduction of GHGs, fossil fuel use, etc... Which is why I post up in threads that have these absurd claims. I'm harsh because I love! :D
I fear for what is a rational, appealing concept, when zealots start zealoting. It's kinda like jackasses on CM rides, they cause more trouble than they're worth, with the end result being something that ends up even farther from the supposed goal of better relations with motorists. Sadly enough, in our polarized, poltical environment, people tend to look to those who are "right" (ala "Thank You For Smoking") rather than those who are looking out for their best interests. Along these lines, zealotry can easily discredit an otherwise good idea in the eyes of "Jane or Joe Public" because it's easy to show the zealot's statement/stance is absurd...
That's the beauty of argument, if you argue correctly, you're never wrong.
That is to say, be careful what we say. A small slip can discredit any rational idea in the eyes of others because most aren't rational.
Buy used parts from a scrap yard. Cars don't have to be expensive.
I-Like-To-Bike
08-28-06, 04:27 AM
I'm not promoting cars, just playin' devil's advocate. Why? Because generalizations are dangerous, especially this one! ;)
Starting with two... Seriously, most people can't physically commute ~30-50 miles per trip, two trips per day, five days per week, and depending on where an individual lives, public transportation can be more expensive, if it allows the individual in question to even commute, since there may be a patchwork of irreconcialable schedules from different public transit organizations. Going car free is not always more inexpensive than having a car, or even doable. Even going ~30 miles RT can be out of reach for those people with jobs involving lots of manual labor. Riding two hours a day on top of working eight hours unloading truck tires or mixing cement just isn't doable.
As for one, I'm here because I support and indentify with some of the views held by most car free individuals, and because of this, I am very critical of generalizations and claims made by those members that don't use their noggins. Going car free, car lite, DIY, etc... I'm generally in agreement with. But it may not be the best for everyone, and it's certainly not some great movement that could lead to a significant reduction of GHGs, fossil fuel use, etc... Which is why I post up in threads that have these absurd claims. I'm harsh because I love! :D
I fear for what is a rational, appealing concept, when zealots start zealoting. It's kinda like jackasses on CM rides, they cause more trouble than they're worth, with the end result being something that ends up even farther from the supposed goal of better relations with motorists. Sadly enough, in our polarized, poltical environment, people tend to look to those who are "right" (ala "Thank You For Smoking") rather than those who are looking out for their best interests. Along these lines, zealotry can easily discredit an otherwise good idea in the eyes of "Jane or Joe Public" because it's easy to show the zealot's statement/stance is absurd...
That is to say, be careful what we say. A small slip can discredit any rational idea in the eyes of others because most aren't rational.
Very well written and I agree 100%. I wish I had written that post.
Just as an addition to point 2, sitting in a car for several hours a week may be preferable to sitting and waiting for a series of busses that may take several dozen hours a week; if the bus service is available at all.
Iguess I wandered into the "Cars are Wonderful" forum by mistake. I'll leave.
I-Like-To-Bike
08-28-06, 11:28 AM
Iguess I wandered into the "Cars are Wonderful" forum by mistake. I'll leave.
Bye!
((regarding car free,)) it's certainly not some great movement that could lead to a significant reduction of GHGs, fossil fuel use, etc...
I have to take issue with you to some extent on that one. As people in or near India and China start to be able to afford more and more fossil-fuel usage, prices will rise dramatically and more and more people in countries like the USA will become car free simply because of cost.
zealotry can easily discredit an otherwise good idea in the eyes of "Jane or Joe Public"
Very true.
lyeinyoureye
08-28-06, 01:25 PM
Iguess I wandered into the "Cars are Wonderful" forum by mistake. I'll leave.
Stop being so reactionary! You're only hurting an otherwise good idea.
I have to take issue with you to some extent on that one. As people in or near India and China start to be able to afford more and more fossil-fuel usage, prices will rise dramatically and more and more people in countries like the USA will become car free simply because of cost.
Possibly. The only thing I have to say is that this switch wouldn't be strictly related to switching from cars to bikes persay, it's a convergence of economic factors. Something else to consider is that automobile manufacturers have so much head room in terms of auto efficiency... They haven't even scratched the surface of what they can do, which is very evident when looking at the efficiency of a Model-T, and the average modern car. After a century auto efficiency has stayed the same. :mad: Odds are, auto manufacturers can increase efficiency proprtionally to gasoline cost, to keep people in cars, and more importantly, consuming gasoline in order to keep the cost up and maximize profits.
slagjumper
08-29-06, 07:23 AM
900 bucks is better than a new car.
heywood
09-01-06, 11:41 PM
If you want to keep a car with minimal maintenance expense, learn to do the work yourself. For $900, you could have gotten plenty of tools and a manual, the satisfaction of doing the job yourself and the confidence to take on bigger projects in the future.
That's right.. :)
Cars suck. They suck BIG. I f****** hate cars. Not only do they cost large amounts of money for individuals; they also take up huge amounts of public resources including space, they're disastrous for the environment, and they damage the quality of life in urban areas. Are they useful in rural areas, and for specific uses that require large amounts of force? Absolutely. Does everyone need to have one to get to the mall or take the kids to soccer practice? Absolutely not.
Dahon.Steve
09-02-06, 09:09 AM
I have a '93 Volvo wagon with 223,000 miles on it. The original fuel pump finally went out, and I soon learrned Volvos have TWO fuel pumps, one in the tank and one under the car. So I replaced both of them. $900 later, I was back on the road. I could have gotten a hell of a nice new bike for $900. Volvos are great cars, but when they break, they are mucho expensivo.
I remember spending 4-6 hundred dollars a year to keep my old beater running. Those were the days I never had any money to spend because after paying for insurance, gas, parking, tolls, parking tickets, and regular maintenance, there was NO money left for major repairs. In fact, I'm almost certain the OP used a credit card to make this payment so the actual amount paid will exceed $900.00 dollars after the interest is paid. If you really want to see a group of unhappy people, visit a Sears auto center and watch all those credit cards come out to pay for the costly repairs.
Today, cars are getting very expensive to repair and all the electronics bult into them are not ment to last 7-10 years. It's understood you're supposed to sell the vehicle by year 5 or acquire a new lease to avoid all the costly bills. In other words, you're required to spend the rest of your life paying the banks or you'll pay the mechanics. It's all part of the "system" designed to extract money out of your pocket for an expensive lifestyle. Count me out.
Those for us on the forum who are carfree will never have to pay for a technician ever again. We don't have to worry if the mechanic read all the "books" to do his job correctly or whether he's ripping us off by overcharging on parts and labor. We don't have to study complex repair manuals or get under a cold, dirty vehicle to save money on repairs. Thank goodness, those days are over because our lives are not dependant on the upkeep of an expensive engine. We have found jobs that are close and easily accessible by foot or public transportation and shopping/entertainment is done the same way. Our lives are simpler and we prefer it that way. Carfree for life.
Eatadonut
09-02-06, 05:10 PM
Those for us on the forum who are carfree will never have to pay for a technician ever again. We don't have to worry if the mechanic read all the "books" to do his job correctly or whether he's ripping us off by overcharging on parts and labor. We don't have to study complex repair manuals or get under a cold, dirty vehicle to save money on repairs. Thank goodness, those days are over because our lives are not dependant on the upkeep of an expensive engine. We have found jobs that are close and easily accessible by foot or public transportation and shopping/entertainment is done the same way. Our lives are simpler and we prefer it that way. Carfree for life.
What a whiner. Cars aren't much more complicated than bicycles, just bigger. A Haynes manual costs about as much as the Zinn book I got. Cold and dirty? How warm and clean is your bicycle? My life IS dependent on the upkeep of an expensive engine - I tore my heel open when I got in a wreck (pedal snapped) two days ago, and I can't ride. I could go to the doctor, or I can keep putting neosporin on it and hope it gets better. I could drive a car, if I had one. Car free is hardly carefree. Life requires more planning, more forethought, and more effort.
lyeinyoureye
09-02-06, 05:44 PM
Precisely. A mechanical device is a mechanical device, each has their own advantages, disadvantages, and operating conditions... So unless an individual is actually making valid, quantifiable statements about how they operate, it's just opinion, which is fine, but not something to base an entire lifestyle around. Besides, there's no point in being reactionary, it just discredits an otherwise good idea. Just use the tool for whatever purpose you deem fit, if you feel it can be improved, then do it. Otherwise, STFU n3wb1!1eleven! ;)
Dahon.Steve
09-02-06, 06:44 PM
Car free is hardly carefree. Life requires more planning, more forethought, and more effort.
Agreed.
I did the planning, forethought and effort to become carfree. The good news was it didn't require much thinking or sacrifice at all and I found it quite simple. If becoming carfree was phsically difficult, I wouldn't have been able to do it. I'm not the smartest guy in the world but I found going carfree as simple as moving from one town to the next. In fact, if becoming car free ment changing jobs or traveling across the country, I would have done it.
Lamplight
09-02-06, 08:18 PM
A few years ago when I was really into cars, I bought a replacement fuel pump for my '72 El Camino for $11. :D
And by the way, I find working on cars to be one of the most miserable experiences known to man. I felt that way even when I liked cars!
Runaway Cyclist
09-03-06, 01:47 AM
Cars aren't much more complicated than bicycles, just bigger.
Hey, one word is missing in your sentence! Let me rewrite that for you:
Rhoades Cars aren't much more complicated than bicycles, just bigger.
http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/7042/4w1pjdm7.jpg
Now it makes sense. :rolleyes:
lyeinyoureye
09-06-06, 12:59 PM
Hey, one word is missing in your sentence! Let me rewrite that for you:
http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/7042/4w1pjdm7.jpg
Now it makes sense. :rolleyes:
Exposed driveline says what? :p
rocks in head
09-06-06, 02:53 PM
I bought my volvo for $500... put about $250 into parts (labor myself... brickboards.com is a good resource) and then sold it after 3 years (and a major speeding ticket) to a freind for $425. All in all a good experience, although I'm happier now without a car altogether... I let my fiancee worry about all the car stuff!
car-lite is nice, especially when the you're the lite and the significant other is the car half!
foreign parts are expensive. Find the nearest junkyard.
Since many people here seem unaware, repair time is not based on actual time but on an industry standard book that gives times for various repairs (don't remember the name). So even if the mechanic is an imbicle and it takes him double the time to do the repair, you should still be charged the same unless you're paying for them to diagnose a problem. (parents used to own a transmission shop, fyi)
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