I've just bought a very cheap 740 to tide me over for a few months. I certainly wasn't expecting perfection but I am really disappointed at one problem. Basically after driving it any distance I feel rather 'high' and I'm thinking some sort of fumes are making their way inside. There is a feint oily film on the windscreen and possibly a very feint antifreeze smell from the vents - there's some sort of smell anyway. I was thinking that maybe the heater matrix was leaking but there is no evidence of wet carpets.
The car essentially hasn't been used for two years and I wonder if that has any possible relevance. Any thoughts as to what the problem might be? If the heater matrix IS the culprit, any idea how much it might cost to get it replaced. I see there are used ones available for about £45 but what about labour costs?! How big a job is this?
I might be able to get most of my money back on this car if I act promptly so am now trying to work out if i should cut my losses...
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I have one leaking on one of my XMs, the carpet is only vaugely damp but the smell very strong, goes off a bit on a long journey, probably when most of the coolant has evaporated, just depends how bad the leak is. Does it steam up the windscreen when you first start up?
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I THINK it steams the windscreen up just a little when first starting, yes, and then clears but will need to drive it a couple more times to see exactly what's going on. I'm really sensitive to anything chemical, actually, so even a tiny leak is too much for me... I was reading about Bars Radiator Aluminium stop leak which they claim will fix a leak for life. I will probably try that as a first step...
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Yes do try anything before attempting to replace the matrix.
Even though its many years since I had to take mine out to solder up the stubs (strained by a cowboy clutch job!) the experience has marked me for life.
About 5 hours to strip down & the same to reassemble, & bits strewn all over the driveway.
If you can't do the job yourself I expect that even an experienced mechanic would take a day so, at workshop rates, it would be cheaper to look for another car!
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Sounds about the same as mine, don't know much about Volvo's its not to difficult a job on the XM but I know some can be a pig, depends how deep it buried in the dashboard. The previous post seems to suggest its not easy, assuming he has the same car. You could try some sort of leak stopper, won't do any harm if the alternative is to scrap the car. You could always disconnect the heater of course, but a heaterless car wouldn't suit me!
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A weaping heater matrix is the most probable cause. Regards Peter
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You won't necessarily notice damp carpets straight away because there will be a lot to soak into the sound damping/underlay first.
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Many thanks for all the replies - much appreciated. I will try 'stop leak' and if that fails I'll give up!!
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I sympathise cj. Hydrocarbon fumes cause me great distress.
Can you close the interior vents to see if the problem is in the car interior (eg heater matrix) or whether something is coming from the engine area and through the vents?
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Thanks Aretas. Yes for a few years I've been massively sensitive to any nasties in a car's air. In this one, I'm now finding my eyes water, mental state changes dramatically, vision blurs, nose stings...! Been reading about the toxicity of antifreeze - it's not good!
If my understanding is correct, the leaking matrix is somehow causing antifreeze vapour to be blown through the vents. I'm curious as to how this happens... can't quite see the logic of it! Could someone explain?
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If my understanding is correct the leaking matrix is somehow causing antifreeze vapour to be blown through the vents. I'm curious as to how this happens... can't quite see the logic of it! Could someone explain?
Anyone?
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Some years ago I had a coolant leak to the interior on a 740 (F Plate) and this was due to the valve for the heater leaking. If you trace the wire from the hot/cold slider on the dash to under the steering wheel area of the dash you should find it connects to a valve system that allows the hot water (coolant ) flow into the car to be adjusted hot/cold etc. A Volvo dealers parts dept told me that these were "always going" and were a held in stock item, it's an easy job to relace as I remember a few clips and the part was about £20. Just an idea but maybe worth a look.
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It certainly seems like the heater matix leaking, albeit not in a big way. Ok, it's an old car which you don't intend to keep for long. How about a can of radiator seal?
JS
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The valve thing is interesting. Ive noticed that when the heat control is set to 'cold' the heater does still produces a warm output, albeit LESS warm. is this consistent with faulty valve and could a problem with this valve lead to antifreeze being blown through the vents? I can't find any trace of liquid inside the car, on carpets etc., just quite a strong smell at times - it seems worse when just starting up...
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If the matrix is leaking the coolant evaporates into the incoming air stream, that's why you can smell it.
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Re the valve; on a car of this age I expect the valve not to open and close fully as it is a movable part that in 20 years has been adjusted many times and would be prone to wear so even on the max cold the air in may be luke warm. If the valve was leaking this would be apparent as you would feel the coolant around it and on mine pools of coolant collected (luckily) in the snow trays (plastic floor mats).
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