Volvo Repair: intermittent oil light on 99 S80, volvo dealership, oil light

Question
Roger,

I am trying to purchase a 99 S80 2.9 as areplacement vehicle for my father-in-law. The vehicle that I am looking at, the owner tells me that the oil light comes on at idle but goes away on acceleration. He took it to a Volvo mechanic and was told that it may be the O rings in the oil pump that may be going bad and need replcement. I am getting this vehicle at a low price and would like to know if it is cost effective to buy it and take the car to the Volvo dealership to heve the O rings replaced (if you think this is the problem or if it may be something else not worth spending any money on the car). He had a used 99 S80 2.9 w/ 60,000 miles on it and he did not have any problems with it  and he loved the car. He would like to get another S80.

Your help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Ivan


Answer
Ivan, He is correct, however He must of gotten lucky on his other car because the 99 S80 is nothing but a headache. That oilpump reseal job is fairly expensive to do and you are taking a chance on other expensive stuff breaking on that car.  If he wants to stick with Volvo and have a similar look and feel then you should think about the S60.  This is my opinion so you should do what you feel you should do.  Roger