Volvo: 1995 Volvo 850 turbo, volvo 850, costly repairs

Question
How can you tell if a timing belt needs to be replaced?  And in New Jersey, what's the expected cost?

With 80,000, do I need to be concerned with the turbo too?  I like this car that I am considering, but my wife is concerned with what others have said on costly repairs with Volvo.  Is this a misnomer?  Thanks, Peter  

Answer
Hello Peter! The timing belt needs to be replaced every 70,000 miles. If there is no record of replacement, it must be done in order to prevent a costly engine repair. The cost of replacement varies depending on labor rates and parts pricing. In my shop, it will cost about $250. The turbo is only a concern if the car has not been maintained properly. The same goes for any other costly repairs. Make sure the car has full service records and have the car looked over thouroughly by a qualified Volvo technician before you buy. An experienced Volvo technician will be able to tell you what repairs the car will need. I hope this info helps.

Jimmy
www.jlcarclinic.com