Mid 90's FH12 - any good?

really good truck with very simple ECM. but ufortunalty all old trucks are in bad condition/ If you find this in good shape, be sure, simple and reliable truck, more reliable then Version-II, no VECU, no ECAS, no EBS, no LCM.

There are two electronic units only: Engine ECU and ABS-C (under pass seat). Really it is old school.

D12A is Euro-II engine, so simple one coil Lucas ore Bosch injector units, no EGR, no EGT, no VGT, no SCR!!!

ECM is by Motorolla (12V and 24 V versions) and it is really simple. No CAN (j1939), no Flash memory (they used UV EPROM).

But use under cab priming pump only. No additional hand pumps, no compressed air to fuel tank, ECU is fuel cooled and may easily be ruined with pressure, so never use compressed air to clean fuel lines.

 

RyanNZ,there are a few points that you have to watch out for.
The Volvo's off that era have the following "soft spots":
1° airdryers were notorious for breaking and needing replacement
2°some had fuel going in the oilcircuit(a seal in the fuelpomp)
3°take the VIN number and ask a dealer what the fuelinjectors cost
It wasn't uncommon to hear off injectors breaking.(if memory serves me right ,they were very expensive at that time)


And then there is the fact it has 1,4M km.
We would concider that engine as completely worn out.(in Europe)
If i was ever to buy a similiar truck i would calculated a rebuild with also some airvalves needing replacing.

It also depends on what you want to do with this truck.
Will you run a lot off miles?
Do you have a place where you can work on this truck?

The seller doesn't have a record off work done to the truck?
And why is he selling it?

There are several risks involved with this truck but it is your call if it is worth the risk.

 

compressor mabe by knorr bremse is like tuo flo ewasy to rebuild.

Anyway, try to find guy with VCADs pro and do engine tests. Cyl. ballsncing test, compression test, fuel rate test, boost pressure test. All info would be useful for me

 

RyanNZ,that's why i asked what you would do with it.
You mostly want it for the crane.

I would rebuild the airsystem(compressor and airdryer) before i put it to use.
They will have suffered from standing still 2 y,they are a soft point on those FH's and you will be running the engine when using the crane.

If you rebuild the compressor early,you might save a lot off $ as the rest off your airvalves will last much longer.
The airvalves are actually more expensive then the compressor.
Those valves go very quickly once a little off water and oil (we are talking very , very small amounts) gets in then.
So it is better to cut the origin off those contaiminents.

Let us know how you got on with it,ok?

 

RyanNZ,
when we used to run those era trucks,we would replace the compressor preventive.

I will explain using our prices.
Compressor costs 850€.
2 major valves are more then 1000€.(not to mention the other small valves on gearbox,clutch,........)
A compressor that you run till the end off it's life will put oil,water,dirt in the system.
And airvalves will break very quickly from very,very little dirt.

So the safest and cheapest way to save money is to put a new compressor and airdryerfilter(if the line from compressor is dirty,oily and the airdryer really stuffed with dirt,replace them also)

That way no more dirt is put into the system.You will cut the source off contaiminents.

 

i would never buy anything italian