1986 volvo 240 DL. Any tips?

[Mechanickid]

I recently acquired just as the title says, an 86 volvo. It is a 4 door, 4 cylinder, 4 speed electronic overdrive car. Anyone know much about the older volvos?

 

[mentalbreakdown00]

I stay away like the plague, but some love 'em

 

[Spitfire1975]

I know they don't hold up too well when run backwards into a RBV.

I know a little about them. Unless you have tranny question. All I know about the trannies is the automatics suck and slow down the car bigtime.

 

[martin]

Nice comfy ride as long as you are not in a hurry to get anywhere. They seem reasonably easy to work on but I've not had to deal with any major issues with them. The later models are a different story altogether.

 

[Spitfire1975]

If you take care of them they will run forever. The above shown car had 200,000 on it and was running perfectly. 170 lbs compression, perfect vacuum. 5 speed shifted just fine and rode quietly and smoothly. This car will easily run another 200,000 with the right person.

 

[Spitfire1975]

They do have a "flame trap" that needs to be cleaned out regularly.

 

[Mechanickid]

Flame trap? Mine is manual and I'm just trying to fix little things that are wrong with it like the speedometer, it quit working at 248 k lmao...

 

[Spitfire1975]

Mine was a manual as well. The flame trap needs to be cleaned or replaced, from what I have been told every 2 or 3 oil changes and costs about $5.00. I didn't have our volvo long enough to mess with it. It is on the upper drivers side of the engine and has 3(?) vacuum hoses running into it. I have also been told that if this trap is not changed regularly it leads to a lot of premature engine damage.

Everything else should be relatively easy to change on it. Just a matter of taking your time.

Supposedly there is a fuse in the engine compartment that is known for going out and will leave you stranded. Do some research on that.....

 

[Spitfire1975]

Make sure you do not reset the trip odometer while you are moving. It will strip out the gears that turn the numbers.

 

[Spitfire1975]

Wiring harnesses are known for going bad on them. Volvos may run forever, but the wiring only lasts a few years. Kinda like boobs....

 

[Mechanickid]

Thanks for the tips. there are many things wrong with my 240 that i need to address. like brakes,radio,blower fan,overdrive needs rewired,speedometer repaired,ignition system overhaul, the works lol!

 

[Spitfire1975]

Have fun. They are electrical nightmares.

 

[robertc1024]

IDK - I had an '88 240 with the 2.4L and it was solid as a rock. Slow as one too. Make sure and change the timing belt every 50k miles. I got so good at it, I could do it in about 45 minutes. Never had any problems until one time I took off the plastic cover under the engine. Then when it rained a lot and I drove through a puddle, the water would make the v-belt driving the power steering pump slip and OOPS - no more power steering. A little scary when going around a corner.

 

[ronclark]

Make sure you get a Shop manual, for parts look up http://www.ipdusa.com/
that 2.4L is a solid if well taken care of last along time.
check all the rubber hoses and vacuum lines. anything plastic, rubber just does not last long

 

[JibbaJibba56]

I see these things all over the road still, true warrior car. Just keep in mind
Swedish Car = Electrical Gremlins
Beyond that my buddies 740 wagon runs like a champ. Knocks a little bit but still a champ. Acceleration of a box truck...but then again its a Volvo