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240 temp gauge spiking[ALL/1998] posted by art smith on
Wednesday, 24 September 1997, at 3:47 p.m.
This is my first time on this list; be kind...
I have a '92 240 auto wagon. When I start the car, the temperature gauge will steadily creep up almost to the red zone, stall there for about a minute, and then just as steadily drop back down to the midline, and stay there for the remainder of the run. It does this regardless of engine load (idle, up hill, down hill, etc.) or engine temp (cold start first thing in the morning, or third start of the day). Lately, it seems the needle is moving further into the red, and staying just a shade longer. The dealer pleads ignorance on the problem.
Thanks,
- art smith
Re: 240 temp gauge spiking[ALL/1998] posted by Stoney on
Wednesday, 24 September 1997, at 4:55 p.m.
Check the wire coming from the engine temp sensor, which is located on the left front of the engine near the distributor, it has a yellow wire coming from it that passes under the intake manifold. Check for broken insulation or burned wire-it could be shorting against the head when you start and then flexing back to normal position. Also could be a loose screw/bolt that holds the guage to the speedo cluster-if the nuts/screw that holds the temp and gas guage on is loose the chance of a faulty reading could result. Then the motion of the car could make it return to normal position. Also could be the voltage reg. for the speedo cluster and that can only be disgnosed by removing the unit and checking with a meter.
To access the back of the cluster you need to get a set of Torx bits or toex drivers-Harbor Freight Tools has a nice cheapo set with a driver for $10. Or try Home Depot. All the Volvo screws are now Torx-easy for robots-a bear for us humans! The trim to the left of the unit-headlite knob aea can be puled out and same for 2 square covers on right side then ou can get to the screws. Unscrew them and slowly pull speedo unit out and look on back in right half of cluster. Check all the bolts/screws/ nuts and smell for "burned" shellack smell of toasted resistors. If screws/nuts/bolts are loose tignten and restore the unit and check operation. If you smell burned stuff go to dealer or a good independent speedo shop and ask them.
Anyone else have any ideas?
BTW welcome aboard! Hope we were able to help you out!
email me with any other questions...or post 'em here and see what answers arise-we have some damn fine Volvo VISTA Techs here and a lot of talented "Brickheads" as well...I hear even Volvo Cars of North America folks lurk and scan to get the poop on new problems!!!
Stoney
Re: 240 temp gauge spiking[ALL/1998] posted by Abe Crombie on
Wednesday, 24 September 1997, at 7:21 p.m.
240's of that vintage have been known to have a poor connection between
the temp. comp. board that is mounted inside the instrument cluter and the
printed circuit board for the gauges. Cleaning the pins onto which the
temp. comp. board mounts and the sockets of the temp. comp. board that
fit over the pins and then applying a toch of vaseline to prevent moisture
from causing this corrosion fixes problem. Did you go to a dealer or an independent? I can't believe a Volvo dealer couldn't know about this.
Re: 240 temp gauge spiking/Abe you said it![ALL/1998] posted by Stoney on
Wednesday, 24 September 1997, at 10:34 p.m.
Abe-I think he has a lazy dealer that doesn't want to hassle with small stuff. We have many of that type of dealer, Volvo and other makes, here in Metro NY City area. Most are concerned with VOLUME sales and not service-that's why I went 35 miles from my home to get my used Volvo from a good dealer who has 5 VISTA techs on staff, 4 have been there 15 years or more!
Volvo NA bought out several dealers in NY City area due to massive customer complaints, during the last 5 years...we still have 2 Volvo dealers who could lease/sell a car to a dead man but can't fix a simple problem!
Example-Even Volvo NA is distributing an out of date USA dealer list! The one they sent me and charged me $5 for is a 1989 list!!!
The only good thing about MORON dealer service is they frequently leave you nice tools under the hood! (I "acquired" a nice torque wrench that way-I called and asked if it was theirs and they said "We don't leave tools under the hood" so I guess that the MAC Torque Wrench was left by Elvis as he was seen in the vicinity at the time!
Re: 240 temp gauge spiking[ALL/1998] posted by Norm Lizotte on
Thursday, 25 September 1997, at 9:24 p.m.
Abe is right on target about the poor connections for the temperature compensating board. I just cleaned the connection pins on one of my bricks, an 87 240DL sedan, and everything is fine now. You might want to refer to Robert Bentley's Volvo 240 Service Manual, the best aftermarket manual available. Order from ipd in Portland Oregon or your local book store (Barnes & Noble, Borders, WaldenBooks) should be able to get it for you (ISBN 0-8376-0285-8)
Another thing you might want to check to make sure the gauge itself is good. Go to Radio Shack or similar and get a 68 ohm resistor (you might have to parallel several resistors together to get 68 ohms). Now pull the connector off the temperature sensor on the side of the engine block and connect it to one side of the 68 ohm resistor (doesn't matter what side, resistors are bilateral). Ground the other side of the resistor to the clean bare spot on the engine. Turn on the ignition switch. If the temperature gauge is good, it should climb up to the 3/4 position on the gauge scale. If not, check your gauge wiring for shorts, if ok, get yourself a new temperature gauge. If the gauge reads ok at 3/4, check the temperature compensating board connections (four pins) as mentioned above. Also, it's possible your temp sensor is NG or breaking down. They're only about $12 at the dealer. Get a new one, and replace it. Unless you're quick, you'll lose a bit of your antifreeze, but it's probably due to be drained/flushed/replaced anyway, before the winter. Good luck.
Norm Lizotte nlizotte@iconn.net
Re: 240 temp gauge spiking[ALL/1998] posted by Shatz on
Wednesday, 1 October 1997, at 4:45 p.m.
I agree with the above notes regarding the likely cause of the temp spikes, but from my experience, when the board connection is the problem or the the gboard is wasted (i've replace two or three on my 86 240) the guage will act eratically, flucuating widley between high and belo normal.
With it spiking during warm up and then appears to settle in at normal with no further irregularities, I was wondering if the thermostat that's in there was the one that opens at a higher temp. I can't remember the differences betweeen them, but a I recall it may be significant.
Is this a wacky guess?
Re: 240 temp gauge spiking[ALL/1998] posted by Norm Lizotte on
Wednesday, 1 October 1997, at 9:30 p.m.
There are a few different temperature ratings on Volvo thermostats, I think a 186 degree F and a 192 degree F, maybe one or two more ratings. I've used both ratings in the same car, couldn't really see a difference in the indicated temperature on the gauge.
Norm Lizotte