Volvo PERFORMANCE Forum

About 2 weeks ago I bought a '91 Volvo 240 with about 82k miles on it. It had been parkd in a garage since 2003 and was rarely driven. The dealer had replaced the alternator, drive belts, battery, starter, and done an oil change. I drove it about 300 miles home. Since then have had the following problems:

1.The next morning, it wouldn't start until it warmed up.

2.Then, the belts were squealing. They would squeal for a few minutes of driving, then stop. It seemed worse when it was cold out, but they there seemed to be a squeal every time the engine was shut off and then restarted, even if it wasn't cold.

3.Then I was driving on the highway and they started to squeal and at about 65mph the belts came off (all 4) and one got shredded in the fan. All the emergency lights came on. Drove short distance (no power steering, enigine overheat warning) and then had car towed. All 4 belts were replaced for a total of almost $270. Mechanic said all was fine.

4. 1 day later belts squeal again, and after 200 mile trip, one belt is gone, belt closest to the engine. A neighbor who knows more about cars than I do looked at the belts and said they were frayed. One pulley, on driver's side he said was rusted and was chewing the belts up and would need to be replaced or polished smooth. He also said the belts were set down inside the pulleys instead of being flush with the tops of the pulleys and that one belt curved slightly.

I'm just looking for advice about what to do next. Take it to a volvo dealer? replace the pulleys/have them polished? Also, wondering about the hard cold starts...

and when the key is in position II before the car is turned on, there is a buzzing sound from underneath the car, near the back seat, which I'm told is the fuel pump. I believe the sound continues when the car is started an running. Is this a sign that the fuel pump is failing?

The service light is also coming on every time that the car is started now and goes off after about a minute or two.

And I also just noticed a rumble/growl when driving and stepping on the gas/increasing speed.....hole in the catalytic converter or something else?