Volvo: Brickboard STORIES Forum

Why you should NOT just use a jack -posted by- lucast

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 12:42 GMT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xN1Ev1pBlaA%0D%0A%0D%0AStands! And no idiots should be allowed in the garage.

Mileage -posted by- Manu Dibango

Wed, 9 Jul 2008 14:31 GMT

I need to know how many miles a 1993 940 wagon will run on a full tank. According to the manual, it fills up at 19.8 gallons. My fuel gauge is acting up and I do not have the money to fix it right now.

Just DIY and save -posted by- KlausC

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 16:45 GMT

In most cases, the fuel sender is just dirty and needs a gentle cleaning to allow the float to float. Just pull it out of the tank, let it dry, and then turn it upside down and back a few times, slowly, to determine where it sticks.%0D%0A%0D%0AYou can clean it with gasoline or a throttle body cleaner. Just be very gentle with it. See the 700/900 FAQs.%0D%0A%0D%0AKlaus%0D%0A%0A--%0AI still miss my 164 and my 854T. Just driving a V70R :)

And still another survival story ... -posted by- Andrew in AL

Thu, 3 Jul 2008 15:23 GMT

I know it sounds like I am going to speak of a wreck, but when I saw that other post about a wreck - I though to myself about the 760 I own that, if not for me ...no telling where she would have ended up.%0D%0A%0D%0AI had a 91 black 745t that was totaled. Loved that car. My 'friend' calls me and says ..."We bought a Volvo for our daughter. She has drove it for a spell, and is tired of it, and ...would you like to buy it? You know ..my husband is the credit manager at the Buick dealership, and this was traded in and it really runs like a sewing machine ..yada, yada, yada". The part about her husband working for the dealership should have been warning enough ...another story.%0D%0A%0D%0AAnyway, she sent me pictures, and it looks like a really clean 89 760, and after all .."it runs like a sewing machine". So I grab the wife, take a day trip waayyy down to south Alabama to check it out. I get there, and the paint is not that good, but it seems to run pretty good, body is straight, and the inside looks great. $3000.00 does not seem to be too bad a deal for such a low mileage 130k '89 760. I bite. After all, this is a friend.%0D%0A%0D%0AWhile driving it back, I note the rear end rides a bit low on one side, and it seems to be running a bit oddly on the highway. The gaudy blue lights on the replacement cd/radio tell me that someone was not going for quality in this dept, and when I pull on the cigarette lighter, the whole center console comes loose. It also is a bit warm, as the air does not seem to be doing that well. When I put gas in the door falls off in my hand. Oh, boy!%0D%0A%0D%0ANext day I take it to my trusty Volvo shop. Mike raises the hood, looks at it and says .."Where did you get this THING?". The tone in his voice tells me that he does not think much of it. The first two things he finds are front strut mounts on backwards at the top, and timing WAY out of whack.%0D%0A%0D%0AWell to make a long story short, his first repairs and corrections were some of many to be done to correct some crappy maintenance and bad shade tree mechanics.%0D%0AHis bill that day - 530.00%0D%0AIPD Nivomat conversion - 550.00 (incl. labor)%0D%0AFront struts - 150.00%0D%0AFront rack - 400.00 (inc. labor)%0D%0AAir conditioner service - 150.00%0D%0ATiming belt, seals and used distributor - 275.00%0D%0AAnd then a bunch of nit-picky here and there things ...all together well over the price I paid for the car to start, I am sure. Still needs a paint job. :)%0D%0A%0D%0AToday. Well, I am glad I still have the car, as I need it to drive while I fix the head on the wife's '93 940. Thing is, I bought this wonderful red '92 245 for me, and I was going to sell the 760. The wife is in the 245 for now while I fix her car ..so I am driving the 760. %0D%0A%0D%0AWow, this is really a neat car! It is running better than ever, really fast since I put new turbo hoses on it, and low and behold - it even stopped burping fluids on the drive. What's with that? Did this car hear that I was going to sell her, and decide to behave?%0D%0A%0D%0AAnyway - looks like I will keep her. She really has stolen a corner of my heart, warts and all. She survives to tool down the road another day!%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0A--%0D%0A' Of all bad men religious bad men are the worst. '' (C S Lewis ; on Evil Men) 89 764 (170K), '94 940T (265K), 92 245 (150K)

And still another survival story ... -posted by- Volvo From Heck

Sat, 9 Aug 2008 16:32 GMT

If your car started to behave itself because you were thinking of putting it on the market, I'd say you have a very rare item. Most of my "fun" cars would immediately break something the moment I thought about selling--requiring me to keep it in the fold until repaired.

Funny -posted by- Andrew in AL

Sat, 9 Aug 2008 17:34 GMT

Now that is funny! %0D%0A%0D%0AThere is still a lot to be done to this car, as there always is on older bricks like this. Since the initial post it has since developed a coolant leak. Since I am not sure of the mileage - it would not surprise me if the head gasket has not developed a weak place due to age. There has not been a massive coolant loss since I have had it, so that makes since.%0D%0A%0D%0AI am going to use Bars Head Gasket Repair (worked for a buddy on his 740). There, I said it in this secluded, less read forum ..as I know in the main RWD forums I would be flamed for doing such sacrilege..... :)%0D%0A%0D%0AThanks for reading and replying.%0A--%0A' Of all bad men religious bad men are the worst. '' (C S Lewis

Mileage -posted by- phastphil

Sat, 12 Jul 2008 19:56 GMT

you should get at least 400 miles highway probably closer to 440 depending on how well the car is tuned, our fuel guage is also on the fritz and we refill at 350 miles

Mileage -posted by- citrunner

Wed, 9 Jul 2008 15:59 GMT

This of course depends on what MPG you are getting. If it is all city stop and go driving it could be as low as 18 mpg, but my 93 turbo wagon has gotten as high as 35 mpg on the highway with a tailwind (converted to M46 transmission and 3.31 axle). Based on this range you could go anywhere from 324 miles @ 18mpg (assuming you can use 18 gallons of the 19.8 capacity - margin for error) to 630 miles @ 35 mpg. Filling up every 300 miles should be safe if the car is in good tune (normal fuel consumption).%0D%0A%0D%0AThe fuel sender which tells the gauge how much gas is left can go bad in these cars but they are usually repairable. On my car the float which slides along two resistors making electrical contact between them became too loose - electrical contact was intermittent and the gauge was erratic (usually read too low). I was able to fix it for free simply bending the contact until it made better contact while still allowing the float to move. Took some trial and error. There are instructions in the 700/900 faq.%0D%0A%0D%0AEric

13 people in a Volvo -posted by- lucast

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 12:03 GMT

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/north_west/7471102.stm%0D%0A%0D%0AAn S70

13 people in a Volvo -posted by- MTerry

Tue, 8 Jul 2008 20:49 GMT

I saw on one of those "Wildest Police Video" shows a Mexican Border Patrol stop where the runner had 10 people in an 80's Escort GT. It was real funny. It looked like a circus clown car. After the cop got the 6 people out of the car, he did a search looking for guns or drugs and found 4 more people hiding under the luggage cover in the hatchback.

13 people in a Volvo -posted by- Bob Law

Tue, 8 Jul 2008 22:54 GMT

Growing up my Mom used to put 7 people in a sqaureback to go to the pool-club.%0D%0A%0D%0AI had 7 adults in my Volvo 240. %0D%0A%0D%0AI also had 6 big bad bikers in a VW Bug (that was cramped !! %0D%0A%0D%0ABut 13 - that is too much. %0D%0A%0D%0A

Dupe post. No content.. -posted by- Andrew in AL

Thu, 3 Jul 2008 15:22 GMT

Duplicate post. Sorry.%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0A--%0D%0A' Of all bad men religious bad men are the worst. '' (C S Lewis ; on Evil Men) 89 764 (170K), '94 940T (265K), 92 245 (150K)

barnyard volvo -posted by- michael g

Sat, 1 Mar 2008 20:16 GMT

Well I need to let all know that this is a true story. I am located in Lancaster County Penna. Now the cliche of , Found it in a barn applies. %0D%0ABack in 75 I was a young buck crusing around the country side one Sat. morning. I was tooling around with a friend in VW bug slide rag top. We stopped by and old gas station that had a Coke machine to quench our dry mouths. As we were sitting on the roof looking out into the beautiful scenery of Ephrathas farmland I spied a chrome frame sticking up out of the tall overgrowth of milkweed and basically thorned weeds 30 yards out. Now I said to myself, What could possibly have such a low profile that showed chrome . Curiosity took hold and I wandered out into the field brushing away the brambles and dodging the numerous grasshoppers flying all about me. Blood flowing from cut legs and arms , shirt torn I came upon a red 2 door car, no top but a well worn canvas tarp trying to cover up this mystery car. Well I pulled it off and found myself looking at another kind of snapped down tarp of sorts. Pushining aside the heavy growth to get acces to the cover i pulled up and you gussed it, it tore away so easily it caused me to fall backwards into a ground hogs hole and down I went. When I looked up I saw a red triumph tr-3 and as I got up I was so excited with my find that I failed to realize I also uncovered a wasp nest and these guys were not pleased with me intruding on there classic.Well it became my car and first real restore project for a late teen.Never did I think lady luck would ever befall me like that again but this week I went to see some puppies out in the country. My intent was to look at the pups only and get back to work pronto. Well across from thisfarm homstead was another dairy farm with outbuildings and a bearded man at work in the coral area. As I was pulling away onto the road I detected in the outbuilding the lines of a car,Volvo amoungst all the farm gear stored. The breaks went on and I pulled up this lane and called out to the man,Can I look at your car?I could tell it had not been used for some time as I got closer and he says to me,its for sale but has some problems so I parked it. Well I was staring at a gun metal blue 940 gle sedan under all that barn dust and farm debree field of droppings. No tarp over this thing. Well I said I would come back and he gives me his Cell number, I would have bet the farm the last thing this guy would have would be a cell phone but he did, says us dairy farmers are rareley in the house . Well its mine now and I am the best husband ever for I gave it to my wife.Talk about cleaning up great only real flaw is were something called a pringle hook dented the license plate area. Shes now driving the 940 and I got the 240 5 speed Much jollification!!! Lovin the Red Brick Mike%0D%0A

barnyard volvo -posted by- sdewolfe

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 20:47 GMT

What became of the TR-3?%0D%0A%0D%0A%0A--%0AMr. Shannon DeWolfe -- I've taken to using mister because my name misleads folks on the WWW. I am a 52 year old fat man. ;-)

I really have to get out into the country more often ... Congrats! N.M.I. -posted by- Ken C

Wed, 2 Apr 2008 03:46 GMT

barnyard volvo -posted by- xmopar

Wed, 2 Apr 2008 03:27 GMT

Thanks for the story.%0A--%0A'83 245 M46, '86 245 auto

Another survival story... -posted by- macarose

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 01:43 GMT

A very good friend of mine in the New England area just got sideswiped by a propane truck at around 65 to 70 mph. He's alive. In fact, he's healthy enough to have written the following story.%0D%0A%0D%0Ahttp://www.cybersoapbox.com/SMF/index.php?topic=14596.0%0D%0A%0D%0AAs always, I wish all of you good luck... and stay safe.%0D%0A%0D%0ASteve%0D%0A

Another survival story... -posted by- walrus3

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 13:55 GMT

Got a message saying this post was off limits to me....%0A--%0AGeorge Downs, Bartlesville, Heart of the USA!

A hotrod inspired by the first Volvo -posted by- Henke

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 10:56 GMT

A hotrod inspired by the first Volvo, Jacob, or –V4 (open wagon 4).%0D%0A%0D%0Ahttp://bil.feber.se/art/41690/jakob_fr_nytt_liv_som_hot_rod/%0D%0A%0D%0A

question about limp mode -posted by- elmilt

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 19:07 GMT

I recently had a real problem trying to diagnose what I thought was a rich condition. I was using alot fuel and the shift indicator arrow was blinking. I checked the spark plugs (coated with carbon),temp sensor,fuel injectors,fuel pumps,pressure regulator,lamda sond and swapped out the main computer. What was really throwing me, was my understanding that when the car is in limp mode, it can barely get you home. In my case I was able to get on the freeway and pretty much go where ever as long as I was willing to waste the gas (and dirty my oil). Because I had purchased an after market AMM less than 6 months ago, and didn't believe I was in limp mode (which often indicates a bad AMM) I refused to blame the AMM. My mistake, and what a waste of time! I finally went down to the junk yard and bought an AMM for around $25.00. I have concluded that I was not wasting fuel because of a rich condition, it was running lean and was in limp mode even though I was able to reach higher rpms. I purchased the defective AMM on ebay months ago from OEM Parts. They replaced the part with no problem, the car has been running just fine now, but I will keep my junk yard AMM handy just in case. milt

About failing AMMs .... -posted by- Ken C

Wed, 27 Feb 2008 04:43 GMT

Just in case you're not aware -- the most common cause of AMM failure is prolonged exposure to overheated air caused by a stuck airbox (the air filter housing) thermostat that continues to direct heated air (from the exhaust manifold, via the foil duct) to the AMM instead of the alternate, cool airway from the duct in front of the radiator.%0D%0AI would inspect that thermostat, and even better (my personal preference*) do something to ensure that it never ducts hot air -- your AMM could last forever this way, IMHO.%0D%0A~~~~~~~~~~~~~~%0D%0A* I've personally used a dremel to literally cut out the whole flapper mechanism, and then seal the hot air opening with some "cap". From the outside, it appears (if you leave the foil duct in place) normal by any inspection short of opening the box (a real pain, and something state inspectors won't do).%0D%0AOther folks have replaced the thermostat with a dowel that keeps the flapper closed against the hot air opening.%0D%0AIn any case, don't trust the thermostat.

Method to replace an ECT sensor -posted by- gopeshs

Fri, 22 Feb 2008 16:53 GMT

Sunday Morning, got out for a smoke, put my hands in the old jacket and found the long forgotten ECT sensor . I thought if I could sneak it into the block within 1/2 hr may be the long standing code 232 problem will go away ,moreover I did not had any plans for the day . %0D%0AAny way a bright idea flashed in my head, thought it may be able doable by using a 19mm socket (newer sensor )and a long extension, no need to remove any thing . %0D%0A%0D%0AGot the tools out and took out the sensor within 15 minutes. Looked closely at the weeping hole and saw a copper washer ,gingerly plucked it from there with the tip of my fingers , prepared the newer sensor put the washer on it and started locating the hole where it fits. While I am concentrating the washer decided to slip away . I start the marathon search for it . It is not found any where on the floor, block neither stuck in any wires , finally thought that it may have slipped behind the breather box . Removed screws to take B Box but the wiring harness is standing in the way . Removed screws for warning harness but B Box will still not come out .so far 1-1/2 hr into the job got a call from wife, told her give me 1/2 an hr more. %0D%0A%0D%0ARealized that the air intake has to come out. Took out the air intake , removed breather box but no washer is present .Thought hard and felt that it may have slipped through those holes left by B box no visual clue however, Brought engine cleaner poured it in those holes . opened the drain nut . Checked the oil, still no washer. %0D%0A%0D%0ANow I was really frustrated, thought I should check the trunk may be an old washer is lurking around somewhere. So I emptied every box, every bag which is inside the truck. Gods finally pleased by my perseverance, took mercy on me and directed my hands towards a box which had an old washer. They also provided me cotton balls, antiseptic cream and three band aids. Rest was as they say "Refitting is the reverse sequence to removal"%0A--%0ADD-1990 240 DL SW M47II FI 3.1 220 K miles Turbo Sways,Custom headlight circuit ,Insulated roof,Tinted Glass,

Audi story -posted by- KlausC

Sat, 19 Jan 2008 01:19 GMT

You think you have problems? My wife called as she pulled out of the parking lot, about 30 minutes away from here. "Something smells like it's burning!" So I told her it was -4F and just keep on going.%0D%0AShe called again while waiting at a traffic light just 1 mile away, "It's coming from the engine compartment and smells really bad." Keep on driving...%0D%0ASo, I met her in the garage as she pulled in. There was a nice glow under the car, a flickering yellow light. Her car was on fire!%0D%0AI pulled the hood release, raised it and between the block and firewall was this nice flickering light. Now, there is very little room in the engine bay for an A4 with a 6cyl engine. But after blowing a few times, I managed to get the fire out.%0D%0AThat garage is now very cold and stinks to high heaven! After dinner, I guess I have to put on gloves, hat, coat, etc and take a look. There has to be a blown oil hose somewhere. It was dripping on the Cat converter, I think. There is just no room in that engine bay.%0D%0A%0D%0AMaybe she would like a new S60R???%0D%0A%0D%0AKlaus%0D%0A%0A--%0AThe 164 has a new home, all I am left with are a 95 854T and a 98 V70R :)

Oil breather -posted by- V70 owner

Wed, 20 Feb 2008 04:27 GMT

Interesting story, thanks for sharing. On the 5-cyl Volvo engines, where is the oil breather system? How do you clean it, or at least check its condition?

Oil breather -posted by- KlausC

Wed, 20 Feb 2008 04:54 GMT

You can remove the oil cap and place a large piece of Saranwrap, plastic, over the opening. If it gets drawn in, it is working.%0D%0A%0D%0AFor NA models, make sure the PCV is clean and especially the small hose that goes to the PCV. It can clog up real bad.%0D%0A%0D%0ATurbos do not have a PCV.%0D%0A%0D%0ABoth have an oil separator box under the intake manifold, which can only be accessed by removing the manifold. Once this plastic box is clogged, it must be replaced. Along with the hoses, of course.%0D%0A%0D%0AKlaus%0D%0A%0A--%0AThe 164 has a new home, all I am left with are a 95 854T and a 98 V70R :)

Audi dealers aren't cheap either -posted by- KlausC

Mon, 21 Jan 2008 15:15 GMT

I got the word from Audi this morning. Both cam seals failed, the exhaust one actually popped out! The oil breather system was clogged and the crankcase pressure got too high. $1200 to fix and clean up the instant rustproofing job. %0D%0AI asked why the breather system wasn't on their normal maint schedule and they said it was, but not for a car with only 60K miles. I guess Mobile1 doesn't matter when the car is driven by a little ole lady.%0D%0A%0D%0AKlaus%0A--%0AThe 164 has a new home, all I am left with are a 95 854T and a 98 V70R :)

740 ebay purchase / road trip -posted by- zak66

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 21:59 GMT

I found a 1990 740GL on ebay that met the specifications I required after not finding anything locally I wanted. I live in Colorado Springs, the car was in San Antonio. 108,000 miles (just broken in!), one non-smoking owner, never wrecked (verified), interior looked almost new in the pictures. The deal was made, I sent him $500, and he sent me an address.%0D%0A%0D%0AI flew down to San Antonio on Friday, December 7th, going from freezing conditions to 83 degrees, and took a taxi to his place ($20). The car was straight, everything worked, new tires, no leaks, but I did find out that the guy was a better photographer (or maybe salesman) than he was a maintenance technician. %0D%0AThe glistening paint, brightly reflecting the sunlight in the pictures, was oxidized on the hood and sunroof, and a little on the trunk. Gee €“ I thought those were clouds being reflected on the shiny hood! It was the clear-coat that was oxidized - the base dark gray paint was fine. Next, the picture of the interior was taken from the open driver€™s door and looked very good and in fact was very good. But, the grab handle on the driver€™s side (about where the cameraman€™s head would have been) was missing and the panel was cracked. OK, I can live with that, the car is about $1,500 below book, although that margin was disappearing at a frightening rate! The trunk was pristine (no tool kit), engine bay had been cleaned, so we took a test drive. The suspension was nice and tight, and a very smooth ride. The guy had the oil changed and had put in a new air filter. A check underneath, and money changed hands.%0D%0A%0D%0AMy plan was to drive from San Antonio to Ft. Worth that afternoon / evening, and the next day drive north to Oklahoma City on the superslab, and pick up old Route 66 heading west. And away we go! The tank was on empty and I was desperately looking for a station. The car started sputtering, and died once when I came to a stop. I figured €˜OK - my fault€™, finally found a station and filled-up. The car was still acting up and died twice more, but always started up again. I had thought earlier that this car may have sat a while, now I was suspecting I had a lot of floaties in my tank. I had cleared the big city, so I just proceeded up through the Texas Hill Country on highway US 281 at a steady pace (I€™m not very big on Interstates), and it seemed to clear itself up. (Note to myself: change the gasoline filter).%0D%0A%0D%0AAn evening in Ft. Worth with good friends and Texas BBQ, a check of fluids and tire pressures, and off at 5AM Saturday morning. When I started the car, I said €œDon€™t fail me now€€ and this (other?) voice in my head said €œ€Lucille€. OK €“ got a name now - lets go. About 50 miles south of Oklahoma City I ran into a wall of fog and dire warnings of bad weather from here into Colorado. Press on regardless! I picked up R66 at El Reno, avoiding Oklahoma City completely. The Mother road was empty and eerie in the fog. I€™m stopping often to take pictures and not making a lot of time. The weather is getting colder, and I€™m wondering what frozen fog looks like. Came to a spot on R66 where the road was closed for repairs, so I headed for the Interstate.%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0A The Volvo is purring like a kitten, just glad to be on the road. I haven€™t had a Volvo in several years and had forgotten just how comfortable they are. The newest Volvo I have ever had before this was a 1981 244DL, and that was my only new-from-the-dealer Volvo. My last Volvo was a 1971 142E.%0D%0A%0D%0AThe weather has really turned to crap, so I make a last R66 stop in Clinton, Ok. at the Route 66 museum there. It is a very nice way to spend about two hours (including the films). There is a Texas travel center somewhere between the state line and Amarillo, one on each side of the I-40. The one on the east-bound side has a route 66 theme, so I stop there for a break and take a snap or two, deciding then that was the last of my R66 stops.%0D%0A%0D%0AI wish I could say more about the car, but it is running smooth and no problems. Damn Volvos! When I bought a 1972 Dodge Dart in St. Louis and drove it back to Colorado, I got to write five pages on car adventures, Neanderthal auto store employees, roadside fixes and bailing wire / duct tape ingenuity!%0D%0A%0D%0AMy cell phone doesn€™t seem to be working, so I stop in Vega, Texas, where I will be turning north, and call home. It€™s about 25 degrees and the wind is howling from the Northwest. Hey €“ no more fog! I reach the New Mexico line at dark, and the road is black ice. Years of driving in Colorado and the relatively skinny new tires on the Volvo keeps me on the road with no problems, albeit at 40-45 MPH. I was driving head-on into blowing ice (frozen fog?) and discovered that my windshield squirters aren€™t working. I reached Clayton, NM. and decided enough was enough, especially since from Clayton to Raton pass was 90 miles of empty road, and the thought of slowly freezing to death in a ditch in northern New Mexico wasn€™t particularly attractive. My headlights had one inch of ice on them, which I scraped-off along with the 20 pounds of ice on the windshield, grabbed a burger (actually pretty good) from the mom and pop next to the Motel 8, and headed for my room. Sufficient on the day.%0D%0A%0D%0AThe next morning, scrapped all the ice again, topped-off the tank and started the 50 MPH trip home. I never had a problem with the Volvo slipping or sliding. The weather was actually better in Colorado Springs, since the main storm had already passed through. So, Lucille has a new home €“ it€™s been too darn cold to do much work on her. Oh yeah, the title got lost in the mail over Christmas. We have two post offices looking for it. Oh well, that€™s another story.%0D%0A%0D%0A--%0D%0A1990 740 GL and lots of Volvo memories

740 ebay purchase / road trip - GREAT STORY -posted by- BG

Wed, 20 Feb 2008 04:23 GMT

Great report, thanks for sharing! You are brave to buy a car sight unseen from someone off ePrey, but many people do it, so maybe I'm just a coward. Sounds like your purchase turned out OK.

740 ebay purchase / road trip -posted by- bmwguy22

Tue, 19 Feb 2008 04:15 GMT

Fantastic story!%0D%0AI encountered a similar story with purchasing my old 88 BMW, but it was in summer, and it wasn't a VOlvo.%0D%0A%0D%0AStill have it tho, but I'm waiting till I can afford a house, and THEN purchase the old Volvo as a daily driver. Ah, it will be blissful spending weekends repairing electrical problems, and tuning the engine "just right"/%0D%0A%0D%0AI also have't owned a Volvo since my 81 245DL with its simgle SU carb, and B21A engine. Only thing that drove that car to early retirement, was the horrible rusting floorboards. Aside form that it was mechanically trouble free.%0D%0A%0D%0ACongrats on the purchase!

740 ebay purchase / road trip -posted by- Wiglaf

Mon, 18 Feb 2008 21:42 GMT

Excellent story! After I looked at those pictures, I could almost hear Ry Cooder playing the Paris, Texas theme in the background. Bleak, but very lovely. My first Volvo was a 740, and I made major emotional connections with it. I was going through a divorce, broke as a church mouse, and sort of woe-is-meish. I got that old 740 and as I restored it piece by piece I came back to life. By the time I had put a headliner in it (Manual sunroof) and put a heater core in, I was a new man--a man with skinned knuckles and a shoe box full of parts left over. But, and this is a big but, the defroster worked.%0D%0A%0D%0ALoved your story and pictures.%0D%0A%0D%0AWiglaf%0D%0A

Some pictures of the Route 66 trip -posted by- zak66

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 23:58 GMT

%0D%0Ahttp://picasaweb.google.com/KermitLucas/Route66Okla128%0D%0A%0D%0APlease feel free to look at my other picture albums at that site.%0A--%0A1990 740 GL and lots of Volvo memories

740 ebay purchase / road trip -posted by- sdewolfe

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 22:18 GMT

Howdy,%0D%0A%0D%0AI always like happy endings. ;-)%0D%0A%0D%0AWhat became of the stalling? Healed itself?%0D%0A%0D%0A%0A--%0AMr. Shannon DeWolfe -- (I've taken to using Mr. because my name tends to mislead folks on the WWW. I am a 52 year old fat man ;-) -- KD5QBL

740 ebay purchase / road trip -posted by- zak66

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 22:39 GMT

Evidently - haven't had it sputter or stall since. I think the tank was really, REALLY low when I had the problem at first. I will go after that in warmer weather, since problems really don't just 'go away'.%0A--%0A1990 740 GL and lots of Volvo memories

Sorry to hear that .... -posted by- Ken C

Sun, 20 Jan 2008 15:38 GMT

Sorry to hear about that audi.... Hope it isn't as serious as it could be.%0D%0A%0D%0ABut a *new* S60R? There aren't any more :-(, having been discontinued.

240 NOT HOLD CHARGING. -posted by- Frankyjoe

Sun, 23 Dec 2007 15:02 GMT

CHARGING SYSTEM NOT HOLDING CHARGE ON MY 240 VOLVO NEW BATTERY AND NEW ALTERNATOR STILL NOT HOLDING CHARGE. BATTERY LIGHT ON DASH REMAIN EVEN WHEN CAR OFF.

240 NOT HOLD CHARGING. -posted by- goatman

Tue, 25 Dec 2007 22:10 GMT

Hello F, this seems like more of a problem then a story. You might get a better response posting in the RWD forum instead. You might also consider the use of type other then exclusively capital letters.%0D%0A%0D%0AYou might elaborate on the situation. Why did you change the alternator? Was this problem evident before?%0D%0A%0D%0AThe ground and B+ wire must be connected correctly and intact. The light in the dashboard is what energizes the coil in the alternator, allowing it to charge your battery. It runs from the alternator to the dashboard and then grounds. If the light is on continuously then your alternator may be damaged or misconnected.%0D%0A%0D%0AI wish you the best F, this Christmas Day!!!

240 NOT HOLD CHARGING. -posted by- Tim

Mon, 24 Dec 2007 01:55 GMT

Frankyjoe,%0D%0A%0D%0AClearly a short. Start by turning the car off and disconnecting fuses one at a time. If you see a spark then that circuit is active. then check to see if it should be. I had a similar problem when I put in an oil pressure gauge, hooked the hot side up wrong.%0D%0A%0D%0AAlso check the cable that runs under the front of the engine. It can short out against the block.%0D%0A%0D%0AGood luck,%0D%0A%0D%0ATim%0D%0A%0D%0A

240 NOT HOLD CHARGING. -posted by- Frankyjoe

Sun, 23 Dec 2007 15:04 GMT

charging system will not hold charge -posted by- Frankyjoe

Sun, 23 Dec 2007 14:54 GMT

CHARGING SYSTEM NOT HOLDING CHARGE. NEW BATTERY AND NEW ALTERNATOR NOT HOLDING CHARGE. BATTERY LIGHT ON IN DASH WHEN CAR IS OFF.

Strange but True! -posted by- murfdog

Fri, 30 Nov 2007 00:43 GMT

I've owned alot of vintage Big V's over the years but probably my favorite had to be my 1963 122 wagon. This goes back 25 yrs, I had restored the car and it was immaculate. Well we all know no matter what you all you've done there's something that will come back to haunt you sooner or later.%0D%0A My wife and I were car camping with a much of friends one holiday weekend up in Bath, VA in the George Wsahington State Forest. Beautiful weather all weekend until we pack up to come home. Half way thru packing the sky turns black and the next thing the bottom falls out and it raining so hard you can't see 20 ft in front of you. So we just throw everything in the cars and start down the mountain. Half way down my wipers quit working, I pulled over and checked everything I could think of with no luck. So we continued down the mountain with me looking thru a patch of windshield in the upper left corner that for some reason would not smear from the water. It was white knuckle driving all the way into Hot Springs VA. where we stopped for lunch and hope to wait out the rain.%0D%0A After lunch and a long wait the rain wasn't letting up if anything it was raining harder. On a holiday weekend in Bath VA you can forget finding anyone that knows about or has parts for a '63 122 Volvo. We had to be home that night because we couldn't miss work the next day. Then I had a brain storm or has my wife tells it later a brain laspe. Almost all vintage V owners carrys a tool box with them at all times. I got under the dash and disconnected the windshield motor from the wiper linkage. I then got some light weight rope from our camping gear and tied one piece of rope to the left wiper arm and another to the rightwiper arm. I routed the rope thru the vent windows and gave each end of the two ropes to my wife. If you could have seen the look on her face after I told her what I wanted her to do, if looks could kill I'd be dead right now and not writing this. By disconnecting the wiper motor and leaving the linkage to each wiper connected when she pulled on the left rope the wipers moved left and then she would pull the right rope and they would go to the right. So off we go with it raining cats and dogs, ours friends followed behind us in case something happened and we had to pull over they could stop has well. They later told us that from following behind our car my wife looked like she was beating her chest like Tarazan getting ready for his battle cry. %0D%0A I got to say she was a true blue trooper because she kept that up for a good hour until the rain slowed down enough so she could take a few breaks from the back and forth wiper pulling.%0D%0AHappy Trails,%0D%0AMike and (arms like a wrestler) Dana%0D%0A

Strange but True! -posted by- Serpent6

Thu, 13 Dec 2007 19:43 GMT

My girlfriend used to have an Altima with a similar problem (her wipers needed help starting their sweep). She used a piece of clothes line to pull the driver's side wiper. The fact that she did this routinely on dark, rainy nights whilst smoking cigarrettes and talking on her cell phone gave me some cause for concern. I tried to fix it but it was really beat up..Glad she's got a better car with working wipers now.

Strange but True! -posted by- brickbear240

Sun, 2 Dec 2007 06:57 GMT

We used to rub a cut onion on the windshield on a rainy night at the drive-in. Rain would run down the glass in a solid sheet and not distort the screen. Not sure about driving like that without wipers though. Good story.%0A--%0AHarold Thompson '84 245 Virgos

Strange but True! -posted by- Brant_740t

Sun, 9 Dec 2007 08:59 GMT

that is one great story, good thinking!

850 glt oh boy! -posted by- Orthodox7

Sat, 10 Nov 2007 05:54 GMT

I have a 95 850 glt. I bought it from a Volvo dealership about 4 months ago. I had always wanted a Volvo, and decided to get a used one, and see what I could get out of it. I got the car with 160, 294 miles for $2015.00. I first had the oil changed with Mobil 1 synthetic. I took it to Delaware from Pa. a week later. While I almost to my destination the check engine light came on, and the car started to shake violently. I pulled over and shut it off. I then started it up and got to my mother in laws house. We contacted her garage, they put it to a machine, and said, "we have no clue". I then called a Volvo dealership, but they were closed till monday. I then called a garage that said that it specialized in foreign cars. Took it there, and 4 hours later, they said:%0D%0A1. one piston was misfiring%0D%0A2. The spark plugs were kaput.%0D%0A4. The dist. cap was rubbish, and the cables too.%0D%0A5. Needless to say in bad need of a tune up.%0D%0A6. Air filter had not been changed and was filthy (prob not since 1995)%0D%0A7. Trans fluid like oil.%0D%0A%0D%0A4 hours and $498 later she ran like a dream. Just had the oil changed again, and now the check engine light is on again! no worries because it was on last week for a day then went off, I think that the mechanic never reset the light . Oh well, goes to show you that it is very important to know the service record of your Volvo. The guy that had it before me didn't service it once I don't think. Ok maybe one oil change in 12 years. I have just spied a 740 wagon for sale 2 4 blocks from my house. Might call, and I will check every thing with a magnifying glass and the finest of fine fine tooth comb.

850 glt oh boy! -posted by- Orthodox7

Mon, 12 Nov 2007 17:37 GMT

The check engine light came on again! I am thinking it could be anything. I have done so much to the engine to fix, and maintain it. It idles rough, the man who owned it before really did a number on it.

850 glt oh boy! -posted by- 740madness

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 01:12 GMT

just my two cents.%0D%0A%0D%0AThe 95 is equipped with a odbI computer which in 96 changed over too the odbII.%0D%0A%0D%0AThe 95 computer can be reset I believe by disconnecting the battery. This i think will clear codes.%0D%0A%0D%0AThe 498 you spent for a tuneup might have been needed but did little if anything to address the check engine light. The mechanics just cleared the codes.%0D%0A%0D%0AYou can read the codes yourself and diagnose the problem. It is generally one of the sensors.

850 glt oh boy! -posted by- KlausC

Fri, 16 Nov 2007 17:37 GMT

What a good car. As for your check engine light, check it by yourself. Read the lengthy article here: %0D%0Ahttp://www.brickboard.com/FAQ/700-900/EngineOBDCodes.htm%0D%0A%0D%0AThen you can clear the codes and find out what else may be wrong. I suggest checking and clearing codes every time you flush the car.%0D%0A%0D%0AKlaus%0D%0A%0A--%0AThe 164 has a new home, all I am left with are a 95 854T and a 98 V70R :)

My 240 keeps on running but it is one rough ride -posted by- VPunk

Mon, 29 Oct 2007 03:06 GMT

I was wondering if any Volvo experts know what could cause a rough ride? %0D%0A%0D%0AI have a 1986 240 sedan. %0D%0A%0D%0AI have had the front end checked out a couple of times by 2 different mechanics. They seem to think the front end is fine.%0D%0A%0D%0AMy Volvo does have a slow leak of steering fluid which I keep an eye on. %0D%0A%0D%0AThe car has raised suspension in the rear end.%0D%0A%0D%0AAnyways, you can feel every single bump and crack on the highway or in the city (where I admit there are a lot of potholes and construction upheavals on most streets). %0D%0A%0D%0AI am thinking that more rust has settled into some of the under parts.%0D%0A%0D%0AI was also thinking that when driving the car, everything keeps going but it is laboured and forced....therefore there is some grinding and harsh wear that is affecting the ride.%0D%0A%0D%0AI think I keep the car well maintained. I have made sure that the brake pads are new (volvo parts mostly).....to me it is vital to be able to stop on a dime when driving downtown or on the construction highways.%0D%0A%0D%0AAny ideas about possible causes? %0D%0A%0D%0AI do not do any of the repairs myself. %0D%0A%0D%0A Any advice may help me guide the mechanic in what to look for. (hopefully so the mechanic doesn't come up with ideas of how to fix 20 things that don't need fixing and find the real problem).%0D%0A%0D%0AThank you.%0D%0A%0D%0A

My 240 keeps on running but it is one rough ride -posted by- Orthodox7

Sat, 10 Nov 2007 05:35 GMT

Hello, it might have to do with the engine, my 850 had the same problem the one piston was misfiring, cause the car to shake and the ride to be rough.

My Volvo Saga....A Happy Story :-) -posted by- Volvolvr

Sat, 10 Nov 2007 02:39 GMT

Let me start this off by apologizing if this gets long. I had to find a place that could appreciate the joy of my new purchases. %0D%0A%0D%0A A few months ago I sold my 1998 Grand Prix with 224,000 miles and figured I'd try out a Volvo since they invented the High Mile Legend. I ran across a 1991 740 that the original owner's son was selling. The story is that his mother is 85 years old and purchased the car new. She unfortunately was placed into a nursing home and they sold or disposed of all of her belongings which included the Volvo. The bad part is that they could not find one shred of any type of service record, owner's manual or anything on the history of the car. But, the car's condition spoke volumes. It has the low mileage of 133,000 miles and shows practically like a new car. It could easily pass for a two-three year old (if not for the body style). Its original silver paint has a beautiful shine with no evidence of any paintwork ever and no clear coat problems. Which in our Florida sun is a miracle. I was told it was garage kept and I believe it. The interior shows no signs of fading anywhere. It has the steel gray cloth interior. I'm sure the tinted windows helped to preserve it. %0D%0A%0D%0A My wife's 2002 Focus SE that we special ordered new and now has 70,000 miles on it was having some minor problems that needed my attention. So while I took care of the problems I loaned my wife my beloved '91 740. She'd been itching to get her hands on it since the day I brought it home. Two days later I had her car serviced and was ready for her to return my baby to me and she said, "ummm...how about you drive my car for a little while."...uh oh. I saw it coming. I had lost my baby..to my bigger baby. After a week I approached her again. This time I got the..."well lets do this. Lets let you drive my Focus and I drive the Volvo. My car is newer you'll enjoy it." So I knew something had to give if was ever going to get my Volvo back. %0D%0A%0D%0A Today I picked up a local paper and lo and behold what beckoned to me from the pages, nothing but this: For Sale 1990 Volvo 740 books and records. Keep in mind finding an older RWD Volvo around here is virtually impossible. Let alone one with books and records! I called. The guy tells me that he has had another call on the car earlier and the woman that called is going to come by when she gets off of work at 12:00. So I figured I'd better run on over and check it out before the woman gets a chance to look at it. The guy tells me he bought the car four months ago from the original owners with the intention of letting his employees use it as a local beater and maybe he and his wife would drive it occasionally when his primary vehicles were being serviced. Problem is...he didn't check with his wife first or his employees second. His wife hated the car and his employees refused to drive it. Ha! some people have no appreciation for an aged classic. Anyway, he had owned the car a total of 4 months! But, he claimed the car was immaculate. So I thought what the heck I'll take a chance and go look at it at least. OMG! thank goodness I did. This car is incredible. Yes it has a few more miles than my '91 but it makes my '91 look like its been abused..lol. It has 161,000 miles, but then that is less than 10000 miles per year.%0D%0A%0D%0A The guy pulls out a bag that is stuffed to gills with receipts, letters, books etc. I was absolutely blown away. Now lets get this straight people..yeah I know some people keep their records but this is amazing. The car was purchased new by a couple who were each 69 years old when they bought the car. This fact is supported by the original purchase invoice that actually has each of their birthdates on it..obviously this was prior to any privacy laws...lol. This couple kept every single invoice or receipt for every oil change, tire rotation,battery,tag receipt..blah blah blah. They also had the original service book with the dealer stamps all the way to the end of the book. Who dealer services to then end of the book? But here's the amazing part they even stapled every receipt with what was done to the car for the service stamps to the book. Every thing you can imagine has been done to this car. These people in the last couple of years have spent a few thousand dollars servicing this car. It is evident that this older couple truly loved this car. The paint is flawless as in the interior. It could easily be 61,000 miles instead of the 161,000. %0D%0A%0D%0A So after inspecting all of the records I bought the car. The guy wouldn't come off the price but $125 because he knew what he had. The guy asks me if I wanted to let my wife see it since I told him I was buying it for her. I said no because if she didn't want it I knew that my cousin would buy it from me since my cousin has been drooling over mine every since the day I got it. Besides my wife is out of town and I'm going to surprise her with it on her return. I did at least let her know I was buying it. %0D%0A %0D%0A After we completed the transaction we were chit chatting and he laughed and said the lady that had called had missed out,he mentioned her by her first name. I thought hummm thats odd my cousin's first name is that and I know how much she loves my car. So I asked him what the woman's phone number was. And guess what!? It was my cousin..lol. I immediately called her and told her she needn't worry about going to look at that Volvo she'd called about. She was in shock. She couldn't believe I'd beat her to it..she hung up on me...lol. Of course I called her back and we had a good laugh. She is sick though. I told her she should've taken the day off..lol. %0D%0A%0D%0A So now we are a two Volvo family. They are both Silver. But mine has grey interior with a sunroof and my wife's has blue interior with no sunroof. Boy do they look great sitting in our driveway. I've talked to my wife and we think we are going to sell her Focus. Can you believe that she'd give up a 2002 model for a car that is nearly 18 yrs old? Well of course you can believe it...you guys are Volvo lovers.%0D%0A%0D%0A P.S. I've attached a pic of my '91 I didn't have time to take any pics of my wife's '90 today. I'll add some of it as soon as I take them. %0D%0A