Volvo RWD 200 Forum

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Keep or trade it in? 200 1998

Owner of a 1988 Volvo 245 wagon with 125K and some minor rocker panel rust.
I was anticipating some serious maintenance this spring and now have a heater blower project to add to it since mine just started making a noise that frightens me and any passengers.

Work to do this spring:
1. Brakes (dust shield, rotors, pads) all 4.
2. Front passenger side ball joint.
3. Header pipe.
4. Tailgate wiring harness or new relay (I keep cleaning the contacts but the middle brake light keeps failing within a month after I clean and di-electric contacts).
4. Tire store keep telling me that I need new inner and out tie rods and front wheel bearings but my volvo mechanic says I'm okay. However, I still have a slight shake at high speeds 70mph on up even after several alignments and wheel balancing, so I'm debating doing these as well. Might also be bushing?
5. Now have a Heater Blower project (this might have to get done earlier since it's freezing in Boston).

Routine work I've been putting off.
6. Timing belt.
7. Fluid Flush (antifreeze, tranny, power stearing, etc.)
8. Other belts.
9. Flame trap.
10. Fuel filter.

My goals to accomplish but keep getting sidetracked by other projects.
11. Fixing the AC (new o-rings, temp sensor under evaporator, dryer, and hose from condenser to compressor)

I'm fairly resourceful however, all of these major repairs that need to be done will be my first time. I'm also nervous this will end up costing me several K, depending on how much of it I can do myself. I'm sort of debating finding a used 240 where this work has already been done and won't need these major projects for another 100,000 miles.

Thoughts or suggestions?








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Keep or trade it in? 200 1998

If your car has had any maintenance at all, 125k is just getting warmed up. I'd fix (or have fixed, ugh!) the safety items first on your low mileage Brick. I'd maybe post a want ad in the Globe or Herald and see if anyone might have a spot closeby that you can rent. When things warm up, it'll be easier to do some wrenching. Your car isn't worth a heck of a lot on the open market, is my guess.Keep her and go get another 220+k out of it, and let us know how she does!








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Keep or trade it in? 200 1998



Aside from the blower motor, these jobs are mostly pretty minor, actually.... the A/C will be expensive and not fun, but if you're doing the blower motor, you can do the new refrigerant retrofit at the same time and kill two birds with one stone.

If you can hang on 'til spring and are handy with tools, you can get most of this done for not too much money. Good-enough tools (Craftsman) are relatively cheap compared to shop labor. Volvo folks are helpful and willing.

However, if the car is rusty and you need to put on a bunch of miles before the weather warms up, it might be time to move on.

-Ryan
--

Athens, Ohio
1987 245 DL 324k, Dog-mobile, E-codes
1990 245 DL 137k M47, E-codes, GT Sway Bars, GT Braces, Dracos
1990 744GLE 189K 16-valve project
1991 745 GL 304k, Regina, 23/21mm Turbo Sway Bars








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Keep or trade it in? 200 1998

I doubt you'll get anything for it on trade. Especially if the rockers are bad.

As another gent here mentioned, these cars are most (I would say "only") cost-effective when you do your own repairs.

Yours has good miles at 125K but paying to get all that work done on a sub-$1K car is a tough way to go.
--
240s: 2 drivers and some parts cars








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Keep or trade it in? 200 1988

Hi,

I also own an '88 245 in Boston, and it's definitely too cold to do the work outside! Luckily I borrow a heated garage.

If the rust is not bad, I'd keep the car.

If it makes you feel any better, I've done most of the things on that list to my 245 and 242 in the past year (prior to that, I had little experience). The brakes, header pipe, belts, flame trap, fluid flushes, tailgate wiring (and probably the blower motor) are all things that the novice shadetree mechanic can accomplish.

Prioritize that list and make those repairs over the next 4-5 months. Things like the flame trap, fuel filter, fluids, and belts are easy, cheap, and can probably wait until the spring (unless you're way overdue for the timing belt).

If the brakes still have enough life in them to be safe, they can probably wait for warmer weather. If not, just have a mechanic replace them now.

The header pipe *should* be relatively easy, but maybe can wait?

Oh, and make sure you have a Bentley manual and some tools.

It's supposed to be in the 40's this weekend I think. Heat wave! Maybe you can tackle the blower motor then. Mine's starting to get noisy, but it goes away after the car warms up.

Also, I think if you end up doing most of these things yourself, you'll spend less money than buying a "sorted out" 240. I'm sure some on this board would consider a car with your problems to be relatively sorted out anyway.

It seems like a daunting list of tasks to complete, but really, on a warm and productive day, you could probably tackle the belts, flametrap, and maybe even the fluids. On another warm day, you could tackle the brakes. Go to FCPgroton.com. They have an excellent video of someone doing pads/rotors on a 240. Also look on youtube for b230 timing belt, and you'll find some good videos there (the one I found was of a British dude doing it on a 300 series car, but it's the same).

Jesse
'82 242DL
'88 245DL
'96 855T








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Keep or trade it in? 200 1988

I thinks it's probably worth doing the work since the rocker rust is minimal around the front doors, only a couple pen size holes that I put POR15 on.

I think I'm just getting tired with the weather and having to do work around the city in random parking lots or on side streets. I use to live in rural VT and it made doing work on my Brick much more enjoyable, especially under a tree with grass.

I think when everything is checked off the list it should last another 100K at least with minimal work. Maybe a new pair of shocks at some point.

I'm curious where you can borrow garage space around Boston? I'd even be willing to rent space especially if it gave me access to some sort of a lift. This would motivate me and excite me about doing the work myself.

Does anyone ever worry about safety around the city or on the highway in your Brick without air bags? There are a lot of crazy driver around these parts. That is another reason I'm thinking about upgrading to have the added safety of airbags.








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Keep or trade it in? 200 1988

I don't tend to worry about airbags or safety features too much. I just drive defensively.

I don't rent a garage. I am fortunate to have a sister who lives in the 'burbs and lets me use her garage when need be. In warmer weather, it's the curbside in Somerville for me.

Just fix your car as you can. If it's running reliably right now, don't stress about all the things you "need" to do. It's easy to read these boards and freak out about all the deferred 240 maintenance things. Truth is, these cars definitely need attention, but they also tend to be forgiving.

Jesse








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Keep or trade it in? 200 1998

It seems like you don't like to work on your car. The main reason many own these vehicles is that they can do the work themselves, therby making them economical. If you have to pay someone to do the heater, it will probably be $500. It's mosly labor and there is ample guidance to be found here

None of those problems are a reason to get rid of a car, but together they amount to alot of cash. You also have to consider the likelihood you will pass emissions. If the rust isn't too bad, I would keep it. Of course you should always be on the look out for a good replacement. As far as trading it, I don't think there is much value to the car
--
89 240 Wagon 217K, 94 940 185K








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Keep or trade it in? 200 1998

My experience has always been that when buying a used car, I usually spend at least 1K fixing things that the P/o left, so be sure to add that into your calculations. At least you know the demon you have.....The rocker panel rust would bother me though. You might want to try to find a rust free example and spend your money on that.







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