I just acquired a "new" Volvo 240. 1989, from the original owner, only 150,000 miles. Kept in a garage. Taken in for regular service. It's nice. White with black trim.

Anyway, it has a sound in the engine compartment, most noticeable from inside the vehicle, and when the engine is not warmed up. This sound is a sort of warbling belt noise, and is very similar to a sound I also get from my other 240, a '90 wagon with over 200,000 miles on it.

Does this noise sound familiar to anyone? I suspect the AC / PS belts, and mounting bushings that might have pulling misaligned. Can sort of see this on the "90 but not on the '89 I just picked up. I also suspect the water pump. When I get under the hood and rev the engine I can't hear the same noise I do from inside.

Ideas and suggestions very much appreciated.

Hi Ron,

FWIW,try spraying some water on each belt individually. Often belt noise will disappear only to return after the water evaporates.

Marty Wolfson

Proud member of the 300K club

How about one more thought. The clamped weight on the high pressure ps hose, is it secure and in its proper position?

Mine has been making a noise for years when cold and I've isolated it to the power steering pump. Even though all the belts are aligned, when it's cold at start up, it's a bit noisy. Just put your hand on the top of the pump and see if you can 'feel' the noise. Hope this helps.

Xraybob,

Well, that's what I thought with my '90 240 wagon. The noise seemed to be coming from the PS pump. So I replaced it. Still makes the noise.

Hmmmmm. Well, if you *can't* hear it in the engine bay, maybe it's not coming from the engine bay? The torque converter in the transmission spins all the time - maybe the transmission has low or old fluid?

Could you type something out that sounds like the noise, if you were to make it with yourself? How about pitch? Like a high C on a piano? A little more description, even if it's terrible might point someone somewhere.

Good Luck

I'm at a loos ti mimick the sound. A fairly high pitches whirring, that speeds up and slows down with the engine. Someone has suggested it might be the AC / PS belts not properly lined up because of worn bushings in the mount to engine.

I changed the oil in my M47 transmission, in my '90 wagon. And I tipped the car way up to get as much Redline mtl into the tranny as possible. Did not make any difference in t he sound.

"I'm at a loos ti mimick the sound."

Borrow your kid's cell phone and YouTube login. Post the link to it here.
--
Art Benstein near Baltimore

What do you call a fish with no eyes? A fsh.

Sounds like it'd be worth poking around with a stethoscope or length of hose to your ear. To eliminate accessories, pull off the belts one by one. Maybe that will eliminate the noise. The other thing I'm thinking of is the timing belt tensioner or maybe something under the distributor cap.

Just out of curiousity, you're not listening to the AM radio, are you? Mine picks up spark noise.

Good luck!
--
740T and 244DL - Frank the Tank @287K mi. and The Polished Turd @237K mi.

Really does sounds like belt noise. If the pulleys are not lined up, the bushings are the culprit. If they are lined up it is likely the PS pump.

Any chance it is just your "perception" of an an usual noise? I do not notice any of the "old car" noises my 240 makes until I drive my wife's dead-silent Focus. I have changed the bushings on my car and the belts do run true and it is a lot quieter as a result...but...The car has no hood blanket, no sound deadening and I have not re-installed the felt kick panels in either driver or passenger side. The dog car is not loud by 1974 standards but by 2012 standards...