I'm currently driving a 1991, 245, with 174K miles on the clock. This is project car that will eventually be a sleeper. Can't wait!

Before I owned this vehicle it was only parked outside, and I believe under trees of some sort or another.

Due to circumstances beyond my control I'm now forced to drive my "project" car and noticed the other day that I have no, none, zero air flow through the vents while driving. Even with the recirc off and the windows open I have nothing.

So I know I need to clean out the rocker panels to improve drainage, but how can I verify that my vents from the outside are blocked as well???? I also know that I will have to verify that the recirc switch is operating correctly, but beyond that what else to check?

Does anyone have an air-flow diagram of how the air flows from the outside to the inside through the vents???

Like to know how far I've got to dismantle the interior to fix this issue.

Thanks in advance,

Matt

Not having airflow thru the vents has nothing to do with the rocker panels.

The air flows into the cowling grill thru the firewall behind the center console into the Heater/AC Unit.
There is a vaccum acctuated door there (REC) that closes off the flow

Most likely your REC door is in the closed position, either because the vaccuum motor is not working or the vacuum hose to the motor is disconnected.

in a quiet place, run the motor to build up vaccum. turn off the motor and one at a time depress the buttons on the consol. Floor REC - DEF. Listen to hear the vaccum being routed to the vaccum "motors" and flaps moving. If you run out of vaccuum just run the engine again.

Some have shoved a tennis ball back there to hold the Door open


If you remove the drivers side center kick panel and look at the back between the heater and the firewall it is possible to see the REC door.

Some have shoved a tennis ball back there to hold the Door open if the vaccum motor fails.

one of these files show the whole thing...the Heater file

http://www.volvowiringdiagrams.com/?dir=volvo/-%20Service%20Manuals/Heating%20and%20AC%20240

Thanks for your post. In particular your link. It was very insightful and I plan to use the knowledge gained from that link to fix my 89's A/C as I think I've installed the expansion valve some what incorrectly which most likely is why my A/C is not working properly.

Once this heat breaks here in Maryland I'll dive into the dash to see what is going on down there.

Later,

Matt

I'm in MD too, up near Westminster.

You know the older 240s have another floor vent that dosen't involve the heater box. On the driver's side left kick panel, the one that also has the fuse panel flap, there was a grill with a manual door that lets in the air that comes down that side channel from the cowling and blows thru the rocker panels.

My 75 and 80 have this. You really get a lot of air flowing into the drivers side footwell.

My 87 has the grill and a cutout in the body for the door, but the cutout was covered with a plate that was just screwed in. I took the door off the old 75 and put it on the 87. I don't know why Volvo decided to seal this off in American models.

Not sure exactly what year Volvo stopped putting in the door, but I think all the 240 models have the grill and metal cutout set up to take one.

You just need to find and older model at the PnP to get the door.

CB,

A few years back when my A/C did not work in my 89', I actually found one of those at CRs in Mt. Airy.

I installed it right away, and YES, you do get a lot of air flow.

My 91' does not have that, though if I find another older one I want to pull it and put it in there.

By the way nice meeting you here. Have you met Art yet?

Take care,

Matt

CB wrote--"Not sure exactly what year Volvo stopped putting in the door, but I think all the 240 models have the grill and metal cutout set up to take one." Airbag equipped cars do not have the panel opening-the panel is solid. When I built my original '76 VolvOldsmobile V8 265 the FI control unit got removed from the right side footwell and then the cover plate. I installed a vent from 140 and then adapted the grille from the 140 side panel to the 260 side panel. The '93 245 that the motor is in now will have to have the metal panels cut open to install the fresh air vents. -- Dave

Interesting about the airbags.

Any ideas as to when/why Volvo stopped installing the Door itself, chosing to leave the grill in the plastic and sealing the cutout?

Hi CB,

I'm not sure why, but I'm wondering if it's something to do with all US cars having air conditioning at some point.

As to when, I don't like air conditioning but I do like fresh air, so I took your advice and looked at an 87 244 parts car I have. It had a functioning vent which I put into a blanked off 88 244.

Thanks for the tip.

Peter

I'll offer a speculation. The airbag knee bolster and hood release changes necessitated a new plastic panel. Since the vent was deleted years before, the louvers were omitted in the new design.
--
Art Benstein near Baltimore

A man will pay $20 for a $10 item he needs. A woman will pay $10 for a $20 item that she doesn't need.