Last couple of short errands, my 1990 240 sedan starts up fine but has really lost some power going up hill and when I get to the destination, there's a warbling whining from the engine like a 1950s space ship sound track. It's not screeching but certainly there. My guess is belt noise.

Do these 2 problems sound related or just coincidence? Any ideas or insights? Would any of the belts cause power loss?

Hi there,

I'm focusing on the "whining and warbling" sound. My question is this: Are you certain it is coming from the engine. I mean, could it be coming from under the car, say, right below where the left side rear passenger sits?

--
Art Benstein near Baltimore

"To do is to be." - Descartes
"To be is to do." - Sartre
"Do be do be do." - Sinatra

Driveshaft carrier bearing?

I agree check all the belts.

Since you are losing power the timing belt may have jumped a tooth on one of the sprockets.
Thr tensioner bearing for the timing belt may be doing the singing noise as well.

The minimum that you can do is to loosen and retighten the tensioner through the the rubber plug in the front of the timing cover. It might bring thugs thing back into time.

If you have around 60,000 miles on the timing belt or that information is unknown, I would investigate getting it changed out before you end up stranded for a tow.

On the nineties cars, you have to remove the crankshaft pulley in order to change the timing belt so, most people change all the belts and any oil seals at this time too.

If the belts are not a mileage issue check the connector for the AMM for a corroded pin or one that may have slipped farther up into the wire connector clip. This can happen if the cable itself was pulled on while doing other work like changing an air filter recently.

Phil

Thanks I thought I had plenty of time on the timing belt but things happen...this gives me a start!

My my, I got surprised again that I'm recommending a possible cause to a woman operated car.
I should know better as the odds seem to be working out more and more to being even of 50/50 are posting here.

Since the warbling sound can be consider bird like in nature with a loss of power I went with the timing belt theory.

I now have another thought since you said only the engine area.

I do not know if you check your own fluids or what but, if this is an automatic transmission car, you could be low on fluid. This would cause a whine and a drop in pulling capability if it were getting extremely low.

Have you noticed at any time that the car hesitates to go into reverse gear when first started cold?

After you drive the car the fluid gets warmer and that symptom will go away because the fluid expands.
Later on it whines? This will stay or become noticeable even if you don't ever use the reverse gear.

A lot of short errands will add condensate or water, to the fluid in the transmission fluid and the shorts drives will not get the transmissions housing up to a temperature that will boil the water out of the transmissions oil. This creates a cavitation sound within the pump.

Excessive water in either the transmissions oil or the engines lubricating oil is not a good thing.

When was the last time the transmission had a oil service chang? Under normal driving operations the change interval is 30,000 miles.
For lots of short drives throughout several years you might want to consider a 20,000 mile interval or half of 30,000 in cold/wet winter climates.
The other choice is to use the car more and take longer trips of at least 15 to 30 miles like once a week.
The more you use the car the better it is for it as the battery will be kept charged better too. Try consolidation of errands in the future to get those temperatures up throughout the drive train.


Personally I think combustion engine vehicles are for on the road vehicles. The new idea of electric cars will be more attractive for use in urban living.
There will be a lot fewer maintenance issues over the life of an electric vehicle used for short errands.
The price of batteries and fuel cells will eventually fall even more and we will see a large jump in electric vehicle sales shortly.

Keep your Volvo as long as you need it or can afford the maintenance until the dust settles out.
A great change in the next eight years is a foot!
Those mechcanics that you say, do not like working on your "old" Volvo, are headed towards a horizon that is not going to look rosy for them in the future anyway!

Electric cars will not need high level skills and knowledge to maintain. In fact the battery packs or fuel cells, if design correctly, will be so interchangeable the service bays will be auomated with the use of robots as the power sources will always have a significant weight to be handled.
All they will be using is a bar code scanner and a keyboard to tell you .... "your car is ready to take you to your next "scheduled" destination."

Right now, if I were one of your mechcanics, I would be looking into becoming a geek in "Information Technology." Also, Self guidance car systems and their electronics or proposed electric power modules! No more coolant and oil changes for the life of the car will do them in.

Better to just get away from the automotive industry.
As a whole, I would think in a lot bigger dimension for a good full time career in transportation and power distribution controls of the nation.

Phil

Mercy! Thats a lot of info! So if we can all go electric, we can work on our own cars??? Change out batteries like a flashlight!! Love it!

It seemed like the warbling was from the belt pulleys in front of timing belt casing but I can't be absolutely sure.

The zen boys only work on Volvos but seems the older Vos are a pain now. They seem most disgruntled with the hunt for parts! They are busy. But remarkably efficient and affordable considering the shoddy work elsewhere around here at twice the price and cheap parts.

Yes, I check liquids often and transmission pink is good as I added a bit some 3 weeks ago to get it up to level. Engine oil is at proper level as of 3 weeks ago but a bit dirty as it could use an oil change, I'm sure.

I live in a hilly area and 2 trips were not on huge hills and enough to make me park her. If it is the timing belt and it breaks on the road, seems I'd be in a pickle. I don't drive on jaunts anymore, keeping to errands within a 30 mile radius of home but the power loss too noticeable to ignore. I did have her parked a good week before this as I had visitors and used their car as it was last in driveway so easier access to road. The boys always tell me I should drive her more.

Well, thanks for the info...I'm about to call and see if they can share any insights or they just want to see it. Don't know if I dare drive her as there's some mighty big hills on the way. Good thing I have 3A-plus!

1. You've checked the belts and bushings, correct? And ...?

1a. Try to locate the noise with a hose to your ear.

2. Power loss could be myriad things st other symptoms. Tried the archives?
--
240 drivers / parts cars - JH, Ohio

I've listened and looked...I'm no mechanic but need an idea before I go to a mechanic...limited funds!
Yes, I read enough at all the vo sites to scare the willies out of me so asked here.

Wasn't too sure if loss of power and noise was related and figured, although they may not be, you guys would know an instance when they are.

Could it be anything??? Yes...it's a 26 year old car! Used and abused but my only car!

I am just an old lady that happens to love old 240s!! I couldn't even change out my wiper motor without losing the intermittent wipers except on the stop position...LOL, they don't want to stop!!

Thanks for all your help...guess I'll call the zen Volvo boys in Ithaca and see what they say...they hate my old vo!!! But do excellent work.