I'm looking at a 1995 940 with 230k miles for $600. It looks good and had recent servicing, eg tranny fluid changed. It gets 20/24 mpg, but "runs rough."

Seller added: "This thing had a head gasket blow out before I bought it, and was repaired in a fashion so the timing belt is permanently off. It means there's less power, and it runs rough."

I changed a timing belt on my Volvo 240, so I know how to do that. However, I've never heard of installing a timing belt so that it's "permanently off." Is this something I can repair to pass smog (California), or should I look for another car?

the seller is either inarticulate or a total idiot regarding his car and what was done to it.

no timing belt (permanently off) renders a b230 non running from now till the end of time, end of story.


you have not stated if its a turbo or na.

Thanks.

It's normally aspirated.

Seller says it runs, but idles rough since head gasket repaired. Seller claims that timing belt being positioned off of normal caused this rough idling. Also, car has poor power, such as difficulty climbing hills.

I haven't heard from seller, so if you have any questions I should ask him/her, please let me know.

Thanks

if the timing belt is off by as little as one tooth you will gain power on the high end with crap acceleration or massively gain on the lower end with no upside depending whether your timing is advanced or retarded.

if its off by more than a few teeth it will barely run if at all.

it sounds like the head gasket job was subpar.

1.re-tighten ALL 8 intake manifold nuts now. if they are lose and you have a leaky intake it idles rough

having done 100 or so belts in these cars, i can only imagine the dist. is stuck in the block. don't know why it's out of time, but a frozen dist. is the ONLY thing that might be the problem. i'd still buy it myself, can't advise you on anything else. except the bosch dists. don't USUALLY freeze in the block, the old chryslers did. THAT'S how i know about this. i'd contact the shop and get a better answer. good luck, chuck.

Thanks.

I presume that the 1995 940 uses a Bosch and not a Chrysler distributor. I don't understand how a distributor could seize so badly that a shop which is able to change a head gasket couldn't un-seize it (disclosure: I've only changed 2 B23F headgaskets).

Is a likely alternative that the head gasket warped the block and that the timing had to be adjusted to accommodate excessive shaving/leveling of the block/head just to get the car to run?

if you've done b23 h/gaskts, then you know how likely the timing is off-NOT. no way that thing was shaved enough to change timing. if so, get another head. again, talk to the shop. maybe the car has other problems and the seller cheaped out on repairs. i can't see under the hood, the light here sucks. good luck, chuck

A 940 would have the distributor driven off the back of the camshaft. As others have noted -- what does "permanently" mean?
I had a very nice running (bought with a blown HD) '92 940 Turbo. I don't particularly care for the 740/940 (too big) but it drove nicely, was comfortable and returned high 20's in gas mileage on the road.
As suggested you may want to query the repair shop first. -- Dave

iirc, some later 940s had a dist in the block. could be memory fade, too. been too long, chuck.

Thanks.

If/when seller replies, I'll ask for clarification on "permanently."

How much of a pain is accessing the rear distributor, say to change spark plugs, can, and rotor?

Thanks

Dear 1908242DLa,

Hope you're well. The distributor cap is secured with three hex-head screws, best removed with an 8mm ratcheting box wrench.

Hope this helps.

Yours faithfully,

Spook

Thanks.

I've owned a couple of 240s and a 740, never a 940. Anything different about the 940 that I should do in terms of working on it?

Thanks