Greetings All ~
What was the year range where the engine harness was sub-standard in the 240?
Was it only the 240?
Or other Volvo models as well?

The door lock actuator wiring was also bad
and never upgraded as the engine harness was.

Thanks in advance~
Joseph in New Mexico.

I can't recall the source, but about 15 years ago an authoritative source told me to avoid only the 1983 and 1984 240s due to the wire harness problems. Either I didn't listen or heard the advice before I bought a 1983, which had a wire harness fail. The mechanic charged me some awful amount and was very angry after having completed it.

The brickboard FAQs cited below made a reference to rough idle being due to a wire harness problem, but didn't explain which wire.

The other references Dave provided didn't specifically address that. I've had two 1980s, one with 300k and my current with 145k that had intact wire harnesses. Nevertheless, I have a spare wire harness.

My 1988 240 DL N/A (apparently outside the years listed) has a rough idle that I haven't been able to solve. My new mechanic told me to live with it. If the wire harness is responsible, which one should I look at?

Hi 1908 ~

Or maybe an air leak?

https://youtu.be/dPYwKYTAmYg

Thanks.

Idle rough persists despite:

disassembled the throttle body a while back and cleaned it.

replaced a couple of broken vacuum lines and have 18 mm Hg and steady vacuum.

spraying propane around vacuum lines, intake and exhaust manifolds, but not hearing a change in idle speed.

Hi 1908 ~
Have you cleaned out your throttle body?

https://youtu.be/WR8mRQcMywo

https://www.brickboard.com/FAQ/700-900/ElectricalCircuitsRelays.htm#BakedEngineWiring700200Cars
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Post Back. That's whats makes this forum work.

I already saw that.
My specific question was what year did the
substandard wiring start?
1980?
1981?
1982?
1983?

Some owners are claiming late 70's?

Worst years 1980-1987 240 series and 1984-1987 740 series
Just about everything you'd ever want to know about those old harnesses can be found here on Dave Barton's site at
Dave's Volvo Page - Volvo Engine Wire Harnesses (240/260)
and
Dave's Volvo Engine Wire Harness Page (740/760)
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Dave -still with 940's, prev 740/240/140/120 You'd think I'd have learned by now

Regarding the years for the engine harness being bio-degradable (?) I'd always suggest Dave Barton is the expert. Anyone who spent as much time as he did searching the yards for the updated harnesses has to know first hand.

On the door lock switch wiring, and for that matter, the tailgate harnesses, reverse switch wiring on an M47, for example, the year isn't important. Those wires were built with high strand count copper insulated with silicone rubber for use in places where the wire would be flexed often. I'm not sure what all affected the longevity of it, but I am somewhat sure by experience it makes no difference what year it was minted.
--
Art Benstein near Baltimore

King Ozymandias of Assyria was running low on cash after years of war with the Hittites. His last great possession was the Star of the Euphrates, the most valuable diamond in the ancient world. Desperate, he went to Croesus, the pawnbroker, to ask for a loan.

Croesus said, "I'll give you 100,000 dinars for it".

"But I paid a million dinars for it," the King protested. "Don't you know who I am? I am the king!"

Croesus replied, "When you wish to pawn a Star, makes no difference who you are."