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240 seat mounts failing due to hidden rust? 200 1993

A decade or so ago, my brother found my sister a nice clean 244GL with the Coffin Hood, and she drove it for a couple years, as happy as the proverbial clam.

One fine day a driver in a privileged class violated traffic laws (just a suggestion, really, in Cali) and hit my sister's 244GL in the rear. It was not a very violent collision, she was shaken but unhurt.

What was remarkable was that she wound up the back seat of the 244, but still in her seat. The driver seat rails broke loose from those large steel cross sections to which the seat rails are bolted. On inspection, there was rust hidden in there and that's why the seat broke loose. I've been unable to find out if that car came from a rusty state or beach town.

Has anyone else experienced this? I know of no non-destructive way to inspect that area, because it's closed off. Of course, if rust is showing elsewhere I would not buy that car. All our Volvos in the family now are from TX or the southwest in general. No rust showing.








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    240 seat mounts failing due to hidden rust? 200 1993

    Haven't heard of that one before. There are 6 floor mounting points for each seat: four bolts in the corners of the seat rails into welded nuts in raised channels above the chassis and two thick studs into keyed slots. I would expect any three might be able to hold the seat except in a severe accident. It really does make you wonder if some of the mounting bolts were missing. About the only way I can imagine those mounting areas getting that badly rusted is extended exposure to interior water, especially water with road salt, and the carpets under the seat staying wet for extended periods. Floor mats can keep the footwell area carpeting from drying out, possibly giving a chance for water to wick into the carpeting under the seats.

    Any chance this was a flood car? People will ship flood cars out of recent flood areas so as not to raise buyer suspicions. A Carfax report might have given you a better idea where it's been driven.

    Water can get into the cabin through failed door seals, window seals (especially the windshield corners after glass replacement!!!), doors out of alignment, blocked sunroof drains (!!!) and even leaking heater cores and leaks through the firewall. Rust and floorboard perforations in the front footwells are not that uncommon in 140s and 240s and could allow road spray in to soak the carpets. If left to get bad enough, welded floor panel sections may be needed. Lift the front carpets and check under the padding for rust and perforations. The rear footwells are less prone to this, but should also be checked.
    --
    Dave -still with 940's, prev 740/240/140/120 You'd think I'd have learned by now








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      240 seat mounts failing due to hidden rust? 200 1993

      I've tried to elicit more info on where that 244 came from. My lil bro just told me last week that he was the one who found it for my lil sis.

      But now he won't answer. Offended by politics, Cali version. Maybe in a couple weeks I can find out if it was a beach car or flood car.

      All good info in your post and useful. A coolant leak causes that sickly sweet smell to tip you off. We fight window leaks on our old bricks but Dave Barton to the rescue.

      I particularly dislike sunroofs for that leaking reason (and the buffeting at speeds above 25). I once owned an E70 BMW and it had an elaborate anti buffeting spring-loaded net contraption on the forward edge of the sunroof. Aaaaaand, it developed a wet floorboard caused by that sunroof. 1600 Euros to find and remove the blockage in the tube, some pea-sized seed of a tree.







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