I've been an avid VW and Porche owner all my life and recently got asked by my brother in law to help my 23 year old niece buy a car. My brother in law is living in the UK and unable to help with the car search.

To make a long story short with a budget of only $1,200 available from this recently college graduate we came across a '90 740 Wagon with 235K on it. Normally, based on mileage alone I would have passed immediately even knowing the legendary longevity of Volvo's.

The car and the owner were awesome. Hours of blow by blow discussion with this fellow weekend mechanic and I had me feeling pretty comfortable not to mention the motor compartment looked very uncomplicated. This owner is to Volvos as I am to VW's. We're both avid family mechanics who keep our cars running safely and for long periods of time when most cars are worn out (my '93 Passat has 210K).

Anyway....

All seemed fine with the test drive with one exception. The car sounded like it had studded snow tires on it (which it doesn't)!! This was not a subtle purr of a rear end noise. No. Rather it seemed to me to be a calamity of noise coming from the rear I'd describe as a speed variable harmonic hellacious howl. When I asked the owner what was up with that he said it was normal rear pinion gear to planetary gear wear for a Volvo with that many miles on it. He seemed unconcerned and completely used to the noise. It's been a while since I wrenched on a rear wheel drive car but wow! I've never heard anything like that racket!

Three questions:

1.
Does anyone else owning a similar wagon believe this is normal?

2.
Is it likely the rear end will need to be taken apart soon replacing axles, seals, pinion gear, etc?

3.
Should we just pass on this vehicle and keep looking?

Any guidance would be _*greatly*_ appreciated!

ZuluBob

This is not normal. If you have ring and pinion noise, the gear set is ruined. A used rear axle would be the most cost effective solution.
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john

John,

To be honest it's the owner who said it was ring and pinion noise when asked what the howling noise was.

I can believe the answer but is it not possible it's also wheel bearings?

Besides bringing it to a Volvo mechanic is there any static testing that could be done to pinpoint the problem if it is indeed a ring and pinion?

I'm also wondering if this is symtomatic of this car at this mileage (as in it's a well known high mileage weakness) or if it's considered unusual?

BTW, thanks very much for your prompt reply!

Zulubob

i've actually never had a problem with volvo rear ends up to 400K, the differential oil may have been dark when i changed it from the orignal owner, but there have been hardly any metal particles on the magnetic drain plugs i've pulled. i believe the differential used on the 700 and 200 are the same: a dana 30. which is a great rear end for a passenger car such as the volvo. if its howling, its probably the ring and pinion. sometimes if the driveshaft center support is going out the driveshaft will rub against the tunnel by the rear end, but i think you would've noticed that. more of a clattering-thud than howling. if you want the car, are willing to shell out an extra $100 or so for a rear end from a junk yard and spend a day putting it in, i'd say go for it. its not a difficult job. if this guy is such an "avid" mechanic though, why hasn't he taken care of this problem himself?

Harley,

All good info! Thanks VERY MUCH!

In answer to your question I surmise (and it's only a guess) this "avid" Volvo "weekend mechanic" (an engineer by trade) has been wrenching on this car the last five (5) years and may be tired. I'm betting as soon as two (2) new his and her's Volvo's were acquired (sitting in his driveway when we went to test drive this one) he began to pick his mechanical repair battles. He's got a 740 parts vehicle parked next to his driveway which he has scavenged for years.

I'll get the car in the air and take a look at the situation more closely and probe this guy a little futher on what he's done (or not as the case may be) to remedy the rear end noise. He poo pooed it but it couldn't have been more obvious to me.

$100 is nothing and I certainly don't lack the tools or the space to give it a try. Dumb question but is rebuilding the rear end an option or are the parts too pricey to consider? Curious...

rebuilding the rear end is $400-700 if you need a new gearset.
If the guy has a parts volvo get the rear end if it will fit.

Rear end noise IS NOT NORMAL on these cars. A bad rear bearing is normally on one side or the other (beware if BOTH are bad...I'd walk...the car has been abused/not maintained very badly). A bad rear end can often be detected by simply running the drivetrain while the car is up on jackstands...use a long screwdriver with handle to ear or a mech stethoscope to isolate noise.

Could also be a pinion bearing but extremely rare.