My starter motor has died twice in the last few months, why should this happen?
Can the rebuilt motors be defective? Could it be a wiring problem, and not really a starter motor problem?
Any info would be helpful.
1991 240 Volvo sedan 221,000 miles.

last time i had repeated starter motor failure was because my rear main seal on my 70 244 was bad, every time you stated it more oil would get slapped into the starter eventually making its way to the brushes and armatuer in the motor.

didnt take very long either.
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mike, 1988 Volvo 240DL 114k , , previous 79 & 81 Volvo 244s

That's interesting- I recently replaced my starter and I've been told that the rear main seal is leaking. Did you replace your rear main seal? Did you use the volvo special tools to do it? Thanks.

That's interesting- I recently replaced my starter and I've been told that the rear main seal is leaking. Did you replace your rear main seal? Did you use the volvo special tools to do it? Thanks.

That's interesting- I recently replaced my starter and I've been told that the rear main seal is leaking. Did you replace your rear main seal? Did you use the volvo special tools to do it? Thanks.

sorry for the late response, i did eventually change the rear seal in my 70 and i dont recall needing any special tools, the funny thing is i had the same occurance with the alternator with the front seal going bad , it had a b20 f front seal was felt.
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mike, 1988 Volvo 240DL 114k , , previous 79 & 81 Volvo 244s

It shouldn't ... can you provide more details? What happened when it "died." Was it replaced by a reputable mechanic? You, perhaps?
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'81 GLT 245 W/245K; '83 DL 175K

I now have 3 starter motors that have to be sent back: one is from IPD, one is a rebuilt Volvo starter motor, and one is another rebuilt starter motor. In each case when I turne on the ignition there was nothing, no click, no nothing. But the battery is fine. Any ideas as to what it could possibly be?

There could be something wrong with your starting circuit, rather than the starter.

To exclude the circuit, short the post with the blu-yel(?) wire going to the solenoid to the post that has the red wire that goes to the battery. Starter should turn engine over.
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1980 245 Canadian B21A with SU carb and M46 trans

If it turns over after jumping as Trev29 says, it's either the solenoid or the circuit. What year is your car? If '80-'87, the insulation on the wires is a known problem, if the wire harness was never replaced. Since you've had the same experience with several starters, a less likely cause is the contact in the solenoid, but if they reused the same solenoid for each change of starter, that might still be the problem. Good luck, and let us know what the jumper does!
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'81 GLT 245 W/245K; '83 DL 175K

If it turns over after jumping as Trev29 says, it's either the solenoid or the circuit.

I believe if it turns over after jumping as Trev29 says, the solenoid is OK. The jumpering bypasses the normal solenoid circuit and puts voltage directly to the solenoid (which the normal circuit is failing to do).
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Bruce Young
'93 940-NA (current) — 240s (one V8) — 140s — 122s — since '63.

Right you are!
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'81 GLT 245 W/245K; '83 DL 175K

It was replaced by a reputable mechanic. It was a rebuilt starter motor. Iy's still under warranty. Do you think there is something wrong with the electrical system that keeps on destroying the starter motor?

It was replaced by a reputable mechanic. It was a rebuilt starter motor. Iy's still under warranty. Do you think there is something wrong with the electrical system that keeps on destroying the starter motor?