I am writing this not because there is anything wrong with my car. On the contrary. The car is running better than ever. To recap, I diagnosed a no start condition on our 89 240 to a bad aftermarket Programa 556 ECU. Yesterday I replaced it with a 933 ECU from a 91 740 and all is well. 200 miles later and the car returned a stellar 27mpg in mixed driving with 2 people on board! I couldn't be happier. But for the last 9 months since we bought the car and before I replaced that old ECU I was trying to figure out the poor fuel economy and a very rough cold idle. I replaced all the usual suspects:

02 sensor
FPR
cap/rotor/wires/plugs
harmonic balancer
Switched to electric fan
Thermostat
synthetic oils everywhere
fixed very minor vacuum leak
Cleaned EGR, IAC, TB

No matter what I did the best fuel economy I could manage was 19mpg on the highway. The electric fan bumped it up to 21mpg highway, 18 city.
But all along I never bothered to look at the stupid ECU. I can't believe how much of a difference this can make. Over night the car went from 19 to 27MPG (210 miles on 7.8 gallons)! And it idles as smooth as our 960.
So to recap please stay far far away from Programa or any other aftermarket ECU company. If you have one of these in your car GET RID OF IT! There are enough old Volvos in the junkyards to supply all the computing power you need. And if you sell your car, please tell buyer the car has an aftermarket ECU.

I have a 1991 940 Turbo sedan with a 560 ECU I suspect is bad. I have
a junkyard 563 ECU which supposedly will work but has a bad EPROM chip.
Does anyone out there have or know where I can get another EPROM or
the binary file used to burn a new one?
Joel Henry
1991 940T 132K

I have several 933 ECUs if anyone is interested. All tested and in working order.Email me at brickwgn@sbcglobal.net . Thanks

As the previous poster wrote, I too am really interested in the 933 module.
I may try that.

Also, how about the electric fan?
Came from where?
Installation notes?

I drive 75 mi. each way to work in /89 245, am looking for ways to make it get more mpg.

Thanks!

I installed an electric fan from a 92 940. It first like a glove with very little cuting. Be sure to also take the relay located behind the driver side headlight. I installed it when I replaced the water pump. Oh and the 933 ECU is original Jetronic that came on the 740. It is plug and play.







Other goodies on the car include 7" round headlight conversion, Turbo sway bars, and 242 GT strut braces.

Thanks.
That's very thorough!

Re. sway bars, I have a set on my older '86 wagon that I hope to transfer to my '89 this weekend. '86 will go to my son's friend.

Hold on! I thought the only options were the original 561 and the upgraded 951. What's this 933?
It sounds great! 27 mpg. I have gotten 23mpg from day one.
Should I be looking to swap in a 933 if I come across one? Is the 933 a Bosch OEM? Did the 933 come standar in the '91 740..non turbo?
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'75 Jeep CJ5 345Hp ChevyPwrd, two motorcycles, '85 Pickup: The '89 Volvo is the newest vehicle I own. it wasn't Volvos safety , it was Longevity that sold me

933 ECU was standard on 91-92 NA 740. I bought it out of desperation because I couldn't find anything else from an LH 2.4 NA car. Most but not all LH 2.4 ECUs will work on an 89 240.

Let's do a survey of folks using aftermarket rebuilt ECUs and their experiences...Who's the best rebuilder? Best warranty?

BTW, certain Bosch ECUs die as a matter of time because a specific driver circuit was poorly engineered and oxidizes. All the boneyard replacements are subject to the same condition and WILL fail. Rebuilt units are the only long-term hope for these cars. So we need to find good rebuilders...

Best warranty I've found is Programa, 3 years on rebuilt components. However both AMMs I got from them were faulty, maybe the next replacement will work but I'm not holding my breath. A warranty is only as good as its ability to get you back on the road & keep you there.

-Chris
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Chris, Dartmouth NS Canada 70 M-B 280SE, 83 245DL, 84 244 turbo, 90 780 turbo, 92 VW Golf

I suggest the most valuable responces will come from those who have taken the time to contact the rebuilders before criticising them. Perhaps ProgRama have feedback or knowledge of a poorly chosen replacement part? Rants against remanufacturers or aftermarket packagers in general are just that - venting.

Yes...

All here know that I rant quite a fair bit on the worthlessness of aftermarket parts, whatever shape or form they may take. I feel somewhat validated here...

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Happy Bricking!!! - Richard - '95 855T 308k, '87 245 DL 405k, '82 242 GLT 121k - Volvo's are alive and well in Brampton!!!