Ramblings on the topic of non disengaging starters.

If anyone is interested, my 85 240,"Dr. Bombay",(who just turned 2555555 yesterday), had a nasty starter problem (as discussed in the links below.)
It happened suddenly one day, the starter would all of a sudden engage while the car was running,making a dreadful sound.Then,it started doing it intermittantly.sometimes when I would start it, it would fail to disengage,other times, it would seem fine, but then after going over a bump, or putting the car in reverse,it would do it again...My first theory was ignition switch,but the switch tested fine. so I figured I had a starter/solenoid problem, so,I took the starter out of my other other '85' 240, and put it in Bombay No change, exactly the same problem...By this time, I was mystified and frustrated.I had to have the car to get to work, and I believed the problem had something to do with the notorious wiring harness in the 1985 cars...so, I installed a toggle switch under the dash, and ran a wire to the solenoid and back, so when I start the car, I turn on the toggle switch, and shut it off as soon as the car starts.I know some folks might find this to be a cheap and cheesy solution to the problem, and quite frankly,it is!..,but it has worked fine, and, it saved me from having to invest in an anti-theft device like a car alarm,or one of those Clubs that fit on the steering wheel.)/?)....(actually, that's another advantage of owning an old 240;,you can be pretty confident that no one is gonna try to steal it, or do a car-jack on you.
Dr Bombays' engine burns nearly zero oil.Unfortunately,Bombay is going to need a transmissionectomy very soon.,,,that's just part of owning old Volvos;......Last month, I went to see my Dad.He just turned 94 years old. He has had some health problems, and one day, I asked him how he was feeling, and he said; "I'm like those old fuckin' Volvos of yours! Parts start to wear out, and then ya gotta start fixing things, and as soon as you fix one thing, then something else needs work."

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http://www.brickboard.com/RWD/index.htm?id=623261&show_all=1

http://www.brickboard.com/RWD/index.htm?id=638113&show_all=1