Hello

I recently purchased a new (to me) 94 model 940 sedan (non-turbo).
B230F, Bosch ignition.

When I picked up the car (bought on E-bay), I noticed that there was a light oil film on the engine surfaces.
Also, when going thru the maintenance records I discover that the valve cover gasket and front cam seal had been replaced.....twice.

Putting two and two together, I pulled the (small) vacuum hose (crankcase vent) loose from the manifold, and sure enough, it was completely blocked.
This car only has 96K original miles, with most of the service performed by a Volvo dealer, and some by a "Import Specialist".
When I got it home, I cleaned out the flame trap system and replaced the flame shield and hoses.
The engine immediately began pulling a slight negative pressure on the valve cover (jiggle test) instead of blowing air (and oil) out of the hole.
Problem solved.
I'm almost positive that this is the first time this item was serviced since the car was built.

I bought this beautiful, well maintained car for a rock bottom price, and look forward to driving it for another 200K.

I kind of have a hunch that the seller thought that there was a serious problem with the engine, and just wanted to get rid of the car before it cost a small fortune to repair it.....that's just my theory.

I just can't believe that the dealer or the other "specialist" didn't find the real problem....which cost me around $5 to correct.
This is one time that I got lucky.
I've put around 1000 miles on it already and the oil level hasn't moved...nice.

Anyway...back to my question.
When the valve cover gasket was replaced, the "mechanic" didn't re-attach the ground strap from the fire wall to the engine.
There are two braided (grounding) cables that originate at the ignition module (mounted on the firewall, directly behind the distributor).
I know that one of them should go to the engine, connected to a valve cover bolt.
The other, I can't find a place to attach.
I don't think that it also goes to the engine, that doesn't make sense, but I can't figure out anything else that needs grounding.
Does anyone know where to attach this other ground strap?
The car ran well without either attached...but I know that they should be connected.

Any help is appreciated.
Sorry for the long post.

steve

The "ignition module" on the firewall is a sound-deadening lump of solid metal.

Both grounding braids run from the lump's upper mounting bolt. One to each rear valve cover stud & nut.

Those braids are for radio noise suppression, and their presence or absence should not affect anything else — unless the normal ground cable connections from Battery negative don't make good grounds. In that case, those firewall braids have been known to get real hot when the starter is cranked.

i discovered quite by accident that one of my grounds straps was frayed and made very poor contact.

at the same time my shift lock over ride would only work intermittently forcing me to use the over ride button to get the shifter out of park frequently.

after spending 20 minutes cleaning up the corroded ground strap and properly reattaching it tot he valve cover bolt the shit lock over ride has NEVER again acted up.

coincidence or something more?

dunno.

Glad you found this simple issue.

"I just can't believe that the dealer or the other "specialist" didn't find the real problem"

Jarrod Stenberg started this board just for reasons like this.

Tom

Both cables go to a rear valve cover bolt,left and right.The "ignition module" on the firewall is an empty box,the ICU is in front of the inst. panel,over the brake pedal.Yes,I agree that many "specialists",in many fields,probably could not find their arse with both hands.Enjoy your new car,it is one of the best they made.
Bill

Thanks for the reply.

I'm curious as to why Volvo put two ground straps in the same location.

Having owned and driven Volvos for over 35 years, I know that the engineers had a reason for this.
They don't do anything that doesn't need doing...although this seems redundant.

steve