240 savants: just for the fun of it, I went looking for the starter test terminal in my 93 240.

To my surprise, it's playing hide and seek and winning. Or, is it a figment of the imagination in the 93s and simply doesn't exist? Thanks in advance for your appreciated input.

Hi there,

I hope, for your sanity's sake, you have seen this common animal on another 240, and therefore sure of its ubiquity. But that you mention the year 93 several times, I can tell you have scanned many a thread discussing how the last few of the 240s were not built quite like the first three million or so. Do you have the big gray plug? Have you got fuses on your battery post? All aberrations in the 93 model year occur at one time or another in the 10 month production period.

The presence of the gray plug seems to be the reported indicator predicting your engine harness has the test socket for the starter. No plug, no test socket.



My "vast" experience with '93s consists of a couple carrion in the boneyard. Oleseahorse is a better resource.
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Art Benstein near Baltimore

Why are a wise man and a wise guy opposites?

Hi Art--

Yes, happy to report for the sake of (my) sanity that I have seen the test socket and gray plug on other 240s.

Two of my 240s, both manufactured in April, 1993 (the last full month of 240 production I believe, the last 240 rolling off the line, according to my understanding, on or about May 4, 1993) have the fuses on the battery post. The door label on my third 1993 240 indicates manufacture during November, 1992, and that car does not have the fuses on the battery post. None of the three have the test socket in the "usual" place, and I could find no socket and gray plug anywhere else.

Any theories on why such variability at the tail end of the long, long production period of our (mostly) wonderful 240 bricks?

Just think, essentially the same great car produced from 1975 to 1993. What a run! (when I learned back in early 1993 that that was the last year of production I bit the bullet and ordered a new one --I was still driving my 1976 at the time, and didn't want to run out of 240s for a long time!).

Wow, an original owner, repeat buyer, and true believer! I wonder what that would be like, getting a new car, already aware you intend to keep it forever. Volvo's intro of the 7/9 and even 8 series failed to sway you.

I mull over that 93 production year based on a smattering of manufacturing experience where product lifecycle and vendor partnerships are intertwined -- all based on order volume predictions/commitments to result in feature and engineering compromises. I'd say, from what I've seen, Volvo did extremely well rolling out the last of the last. I have the impression the labor force was very fond of the 240, and showed it in the care they took.

Contrast this to the miniature bottles frequently found in Chevy door panels.
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Art Benstein near Baltimore

Why do overlook and oversee mean opposite things?

Oh yes, a true believer indeed.

When I finally "had" to get rid of my 1976 in 1999 due to rust, I liked it more after 23 years than when I purchased it in 1976 , and I really liked it a lot then (also purchased new). I did not want to part with it in 1999, just had to. I still miss the sound of that growly b21 engine with the manual transmission. I think that if you got a manual transmission in 1976 you could not get power steering -- mine certainly didn't have it. In that car, parallel parking with the manual steering is something the driver had to sit up straight for, get the sleeves pulled back, and get mentally psyched up for, all with a view of reducing the risk of tearing a muscle you see. I don't parallel parking in that car could have been done after one had consumed a heavy, rich meal; I know I would never try it.

So, I've had two new ones. What's it like getting a new car, already aware you intend to keep it forever? About the only thing I can think of is it is more expensive! For that price "you" do know all miles put on the car were put on by "you", but these iron age beasts can take a lot of abuse from previous owners until a select few fall into the hands of we caring owners who frequent the brickboard.

You're right, the7/9 and even 8 series didn't sway me (though I did own a used 780 for about 8 or 9 years). For me, the 240 represents something approaching perfect design balance, having just the right compromise among various design issues, including handling (in town and on the highway), durability, safety, comfort, spaciousness and fuel economy. I'd much rather have a rear drive than a front drive, such as in the 8 series (even though snows are pretty much required in winter).

I find interesting also that Volvo did keep making some improvements in the 240 right up 'till the end, such as putting R134a refrigerant in the 93s. Not sure when they put the power side mirrors in, just know that they are not on the 1990 240 but are on the 1993 240. I hope Volvo wasn't using a bunch of leftover, slightly "off" parts in the last month of production!

Hello Charlie,

I took a look this morning and I could not find a remote starter socket even though it's shown on the 93 wiring diagram, which incidentally indicates it's at the center of the firewall.

Supposedly comes off a pink wire, also nowhere to be seen.

If nothing else, with your late model, I can remind you to clean off the spades on your battery "box" fuses and put some dielectric grease on them to avoid the starting problem that I encountered with a burnt out 60a.

If you find that pink wire, let me know. I bought 93's cause I figured after 14 years they would have had to have gotten it right.

Marty

If so, the Service socket might be on the left side, as below...


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Bruce Young, '93 940-NA (current), 240s (one V8), 140s, 122s, since '63.

Hi Bruce,

That two wire red/blue connector looks familiar, mounted on the right side just past the vacuum pump. But I'd notice a blue bugger that jumped out at me like that remoted starting connector on your 700/900. Maybe it's there but tucked into some sheathing. I will look some more.

Like I said, according to the wiring diagram, it's supposed to be there.

Marty