The heater core seems to have a small leak in the faithful '92, as evidenced by that fine anti-freeze smell & fogging windows when the defroster's on. I haven't the time or the patience to tackle this right now. Any guesses as to what a garage is going to sock me for it?

Thanks folks.

MWK

An experienced Volvo wrench told me that the heater core won't leak unless the car's been hit, so I second the notion that it's a hose or the heater valve causing the problem. Unless it was in an accident at some point.

If it is the core the whole dash has to come apart, even further than when doing the blower motor, which Volvo told me would take them 6 hours, but I did myself in more like 8-10. So figure on a day if the guy's good and has practice, but maybe more if it's his first time doing a 240 dash.

But it would probably be well worth your time to get upside down in the driver's footwell and have a look between the firewall and the center console with a flashlight while it's hot.

If it would turn out to be the core, you might think about changing the blower motor/resistor while you're in there as an investment.

That's a really interesting observation.

It would have to be a BIG hit to cause that kind of massive trauma to the firewall or that area. I've seen many pushed in firewalls, but never a leaky core. But then again, if there was one way to get one to leak, twisting and pushing the firewall in would be one good way to go around it. I just never even considered it before.
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Chris Herbst, near Chicago, IL. 93 940, 91 240, 90 240, 88 740, 87 240

I thought it was interesting as well. Was the last parameter I expected to hear...&^) Given the fortress-like location on a 240, it would seem pretty safe, but perhaps there's a mount or something that can't take the G's. Never got that far with mine.

I never had a leaker after I learned to keep fresh coolant in my cars, and what better lesson than to have to change a heater core and then see all the corroded guck come out?

You could have a leak in one of the hoses under the dash, or at the hose clamp. That wouldn't be unusual. Typically the heater cores last longer than 10 years, but not always. It's a pricey job, likely above $500.
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Chris Herbst, near Chicago, IL. 93 940, 91 240, 90 240, 88 740, 87 240