Well, I finaly made up my mind and went with the '93 Classic. The decision was alot easier after seeing all the crap that was out there. I drove to Atlanta and looked at about six 244's. What a disgrace, the PO's should feel ashamed. Keep your car clean and at least clean the pinestraw out of the engine before you try to sell it!!! The dealer gave me the 6 month bumper to bumper warranty, my next two scheduled maintenance trips, and has replaced many parts already. Also free install on my new parts ... I ordered the Anti-sway bars, IPD Hi-Flow sport exhaust, and went with the Boge "Turbo Gas" shocks/struts. The car feels great right now but I can't wait to get the new stuff on there. I can actually run the a/c on a fan speed of 1 or 2. It's nice not having to scream over the no.4 fan speed. Anyway, for my question: I feel a pulsation in the seat when stopped at traffic lights. The rotors have been replaced as well as the coolant temp sensor. The dealer said the bad coolant temp sensor was causing the pulsation. I still feel a "heartbeat" in my seat ... motor mounts? Any ideas would be helpful.

Regards,
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Bill Crump ('91 245SE & '93 244 Classic)

I could not see any excessive engine vibration just a slight vibration. Could not find any leaks. Maybe the coolant temp sensor was bad since it was a used part. In a couple of weeks I'll be doing the airbox mod w/K&N filter and a new exhaust system. This might correct the problem ... if not I'll put in new plugs, wires, etc. I think it needs it anyway. I'll let the dealer figure out the vibration problem. I'm going to milk this warranty for all it's worth.
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Bill Crump ('91 245SE & '93 244 Classic)

Whenever I'm in Atlanta, I notice that lots of cars on the road look like they have been to battle and back.

If you feel the pulsation or shaking while stopped at a light, then the problem has nothing to do with brakes. Possibly motor mounts, but maybe the engine is running rough at idle dues to an air leak. If you lift the hood while the car is idling, do you see excessive engine movement?

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Matt L. -- Cary, NC -- '89 740 sedan -- '91 740 wagon

I'm going to check out the leaks and do the idle thing and check in.

Thanks,
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Bill Crump ('91 245SE & '93 244 Classic)

Guys, what about an exhaust manifold leak? Would this cause rough idling too?

I am trying to track down a similar idling problem on a 240 (1991, 112k mi, automatic, 2.5" exhaust). Info on the Brickboard seems to point to a leak on the Intake side; 2 mechanics at different local repair shops insist it's a problem on the exhaust side. When you rev up the engine a bit, then let it idle back down, there is a slight "bacfire"/puttering noise somewhere down the exhaust pipe, possibly in heatshield area. Of course, these mechanics cannot pinpoint the area until I agree to the job, let them remove the heatshield, etc.. Would an exhaust leak cause idling problems, lower gas mileage, etc.? Does this sound reasonable?

[[ southern fried volvo ]]

Congratulations on the car choice! True story about the disgraceful way in which people keep their cars. And thereafter want top dollar for them...

The coolant temp sensor should throw a code into the control unit if it has a bad signal. You could just replace the thing if you think it's problematic. That is an easy repair to do.

Is the pulsation more like a vibration, or a periodic up and down idle type of thing? If the idle is hunting or rough then chase down the tune-up parts first. The throttle body, cap, rotor, wires, plugs, air intake hose (check for leaks) and air filter. Vibrations are more an engine mount thing although the harder (scantech) engine mounts are more prone to vibration. The Volvo ones are somewhere in the middle, while German ones are pretty soft. If the mounts are soft and allow the engine to shake at idle, you'll feel the tugging of the engine through the seat. Open the hood and sit in the car. See if the engine shakes at idle in gear. If so, a replacement of the mounts might be in order.

At any rate, the mounts are an easy/cheap fix. I usually do them on any new-to-me 240.

--
1992 940 wagon, 72k
make people envious; smile often.

The coolant sensor has been replaced and yes it's more like a "periodic up and down idle type of thing". The plugs, wires, etc. were replaced 20k miles ago and I saw the throttle body hasn't been cleaned for 90k. I didn't see any record of motor mounts. I'll check the hoses and do the idle thing and check back in. BTW, how do you have the time to maintain, what is it 5 or 7 Volvos?
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Bill Crump ('91 245SE & '93 244 Classic)

Amazing how much time you have when you don't watch TV and work four days a week.

Here's what I did today...

--
1992 940 wagon, 72k
make people envious; smile often.