{RAMBLING}As a matter of fact, I don't even have it yet - I get it tomorrow. My question is this - I've driven several in the last few days seeing how my '92 Ford Ranger decided to drop it's tranny with only 122,000 miles on it. I am forced to make a car purchase. When I came across this bridge I decided Volvo was the way to go.

{QUESTION HERE} Of both cars that I test drove, both 86 244 DL's, the temp gauge never moved. I'm thinking that this may be something common with these cars? {QUESTION ENDS}

The 86 has 122,000 (Roughly the same mileage as my truck) on it and according to my mechanic friend who looked the car over, is mechanically sound. I just want to know what's going on with the new car. {MORE RAMBLING}I am fortunate enough to be a natural born tinkerer (an aside - as a small girl, when my family and I would go on long drives, my parents were always sure to bring the little toolkit so I could disassemble the back seat to and reassemble from). Anyway, I am up to the challenge of owning a classic euro car.

This forum is great and thanks in advance, for what I am sure, will be plenty more questions to come.

Ditto, everything that has been posted. I'll add that, if you are going to get serious about Volvo, go to and join the Volvo Car Club. Great magazine, good info, and discounts on parts and service from many Volvo dealers nationwide. I am even more worthless than usual for the next couple of days after the magazine -- Rolling -- arrives!

Be sure to make a point of attending the Import/Replicar Show in Carlisle, PA next Spring. Register your car for the Showfield so you can park alongside the rest of us and rub shoulders with a world of experience with your model.

Take in the autocross on their new track. It was a real "hoot" when a 740 stock wagon took it's (slow) turn 'round the course!
--
'Most Improved Patroller of the Year' Blue Mountain Ski Patrol, Palmerton, PA

Well, here's an update... today I was driving home and the gauge went to 9 oclock. Of course, when I got back in the car, it didn't register again (it was maybe a 7 minute ride from my stop to home).

Loose connection, maybe?
--
Jen | 1986 244 DL Graphite 122K

Good luck with the new purchase. Yes the Temp gauge proble IS a common problem. Check Archives or Search for "Compensation Board". This Circuit brd regulates voltage to the Fuel gauge. This Circuit board and a hand full of relays are typical Volvo problems that can usually be resolved with a small soldering iron.
Volvo's are pretty cool, If you look at the Bentley or any other Service book they scare you BUT if you peruse the book then start to dig in, You will see that the engineers at Volvo (in most cases) had their act together.
Your 'new '86 has half the mileage of my '89.
Most of us have 150K plus on these cars not a lot of mileage for the 200's. Is yours and Automatic tranny or Manual?
Again, Good luck and welcome
--
'75 Jeep CJ5 345Hp ChevyPwr and two motorcycles: it wasn't Volvos safety , it was Longevity that sold me

Thank you all! Well, I picked her up today (I'm pretty certain it's a female, though I haven't actually picked up the tail and looked) and I only have one or two immediate concerns which I'll post in a new message.

I did find out she's from a one-owner family and passed emissions testing back in March. She's from Norristown, PA, so she's travelled a but to be with me bit I think we're going to get along just fine (once I put a CD player and better speakers in, we'll get along much better!)

Anyway, thanks again for the warm welcome and the advice - which, by the way, it looks like someone did an electrical tape fix on the wiring harness.



--
Jen | 1986 244 DL Graphite 122K

Not necessarily, the stock Volvo harnessess have a lot of electrical tape on them

My wife though I was "FSCKING CRAZY" when I sold my '95 Chevy pick-up-truck becuse it had 160K miles on it, so I could buy a 88 Volvo with 260K on it....
Of course that all changed after she spent two weeks driving it.


Words of advice:
Buy a Bentley manual!!!!
prepare to replace main wiring harness....
timing belt, (front seals while you are in there)
Ummm, dare I say it....HEATER BLOWER MOTOR

find something called the Zero Mile List.

Not sure what happened on my previous post... anyway,
You need to be aware of a problem Volvo has with the engine wiring harness
on the mid to late 80's Volvos. Due to the materials used by the vendor,
the insulation on the engine wiring harness tends to crumble and fall off
over time leaving exposed wires that can cause electrical shorts and all kinds
of other wierd gremlins to appear.

The best places to look for this problem are at the big gray wiring connector
mounted on the firewall in the engine compartment. You can also check the
wiring in the back of the alternator. Some owners try to repair the old harness,
or you can get a new or used one that doesn't have the bad insulation problem.

A new harness from Volvo will cost about $300. A good used one will cost much less but you have to make sure it is the newer harness and not another bad older one. You can easily swap out the harness in 1/2 day.

I'm not trying to scare you away from buying the Volvo, but you need to be
made aware of this little problem that Volvo had that will eventually show up
on most of the mid to late 80's Volvos. Other than that, these bricks are built like tanks and will run forever.

Welcome to the board and I hope you enjoy driving your Volvo.

DeWayne

Hi Jen-

{GREETING STARTS}One of the great things about working on volvos is the ease of repairs, and the parts are very affordable. There are several good places to by parts on the internet, and I frequently buy stuff on ebay. {GREETING ENDS}

---Joe HC
--
1977 244, 140k, IPD anti-sway bars; 1988 245, 206k

Well the temp gauge could be an electrical thing....uh ahem ah...how is the wire harness? Actually fun tinkering...yellow wire (or yellow black) to the gauge temp sensor is VERY commonly the first wire to go.

Could be stuck open (or missing) thermostats - but two cars would be unlikely.

One RULE here - now you SHALL keep us posted - once you post a problem you have to post the cure (when found) :) This is a learning forum for ALL!

--
http://www.fidalgo.net/~brook4/oilslubesfilters.html

If the temp gauge stayed at the 9 o'clock position, that is normal.
122,000 miles is just getting broken in. Check this out for possibilities.
http://www.volvo.dircon.co.uk/high_mileage.htm
Tinkering is good, unlike the Ford that just folded on you, everything on a volvo is servicable

-----Robert

Jen,
I asume you mean temp needle did not move of bottom position? You need to check the connection to the guage sender which is on the engine block below intake runner 2 (roughly)(next to knock sensor) check connection is OK, then if still a problem replace sensor. Could also be problem with connection to the instrument cluster. Post back when you can be more specific.
Happy bricking.. from Australia.
Karl
86 245 192K Km

Hi Jen:
Welcome to the Brickboard. Ditto on what the others said. This is a great place to learn about your car, and people here are so good at helping people out. The brick is a great car, and you should enjoy working with it. The Bentley manual is great. I got mine on half.com.

Mike Brown
Greenville, NC
1986 244 136K
1996 965 88K

Hi Jen,, Get a, Bentley Repair Manual is the best., Good coffee table book :-) eBay has them.. Type in 240 Volvo. I LOVE my Volvo..
--
john,,1985, 245:GLTi 241k mi..so.california

Chris' answer-best said it! Mostly minor problems with volvos-compared to other cars at same mileage(LIKE TRUCK!). do the maint/buy good parts and the cars-especially 240's will serve you well. Tinkering is not bad,they're WELL THOUGHT OUT cars for the most part! Your love affair is just beginning. Good luck on the purchase.mark

Congratulations!

Rest assured, Volvo is a good car to be owned by someone who likes to tinker. Also if you hate huge problems like engines and transmissions, then it's usually a good car. A lot of "problems" that people say Volvos have, are very minor. Plus if you keep the car up, they will be fewer still.

ALSO... this site is THE place for questions of ANY level--easy to the most complex. You will get answers to anything here.

--
1992 940 wagon, very low miles
as well as others.

I will defintely get the Bentley manual, thanks for the tip!

--
1986 244 DL Graphite 122K