I just recieved a volvo 87 240 DL from my parents. I was just wondering if it has power locks on it. What exactly are power locks, and what is the difference between power and non power. I used to think that power locks had the little buttons with "U" and "L", but I was told that cars like mine(with only the little peg on the door) my be power as long as all doors open when you open the driver side door using the key. I would appreciate any help. thanks.

The question you ask leaves me wondering if you got an owner's manual with the car. If not, get one. www.volvocars.com/lit and navigate aroudn the site a bit. The books are worth the money. If you intend to learn a lot about your can, get the Wiring Diagrams Manual also.

240 Power locks are - as you have discovered - not the same as the US style. When working properly all doors and the trunk do what the driver's door does. Only the driver's door has any control. In 1986 they put in the interlock that Rob mentioned. I think it's a PITA, having enjoyed power locks on my 1983 and 1984 240s.

Good Luck,

Bob

:>)

Oh yeah, forgot the trunk lock. :) A quick look through a local junkyard should yield an owner's manual for $1 or so. Any manual for 86-88 will be correct, and almost any other will be 99% correct for an 87.
Don't buy one on Ebay for $19 like some guys want- they're only $9 or something from Volvo, and yes, they're still available new!
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Rob Bareiss, New London CT ::: 86 244DL, 87 244DL, 88 744GLE, 91 244: 808K total

You have power locks. All 240s except early cars have them. They were standard by 1987. The 3 other doors have a little lock motor that drives the lock rod up and down when you either turn the key in the door, or push/pull the knob inside- WITH THE DOOR CLOSED. Volvo included a driver's door interlock that prevents you from locking the driver's door without it being closed- so you can't lock yourself out. Depending on how it's adjusted, it may or may not lock all the other doors if it's pushed when open. You can of course lock yourself IN once you're in. The driver's door does NOT have a power actuator. When you turn the key or push the button, you actually flip the latch from locked to unlocked. If your other doors aren't unlocking electrically, you've got a blown fuse. They're on the vertical kick panel, over by your left foot. Inside the cover, there's a list of what does what- read that and look for the fuse for "LOCKS" and check it. If you see any white corrosion on any fuses, that should be cleaned up before you do anything more.
Anyway, enjoy your new Volvo- they're some of the best cars ever built!
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Rob Bareiss, New London CT ::: 86 244DL, 87 244DL, 88 744GLE, 91 244: 808K total