Hi

I've got an opportunity to get a good condition '88 240 sedan. It's done about 300,000km and is a manual. I've got an 80 at present 310,000 carburettor and only 4 speed manual.

Is the 88 likely to have wiring harness problems?

Is the 88 manual gearbox OK?

How about the Fuel Injection? is it better than a carb? Reliable?

I've heard the later ones rust less, though I've little rust in my '80. Is this true.

Anything else to be careful of?

thanks

Alan Clarke, Sunshine Coast, Australia
alan.clarke@yahoo.com

Well, I have a carbureted '80 245 with overdrive. The overdrive is definitely nice. If I had a choice, I think I would tend to the carbed model. Why? well I stripped an '81 FI for parts, and it's a rat's nest of tubes etc. that can go wrong. Just read all the posts re: FI probs. A carb is simple and reliable, and in Ontario, Canada, cars over 20 years old don't have to be E-tested. The only problem is rust, but that can he handled. Also, I prefer mechanical over electronics (computers,sensors etc). Easier to understand and fix.

I do, however, have this slight urge to get a FI model just so that I can "share" with the other FI people on this board. The carb guys don't seem to be talkative. Maybe because they got no problems.

Stay away from the 88!!

I have an '80 my self. Great car. Never any problems.

I once had an '89. One of the biggest pieces of garbage I've ever owned. I realize that '88 and '89 are different years, but unless there were some drastic changes between the years, they are probably very similar.

The '89 always had a problem of some kind. The starter died, twice. The check engine light would come on all the time, as well as the Service light. The AM radio had terrible interference. The tailgate shocks failed. The Wiring harness went bad. Once, a Piston actually failed! Any of those computerized components seemed to fail at their will.

Bottom line, I will never sell my '80. It's the greatest car I've ever had, but I would NEVER ever get another 240 made past '84.

Then again, maybe my experience is unique. It may be a great car, but if it were me I'd stay away. You'd be better off buying another '80 probably.

Personally, I would prefer a carbed 240. I'm a kinda seat of the pants guy and with old cars it's easier to fool with carbs than FI, and 15 yrs is old for electronic stuff. The FI is good but prone to about 2 dozen little failures, sensors etc. the 88 will be quieter. Me I would go with the devil I know, but if I had a hance I,ld put in an overdrive.
patrick of M ('68 220, '83 245)

I don't know the differences between the Volvos in Australia and here in the US but I have owned both an '80 and an '88. Based on these cars, I think the '88 is the better car although the '80 was pretty solid. Here's how I would see it:
1. The '88 is supposed to be past the years when the harnesses went bad. My '88 has no harness decay at all. My '84 and '86 have the rot.
2. My '88 has the 5-speed manual. It is smooth and not prone to OD problems since there are no electrics to control the OD. It has a reputation for being not as strong as the M46. Difeerent BB folks have blamed either the synchros (softer) or the upper bearings (too high to have the oil reach the bearings). I drained my M47 and overfilled with Redline MTL. By tipping the car up on the left side, I was able to get about .5 quart more oil in to get oil up to that upper bearing. The MTL oil is also supposed to be very good for the synchros. The shift gates on the M47 are not as precise as on my M46. I have an '86 with the M46+OD and like it as much as the M47. You'll find the 5th gear makes cruising quieter and you should getter better mileage. Of course, in the hilss you'd want to stay in 4th.

3. I can't compare to the carbureted engine but I've found the LH system to be reliable. Trouble points are the fuel pump relay and corrosion on the fuses. My '80 gave me fits until I learned about this. I did preventative maintenance on the '86 and '88 and have not had any fuel system problems.

4. The '88 is supposed to be well galvanized, unlike the '80. I have had no rust on any of my Volvos because we live in Oregon where salt is not used on the roads in the winter. My cars sit out in the rain so leaks can be a problem.

5. One big difference between my '88 and all my other Volvos is the better sound control. It is definitely quieter. The B230 engine has shorter piston skirts and this engine is more prone to piston slap when it is cold. This is not a serious problem and the sound goes away when the car warms up.

You should get the specs on horsepower between the two models. I think that I read that the Canadian carb engine had more power than the US fuel injected version. I don't know about the Astralian specs. I'm sure there will be others jumping in with more info.