Hi,

First off let me say that I have found this site enourmously useful over the last few days since I started posting!

My question is, what books should I get (are recommended) for the volvo 240DL 1986??

I have seen different ?brands? mentioned here and there but which to get?

Thanks in advance!

If you want to start with just one book, The Bentley 240 manual gets my vote. To me it is much better than either Haynes manual, especially it's organization, layout, and indexing. I have both Haynes books but have had no need to refer to them since getting the Bentley about 10 years ago.

It lists for $49.95, but you can get it for $40.95 (with free shipping) by joining the VCOA. The membership is $30/year, which includes 6 issues of the club magazine, "Rolling". The address (include car year & model if joining) is:

VCOA
Box 16
Afton NY, 13730
--
Bruce Young,
'93 940-NA (current)
'80 GLE V8 (Sold 5/03)
'83 Turbo 245
'76 244 (lasted 255,000 miles)
73 142 (98K)
'71 144 (track modified--crusher bound)
New 144 from '67 to '78
Used '62 122 from '63 to '67

In addition to the books recommended by Bob--and I concur with him--consider getting a subscription to ALLDATA DIY. You can download/print from them, including most of the portions of the wiring diagrams. Costs about $25 per year for the first car, and $15 per year for each additional car. Handy for printing up copies you can get dirty or scribble on while under the car. Also handy if you are away from home with access to a computer, but without your hardbound library. No, I don't work for them; I do have 4 vehicles on my subscription with them, though.
Once you have the publisher's price list for the various manuals, check ebay periodically, especially on the ones you don't need to have right now.
--
We have met the enemy and they is us. [Pogo] '99 S70 cop car : Rough Rider tires& suspension, Walmart fog lights, speakers by ebay, ambiance by Pall Mall, trim by Le Duc d'Tape

There are three of four absolutes. #1 is the Owner's Manual, assuming that you did not get one with the car.

#2 and #3 are "Shop Manuals" meaning that they cover almost all of the car, and multiple years. There are two, one by Haynes, and one by Bentley. I have and use both.

There are two Haynes editions extant, one covers the 240 from 1974 thru 1986 and is titled "Owner's Workshop Manual". The other cover's years 1976 thru 1993 and is titled "Automotive Repair Manual" The earlier edition is much more British in phraseology and nomenclature, and covers models after 1982 mostly as an afterthought. The later edition has better coverage of your car. Both have excellent photos and directions. Neither has decent schematic diagrams.

The Bentley covers 1983 thru 1993, and is seemingly more technical. It is an excellent manual, and it will cost more that the Haynes.

Look for Haynes and Bentley on eBay first, or check with some of the BBRD advertisers, like www.fpc.groton

Last and best are the Volvo Service Manuals. Each book covers a section of the car, and a complete car set is prohibitive in cost ($2500 +/- ). Get the Wining Diagrams manual, and you get the best schematic diagrams AND the only pictorial diagrams of all the sub-systems on the car. Invaluable.

For the Owner's Manual and the Volvo Service Manuals call 1-800-25-VOLVO and talk to Ken Cook Publishing. They will help you be sure to get the right book.

I have a 1986 244GL, purchased as the 3rd owner in 1999, and I use ALL the above books. Use them on my wifemobile, too, a 1988 244GL.

Welcome to the "Club". Now you can join the Volvo Club of America (VCOA) and also the High Mileage Club - if your brick has over 100,000 miles on the clock.

BTW - if your o/d quits, there are way to fix it. Might be in the Archives or the FAQs. Oh, the FAQs say 700/900 but a large part of it is good for 240s.

Regards,

Bob

:>)