I looked through the 700/900 FAQ's and did a few searches but found nothing so ....

I am looking to purchase a 1990 740 wagon. I noticed it "cycled" at idle; IE, every 3-5 seconds you could hear an audible click (relay?) and the idle would drop slightly. This lasted a few seconds and it would click again and resume normal idle.

The "clicking" and drop in idle sounds similar to the process of my relayed electric fan engaging on my Honda (although I realize it's not that).

The Air con was off.

It seems to "cycle" when I was driving too although it was harder to detect. FYI, I have also seen this on a 1991 740 Turbo but didn't notice it on the following:

1987 740T
1989 740T
1990 740 GLE

STILL looking to join the ranks of Enthusiastic Volvo owners. If this Volvo checks out OK, I may go for it (1990 740T; wagon w/ 7pass; well kept)

Any help or direction as to what this idle cycling is (and if it is detrimental)would be appreciated.

Norm Cook

Did the 1990 740 Turbo have an electric fan or an engine driven? I know my 89 has an engine driven and that a 92 had an electric. Check and see what this one has and if it is cycling on and off.

sure sounds like the ac compressor was running. go over and look at it again. i'll bet the defrost was on. good luck, chuck.

I agree with Porkface. Remember, the switch on the dash turns the air conditioning OFF !!! (unlike any other car ever manufactured in the civilized world)

But even if the A/C switch is off, the "defrost" mode over-rides the switch and turns it on anyway. (Don't get me started on how much I hate that.)

So in order for the A/C to be off, the "A/C Off" button must be depressed. And the climate control dial must NOT be in the "defrost" mode.

Jeff Pierce
--
'93 945 Turbo ( one kickass family car ! ), '92 Mercedes 190E (my daily driver), '53 Willys-Overland Pickup (my snow-plow truck/conversation piece -- sold to a loving home), '85 Jeep CJ-7 w/ Fisher plow