Okay--I'm in something of a dilly of a pickle here.

The dealer that I bought my 244 from was supposed to replace the driver's seat for me (as I stated in an earlier post, the seatback itself is loose and/or limp). Well, guess what? The seat that he had was in even worse shape. So...in order to get this car through inspection (without having to purchase an inspection sticker), I'm going to have to replace it on my own accord.

My questions are this:

1: How much will a seat cost me?

2: How hard are they to install?

3: Does anyone know of a good boneyard in the NJ area that would have a seat (for an 86-93 244)?

4: Is anyone HERE getting rid of one?

Thanks!

Steve
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It's a Volvo thing....You wouldn't understand. Steve-- 1989 244DL (Olaf)

They inspect your freaking SEATS???

Ever wonder what it might be like to live like a free person?

In Michigan, if it moves, you can get a plate for it and drive it.

In fact, it doesn't even need to move. All you need is a title and proof of insurance and you can get a plate.

Live free or die.

I've been contemplating a move from NJ for IONS (and not the Saturn kind, either...LOL)!!!!

NJ can fail your car for whatever they want to fail it for. That's why tons of people "purchase" stickers...as in, they'll go to a gas station that performs inspections (rather than go to the DMV), pay the normal fee, and slip the guy an extra $10 or $20 bucks to **ensure** that the car will pass. It's how I've been getting most of my cars through since I started driving in 1996 :).

Case in point...when I was in my senior year of high school, I had a 1983 Ford Mustang. Biggest piece of crap I ever owned (it was a 4 cyl. --need I say more?). The DMV failed the car, because of a "visual obstruction". You know what that obstruction was? Where the seller had the "For Sale" sign posted, it left a faint outline of scotch tape. C'mon!! I could see perfectly fine out of it!!. I had to go all the way home, scrape it all off, and come all the way back for my sticker.

We have the most stringent inspections, and the highest insurance rates. And our govener wonders why people are moving away from here.
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It's a Volvo thing....You wouldn't understand. Steve-- 1989 244DL (Olaf)

Check ebay. I think there is a pair of seats on sale right now,low starting price and the guy is located in NJ.
Nelson

Okay.... Stop....

As far as the dealer is concerned, no, no, no and no again. It boils my blood to hear a story like that. They agreed to have a good seat in the car just like you agreed to pay a specific price for the car. They have 2 choices.

1) They can provide a good seat for you

2) They can refund a portion of the purchase price equivalent to the price of a good used driver's seat (50 bucks??? 100 bucks??? - What does your local pick and pull charge???)

When I bought my dearly departed 83 242 GLT there were 2 things that had to be fixed. The O/D would kick out at random and it wasn't quite right on the throttle. After me kicking and screaming, they rebuilt the O/D (worn clutch pack) and they sourced the running problem to a broken wire leading to the CPR. They gave me a big sob story... what do you expect for 2500??? It's an old car... All that crap. Stuff it. When I bought the car, I saw those 2 problems on the test drive. You said you would fix them. END OF STORY!!!!!!!!

Take that car back and get yourself your driver's seat. No passenger seat switched over as a subsitute. No other colour thatn what's in there. A GOOD DRIVER'S SEAT AS THEY PROMISED AS PART OF THE SALE!!!!!!

--
Happy Bricking!!! - Richard - '87 245 DL , '82 242 GLT - Half a million km between them!!!

Just out of curiosity, how long did you have the first 242GT for? Why did you wind up getting rid of it?
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It's a Volvo thing....You wouldn't understand. Steve-- 1989 244DL (Olaf)

Hello,

It was a GLT acutally. Died of cancer of the everything at 671,000 km. I've had 2 GT's as well. A '78 that I bought for $700, drove for 2 years and then sold for $1200 plus an '80 (I still have the custom plates 80 GT) that was a goof right off the bat. Bought it as a resto project, but then found out it was way more bondo than metal, got 2 years out of it as well before it literally melted and had to be sent to the junkyard. Between those 3, a '72 142E (my first car), an '83 244 Turbo, an '86 744Ti that I bought for 50 bucks and a '78 242DL parts car, the current pair make up Volvo's #'s 8 and 9. Wish I had 'em all back :))))

Did you get your driver's seat yet??? An effective tool is parking your car out in front of that dealer's business with a sign telling all how they conduct themselves with customers....


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Happy Bricking!!! - Richard - '87 245 DL , '82 242 GLT - Half a million km between them!!!

Not as yet. I just took the car home this morning. I have another post higher up, where the guy stated that he'll try and get a seat for me by the time the car is due for inspection--if not, he's offering me a refund of some $$ to get a new seat.

While all of my problems with the glovebox and trim pieces were taken care of by him, I discovered two MORE problems (sigh...)

The first, is that the gas gauge does not work. I'm assuming that it's going to be big bucks to fix this, and if it is, I'm not going to spend the money (the car was $400.00 USD before sales tax and doc fees). Is there any way that I can get past this, without running out of gas, and embarrasing myself--and any prospective females that I may be shuttling around? Just how accurate are Volvo's trip computers? I may be able to get away with using that....

And second, the car is missing a tail/brake lamp socket on the left side. I know he has one that I can get from him, but it also looks like the printed circut (that piece of aluminum foil-like stuff) is getting old. How hard is that to replace---and how much should I be looking at?

Other than that---the car drove **beautifully** coming home. Sure, I'm mad at myself for getting a lemon (well---more of a lime than a lemon---a lime is a bit sweeter. Besides--the car DOES run great), but the other part of me has learned never to buy from a dealership. Also---for $400.00, where else could I have gotten a car that looked that good---had working a/c and heat--and ran?
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It's a Volvo thing....You wouldn't understand. Steve-- 1989 244DL (Olaf)

Well, it's a lovely idea not to take delivery of the car...except for a problems:

1: I already dropped the second car that I had on my insurance policy for this car.

2: I **NEED** to have a second car on my insurance policy (long, drawn out story).

3: I NEED this done by 8/24,

4: I DO NOT have enough money to get a better car.

At this point, I'll settle for the passenger's seat, if it will fit. If not, I'm going to have to find one from a junkyard. Problem is, I don't know of any decent import-specific junkyards here in NJ....nor would I have any idea what one would charge. I'm wondering if weding a piece of wood under the foam would work.

Tony mentioned something about a seat rebuild. I have no mechanical expertise whatsover. I would have no idea where to begin...

The e-bay solution sounds like a good idea, though...

In any event, I have until September 2nd to get the car inspected. Another phone call to the dealer stated that he'll "have a seat for me"...although something says that this may not materialize.

--
It's a Volvo thing....You wouldn't understand. Steve-- 1989 244DL (Olaf)

Good point... no Great Point!

If the car wont at least pass inspection.... Deals off
--
'75 Jeep CJ5 345Hp ChevyPwrd, two motorcycles, '85 Pickup: The '89 Volvo is the newest vehicle I own. it wasn't Volvos safety , it was Longevity that sold me

I think maybe it is time to go back to the dealer and tell him that you
need an ACCEPTABLE seat so that the car you bought from HIM will pass
inspection. He can probably find one as easily as you. BTW it sounds like
structural rather than upholstery problems.
--
George Downs, Bartlesville, Oklahoma, Central US

You may just need to rebuild the seat. Usually it is the foam that goes bad. To rebuild your driver seat you can actually use foam from either a driver or passenger donor seat.

Here is a good link, on Erling Web site, click on his link for seat rebuilding à la Tony H :

http://home.no.net/ebrox/

If you don't want to bother with rebuilding your seat and don't mind having a mismatched interior, you can easily remove it (5 minutes) and put in a seat from another 240. Just follow Tony's isntructions for seat removal.

Usually seats go for 20 to 30 dollars at pick and pulls (that is for the complete seat).

Good luck.
--
'89 244DL M47 161K miles

I just thought of something---aside from the obvious difference of backrest adjuster locations, would a PASSENGER'S seat fit there? If the passenger's seat is ok, maybe he can put that there....
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It's a Volvo thing....You wouldn't understand. Steve-- 1989 244DL (Olaf)

Someone else will have to confirm this But I think the Backrest adjuster will hit the center console. So you will have to play games to swap your own Passenger and Drivers seat.

If you are sure your Foam is good and you just need the Frame... I have a total Frame from a '90. If you want to drive out to Long Island and get it.
I have a full seat but I'm not willing to part with it. I may have to rebuild mine again somewhere down the road.
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'75 Jeep CJ5 345Hp ChevyPwrd, two motorcycles, '85 Pickup: The '89 Volvo is the newest vehicle I own. it wasn't Volvos safety , it was Longevity that sold me

Under most state's laws, I think that a dealer selling a previously owned car is held to be sure that the car can pass a safety inspection. You might want to check with the NJ Motor Vehicle authorities on this and then speak with the dealer to help you find the proper replacement seat pronto at their cost. Good luck and happier bricking. Larry.

Thanks, Larry. That IS something that I'm going to look into. If it weren't for these stupid problems, the car is a dream to drive. It looks good, sounds good, and the a/c, heat, and seat heaters all work. Trans shifts smoothly. Engine moves without sputtering and stuff....

My next brick will be purchased through a private seller. This is exactly why I never buy cars through a dealership. :)
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It's a Volvo thing....You wouldn't understand. Steve-- 1989 244DL (Olaf)