I thought I would order an new ECU for my 240 today because the one that's on the car is for a LH 3.0 not a 2.4. I decided to check the VIN to make sure I was ordering the correct item. I've been thinking all along that my 1989 244 was a USA/Federal car but after looking at the VIN I find that I'm wrong. The VIN is YV1AX8846K1340251 telling me that it is a Volvo 240 with mechanical belts, 4 door, 1989, all of which I knew. What I didn't know was that the market code is 31 meaning it's a USA/California car. I'm not sure how that happened but here we are. This brings me to a lot of questions.

1. Can I still use a 951 or a 561 ECU or will I need to find one for the California models? I live in Mississippi so I don't have to meet the California emission standard.

2. Will the California model use the same MAS meter (016) as the Federal model?

3. What other fuel system/emission parts are different between the California and Federal models?

4. How will I know if it has and EGR valve or not and is it supposed to have an EGR valve?

5. Has this just become the project from hell? Should I just stop throwing money at it, part it out and find one that all the parts are on the car when I buy it (a lot of parts were missing on this car when I bought it)?

6. Is there really and Easter Bunny?

I'm sorry for being such a pain in the a** newbie. I'm sure you couldn't tell by those questions that I was a mechanic for 20 years huh?

Thanks so much for your help.

Tony
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Tony Turner 89 Volvo 240DL 200K, 92 Jeep Cherokee 250K, 93 Jeep Grand Cherokee 213K, 89 Volvo 240Wagon 303K

Pick n Pull is having a half price sale this weekend. Go there and pick up a replacement 933 for around $20

hi there, my friend (15 year volvo mech) claims this will work fine, but probably give you a check engine light.

Your thinking is kinda in line with mine. I think a federal 561 or 951 would work and I don't think it would even set a check engine light. The Federal ECU units are not looking for the EGR valve so they shouldn't even know it's there. Now I do believe that if you used a 556 California ECU in a Federal car you would get a check engine light because the ECU would think the EGR valve was bad ---- does that make any sense? The EGR valve on mine almost looks like an after thought, as if it was just added to a normal 240 and they changed the ECU. But I could be wrong.

Thanks for your help.

Tony
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Tony Turner 89 Volvo 240DL 200K, 92 Jeep Cherokee 250K, 93 Jeep Grand Cherokee 213K, 89 Volvo 240Wagon 303K

I don't get a check engine light using a 556 on my 82 245 Federal car. Dan

That is a 92 my finger slipped.

well dan we know you had to docter that 82 a lot to convirt to lh2.4

OK so maybe it was a 92!

If it ain't broke, why worry?
Yes, there's an Easter Bunny.

I think the car will run OK, but you will simply not have EGR circuitry. I would worry a bit if there are state vehicle inspections and they were like California's in thresholds.

Last things first. On the 89 California car, the EGR is mounted near the driver side strut tower. If it has an EGR, it's a California car.

The proper ECU for the 89 California car is the "556" I know the 561/951 ECU will start the car - I don't know about the long term effects of using it.

The 556 ECU also has an upgrade - the "933" the 556 is supposed to have the same problems as the 561, but I've got an original in my California/EGR 89 244, 190K, and no problems - yet.

The retail on new and rebuilts of any of these is outrageous, $750. Used ones pop up on ebay from time to time, go for $100-$150.