Hi Guys!

I got the 940 started, but I know that I'm not done yet. I was able to drive it a bit, but I don't trust it yet. Here are the latest updates:

1. Might as well start with a laugh. Remember when I said about the fuel gauge not registering fuel? Well that ended up being because I was looking at the doggone temperature gauge instead of the fuel gauge. The fuel is on the right side on my 240, and it just seemed natural to look there. Go figure!

2. I need to ask for confirmation of part numbers for things I was given at Volvo, because I'm not sure why parts would be different:

#1346787 (distributor rotor): The rotor fit and clicked on well, but it didn't look exactly the same as the one I pulled out (the old one has an "A" and "Made in Italy" on the one side and a "3/18" on the other; the old one looked pretty burnt up). The metal parts especially didn't quite look the same. Is this the correct part?

#1346788 (distributor cap): There was black gunk on the inside of the cap (especially along the bottom inside edge if you'd be looking on it as if it were on the car), and there was lots of black gunk on the center thing that sticks up in the middle of the inside of the cap. The one I took out has "BOSCH" on one line, then "1235522 382" on the next line. Maybe the new one looks different because it's so clean. The screw holes did line up when I put the new one on (the old screws weren't in there very tight, so I made sure they were at least appropriately tightened, although not too much). LAUGH #2: I couldn't find a short enough flathead screwdriver to take the cap off. So after two trips to Advance Auto and cleaning up my tools and papers and stuff twice, I called Volvo and asked if they had a special tool for this, to which the guy replied an 8-mm wrench. Of course, I'm digging everywhere to find something to take the bolts off (searching the basement, trying dimes, you name it). That was distressing and I almost just wanted to go to bed, but I endured and finished up in the dark. Didn't get the connection that the end of the screw had a hex nut. Did I have the tool I needed the whole time? Yes, but it took me about 3 hours to figure that out. UGH. Can any of you remember stuff like this when starting out?

#270746-1 (spark plugs). The new plugs looked pretty much the same as the old (which said Volvo on them and had the following number: 1367528).

#6842734 (coil wire): This wire looked just like the one I took off.

#271483 (plug wires): PROBLEM??? I could not get these wires to snap on the top of the plugs. They just kept seeming to bend and wouldn't grab. I ended up putting the old wires back on, and they snapped on right away. When I look on the inside of the both wires (old and new), the old wires have the little metal balls closer to the opening of the wire, whereas the new wires have the metal balls farther down the tube of the wire. If they're seated back farther in the new wires, then this is the reason I'm having trouble, and I'm not sure why. The new wires were also just a little bit longer than the old wires (maybe 1/4" or a little more?). Am I not doing something right, or are these the wrong wires, even though I find on some parts sites that these ARE the right wires? Both sets say Bougicord, but the old ones also have another number one them, and they're not right in front of me. My biggest concern is the length difference and especially not being able to snap the new ones right onto the plugs. They fit fine at the cap.

3. IDLE IS ROUGH. The tachometer shows the car idling between the 0 and the 1 when I'm at a stop. It almost seems like it will stall. After driving it for maybe 3 miles or so, I attempted to read the codes from sockets 2 and 6, but I got a 111 from each socket. Could it take a while for codes to reappear after clearing the memory like I did?

4. I want to tackle cleaning the coil tomorrow and have all of the good instructions.

5. When I first read codes, I did get one for the idle air control valve (that there was a 223, which is an absent or faulty signal in the idle air control valve). I didn't get the code back, but I'm wondering if it's questionable. Tackle that?

6. Now that it's started, I can check the transmission fluid. Does this car have a kickdown cable like the 240s? I'd probably like to change transmission fluid, too.

7. I'd like to change the oil, too. The previous owner took it to one of those speedy oil change places, and I know that it doesn't have a Volvo filter. What kind of oil should I be using in this nearly 257,000-mile wagon? I live in Pennsylvania. Also, will whatever I put in be OK when I take the trip to Phoenix and back?

8. I'd like to clean the throttle body, too.

9. Anything I'm forgetting?

Any thoughts on my steps from here will be greatly appreciated, maybe prioritizing the things I have on the list? I can't say thanks enough for all of your support. I truly hope you all give yourselves a BIG pat on the back for a job well done. Couldn't have done this without you!!!!!!!!

Susan