Recently the idle speed on my '89 240 DL (175K) has crept upwards--no tach so I'm going to guess 12-1500rpm. Today when I started it cold, the check engine light came on (first time this has happened since I bought the car)and it was still on when I turned the engine off after about 20 minutes of driving. There was no dicernible difference in engine performance compared to when the light is off. After about 10 minutes, I restarted it and the light was off, but the fast idle remained unchanged. After I drove for another 30 minutes, I turned the engine off and immediately restarted it, and this time the check engine light came on again. The car runs great at all speeds--plenty of power, smooth, etc. Last week on two occasions the engine took quite a bit of cranking for it to start in 25 degree weather after many other days of normal starts, but no engine light came on, in case that may be related. I'm supposed to leave on a 450 mile trip tomorrow (doesn't it figure) and I guess I'm wondering if, with the information I've given, anyone could tell me how much trouble I might be asking for by heading out despite this check engine light business. I'd have it looked at, but there is nowhere here where someone familiar with Volvos is available until Monday. I've been paging through my Bentley but can't find anything. Many many thanks for any offers of advice.
Mike F.