A week ago I purchased a 1990 240 Wagon (5 speed) with 140,000 miles on it. I bought it from a dealer that also services Volvos and I had seen was recommended on this site. Anyway, since the purchase I'm beginning to wonder.

By the way, I asked the dealership to replace the timing belt and water pump before I was to pick it up.

After picking the car up on Saturday, I drove it home, and everything seemed ok. However, I did notice that the cruise control didn't work, and that a very loud rattle/squeak coming from the right rear door had not been fixed as I had requested. Furthermore, the dealer had said that the engine would be steam cleaned. It had not been. I should have checked all of these things prior to leaving, and I realize that now.

Anyway, I get the car home, and I'm fairly happy. I call the dealership, and they say they will take care of things I mention above. All is good.......

Well, yesterday I drive the car to the dealership. Five minutes from my house the car breaks down. I get it towed to a local mechanic that a friend recommended. She, too, has a 240 Wagon. Once he gets his hands on it, he calls to tell me that the timing belt came off, and that the tensioner had not been replaced when they had put the new belt on. He said he couldn't prove it was the tensioner, but that was his suspicion.

I called the dealer, and they told me to get the work done to fix things, and I would be reimbursed. This was good business, and despite the inconvenience, I was happy. Well, later in the day I receive a call from the shop that had my car that they had completed an inspection that I asked them to do. They said that the air conditioning didn't work, the rear bushings were worn out, and engine gasket was leaking oil, and the power steer hose was leaking fluid.

At this point, I'm furious. In particular, I had asked the dealer specifically about the air conditioning. He had told me that it had been upgraded recently. So I call him, and again he says he will take care of it and fix it. I didn't mention the bushings and other stuff, but now I'm thinking I should have.

Well, I pick the car up today, and the owner of the shop told me that the car would not pass Maryland inspection because of the power steering hose, and it probably wouldn't have passed because of the bushings, either. I told him that the dealer said he already had a current inspection certificate for the car. The guy's reaction was very suspicious. He seemed to indicate that perhaps the dealer had someone that would "pass" cars.

Well, I drive home, and the final straw was this........the dashboard lights don't work. Now I know it couldn't have passed Maryland inspection without internal dash lights.

So, what am I to do? I feel duped, and rather silly. The place I bought the car from has been in business for 20 years, and is family owned and run. They seem to be good people, and have been reasonable, so far. However, I'm concerned over the situation. It just doesn't seem clean to me, so far.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.