Ok, so some of you know how bad my addiction is. So it's fairly well known that I'm NOT in need of any vehicles. LOL

I work OTR and I'm in Jasper, AL at the moment. Pulling up to my motel, off to the left,,,, barely cought in the corner of my eye. Deep blue 244, from a distance, obviously relitively late (lights) and from that same distance, looks imaculate.

What do I do? I stop the Volvo (10 wheeled Volvo) on the shoulder of the road to take a better look. Figured the price on the windshield would be rediculas as it was in an 'up scale' car lot. Just my nature, I HAVE to look. Thought I saw something suprising in the windshield (acually on it). Rolled down the bug crudded window of the truck and sure enough, it said MAKE OFFER and just under that, read Must Go. OK, that's a gimik ad and I know it, but WTH.

Walked across the ditch and took a closer look @ the car. I could only fine one tiny dent just over the hood release (aka saftey catch). The paint is AWESOME, and the interior is black leather. Opened the door and took a look inside.

First, the interior is PERFECT, not a bad spot. The dome light didn't come on when I opened the door. I actually took time to scrutinize the interior (which I never do) and it was genuinely perfect, down to the carpet. The odometer shows 68,496!

Ok, knowing it's a gimick ad on the windshield, I decide that if it looks decent under the hood, I'll have to inquire. Popped the hood.

Nothing under the hood was clean, but nothing was actually dirty or grimey either. Did notice that the original R-12 ports were still in use. Belts and hoses looked good, oil looked as if it had a lil time on it, but not over-due (by apearence that is), took the oil cap off and it looked really clean.

OK, I want it. Don't need it, but I want it. At this point I headed into the office to inquire about it. I don't do the whole "what do you think it's worth" thing, so I cut the guy short and asked him what would actually take the car.

He proceeded to tell me that it was running rough, blowing smoke and had been for some time, but had recently gotten so bad that it wasn't really drivable. He then asked "Still interested?", to which I replied "if it's cheap enough". OK, so I'm a blunt, to-the-point kinda guy when dealing. He told me that I really needed to talk to his Mother, as it was her car.

He led me to an office in the back of the building where his Mother was sending a fax. He told her that I was interested in her car and I waited for her to complete her fax. She made quite certain that I knew the car had problems, and then asked if it was worth $500. I asked her to let me take a look at it.

Went back out to the car as the guy I first spoke with headed off to get a good battery for the car. Put the battery in and tried to start it. It sputterred here and there, but would't start. Pushed the pedal to the floor and tried again. She came to life, sounded like crap, bellowed smoke and took forever to build rpms, but felt solid. Looked back and saw a cloud of black smoke like I'd never seen in a gasoline Volvo. After the car finally started picking up some rpm's, I let off the pedal and it did manage to stay running (though roughly at best). As I went to get out of the car, the guy told me that he'd be inside when I got done checking it out.

First things first, check the FPR, pulled the hose (car still running) and she started to smooth out a bit, felt my left shirt sleeve getting damp and looked down to see gasoline coming out of the FPR's vac hose! I'd seen many fail, too many to recall, but I'd never seen one pump gasoline straight out of the FPR vac port!

Quickly shoved the hose back on to the intake (the car was starting to run like it should by this point and I certainly didn't want to draw attention to myself). The car died shortly after.

Didn't even think to turn the key off or shut the door, just headed inside the office.

The guy met me @ the door and asked if I actually wanted the car. After telling him yes, he called his Mother to the front (PA). I told her that I didn't think it was going to take all that much to get the car right. She cut me short.

"My son bought me this car brand new when his little car lot started making money. I've been fond of the car from the start, and it's never missed a single service, but none of our mechanics can figure out what's wrong with it. If you can, then maybe it would make a nice car for you. Would you be willing to give $400 for it today?"

You can guess my answer. I nearly ripped my pants off trying to get my wallet out of my pocket.

While she was doing the paperwork, she began to tell me more about the car.
It was special ordered from a dealership in Tuscalloosa, AL (dealer optioned from what she described, with some work outside of Volvo (the seat covers are NOT OEM) who knows). The milage is correct. No accidents. etc.

She also told me that she'd had to have 3 fuel pumps put on it in the last few months, but that the dealership didn't charge her for the last two. When she took it back for it's current concern, they told her that it had nothing to do with the fuel system and that it wouldn't be a warrentied repair. Said they'd have to have it for a few days to track down the problem. She got upset with them and drove off. The car had been in the Son's garage for 3 months and none of the guys could figure anything out, so she had them put it on the lot this morning.

I think I just got lucky! Even if the engine were toast, I'd have still given $400 for THIS 244! Drove it across the road to the motel I'm staying at and got my tail on the Brickboard. I've never owned a Volvo with so few miles (then again, I've never owned one that cost over $1,000).

I know I need an FPR, but I've never seen one actually so bad that it gushed fuel from the vac port. Also, the 3 fuel pumps in only a few months is suspicious.

What do yall think? Ever had an FPR fail this badly? FPR causing pump issues, line problems somewhere causing FPR issues? I don't normally like to throw parts at a car, but I can't leave this thing here at a motel. I've gotten permission to leave it until SAT. If I have to, I can tow it home then. If I can repair it, I can get one of the guys to drive my 744 home while I drive the 'new' 244.

Sorry for the long story, but perhaps that will give you an idea of how raced my mind is, when I should be thinking on the fuel system.

Thanks all,
Frank