I could use a bit of help please. I have an '83 245 with about 125K miles. There are a couple of things that I'd like to know about it. This is a car that I recently purchased and before I could do much to it, my friend said he'd like to have it. With nearly 10 Volvo products close at hand, it wasn't hard to let this nice old British Racing Green and tan wagon go to a good home for a potential Volvo enthusiast and friend.

Anywho....it's a four speed with I'm guessing overdrive. This is actually the first manual I've almost owned. When driven, nothing happens when you try to engage the little button on the shifter. No lights, no discernible change in behavior or characteristics of the car. Next, the car seems to surge a bit at idle, and to some extent when taking corners (which to me suggests the fuel pick up hose on the in-tank pre-pump is degraded in some way). No question that it surges at idle. It has wonderful old rims, beauty rings and little caps which I believe I'll trade out for some more modern rims and plastic wheel covers. I do like the looks of those old rims, b. rings and hubcaps. It has a great paint job, straight body and seems to have been well-cared for. I'm planning on helping my friend out by performing a minor tune-up with him assisting as a way to get to know his car and start taking over some of the maintenance responsibilities. Other issues include that the wipers don't work. No sound at all when one attempts to turn the wipers on. Also, the light switch doesn't seem to turn the lights on. When you turn the knob to the right to turn on the lights, it does not click with each station of the light switch, but instead kind of has no feel at all, real loose and just spins. Finally, the driver's seat cushion seems to be worn unlike the other seats. When I sit in it, I sink real low, and I've very tall. My friend is much shorter than I which will make for some interesting seating arrangements. I'm selling him the car for exactly what I have into it and that's about $500.00. I anticipate the new Volvo owner internship will include at least:

1) Changing oil. Mobil 1 will be suggested, along with Mann filter.
2) Disconect the heater hose to the air mass meter.
3) Change plugs to new NGK's
4) If possible, clean flame trap
5) Change out the coolant with new Napa coolant with distilled water.
6) New rotor and cap (no points on this early a model is there?)
7) Check the timing.
8) Anything else I forgot.


Thanks for any input, as always. This is a remarkable board!

Sincerely,

JBeechcraft