Hi, I'm new here today but take peeks once in a while b/c I love volvo's.

I'm looking at a 1984 240 wagon that has 225,000 miles, they want 795.00 for it but they said it has a small oil seepage from the front seal. Says he's driven it like that for 10 years. He said he was told it would cost 300.00-400.00 a couple of years ago. Said it was an easy fix but that you have to take stuff off to get to it which makes it cost more.

It's a good looking little volvo and I would like to have it so that when I let my 17 yr old drive it, I'll feel pretty good about his safety.

Also, I currently own a 1989 240 wagon, that I love with all my heart. It doesn't run. I stopped driving it one day about 3-4 years ago b/c tires were bald. At the time I stopped I was having trouble with it. It was missing, stalling, heaving when it took off from a stop. I took it to a mechanic (not a volvo mechanic - big mistake). The problem wasn't fixed. So when I saw how much my tires were thrashed, I was way overwhelmed and tired of the fight with the car so I parked it. Prior to that though, it seemed to be a pretty strong engine, my ex checked it out and then I bought it. It, however, may have been a lemon. The wiring was screwed up too. Turn on the lights and the air conditioner would go on. Turn on the air and the radio would go on. Radio wouldn't work one day, would the next day.

Any thoughts on whether to keep it and get it fixed or sell it. Oh, the mileage when I stopped was probably close to 200,000. The odometer stopped working at about 160,000 and it was not much longer after that - a couple of years or so that I stopped driving it.

I would really appreciate your help on this. If I do fix the 89, it doesn't mean I won't buy the 84. I would like to have another good wagon.

Thanks so much for the help!

 

I too have a 1989 Volvo wagon with oil seepage and strange electronic happenings under the dash. The odometer froze at 197 thousand and seems to reduce when reversing the car. I have a 17 year old that will need it soon but let's face it they (the cars) have to be pampered now.

I just thought the similarities were funny

B.V

 

Any car of this vintage that most likely has had inquisitive and adventurous owners is bound to have electrical problems--most of them due to anyone feeling like chopping through the harness and adding things like speakers, stereos, boomboxes, trailer hitches, etc. Volvo wiring is pretty decent after the 1987 model year when they stopped using the certain biodegradable sheathing.

240 odometers are problematic, mainly one tiny gear that breaks and needs to be replaced--widely available...

A "front oil leak" if indeed from the front and not from the head gasket is not a problem but that depends on who's doing the work--the way mechanics charge these days, one never knows... It should be a 2 hr job, parts are minor cost.

Overall, one may love these older Volvos but absent a skilful pair of knowledgeable owner hands, one is left at the mercy of the market and that means big bills. Considering how little older Volvos cost, mostly it's not worth it, ergo, the low cost of older neglected Volvos all over the place.

 

and we have an 87 thats had no wiring problems, go figger... but it may be a late-87 production as we bought it new in December of that year.

oil leaks are often initiated by clogged 'flame traps' and oil seperator boxes. this 'flame trap' is a little disk with pinholes that is in the crankcase ventilation system, its hard to get to (under the intake manifold) so often neglected on cars that aren't serviced by volvo-knowlegable mechanics. if you have EGR its even harder to access. when the flame trap is plugged up, crankcase pressure will blow out any seal it can, often the front camshaft seal.