Hello!

I just purchased a 1990 volvo 240 dl with about 98000 miles. I think I am an idiot and that I probably got sheistered. I paid $1300 for the car-which looks good on the outside-except for 1 small dent. It has a clean title-and the same owner for the first 14 years. I went to get the car inspected and have since spent $1600 fixing it. It cost $840 on brake lights-which included a new instrument panel circuit board, and a couple of sensors. A new alternator-exhaust gasket and tail light thingy. I bought the car 3 weeks ago and have hardly driven it. Please give me good news. This car will last until I'm 90 right? Right now I am just so upset and really am looking for somebody to make me feel better. If you can't make me feel better that's okay, too. Thanks.

 

Hi Bwookie,

I think the purchase price sounds like a great deal, but all the money you've spent fixing it sounds kind of high. These cars can get kind of pricey if you're not willing to work on them yourself. If you can turn a screwdriver and hold a wrench, I bet you'll be much better off doing the repairs yourself. At least from a financial standpoint. This forum has some great people on it who seem to always be willing to help out. The next problem you encounter or one that you're having now, just throw it out here and with everyones help, I bet it can be solved. Hang in there and yes it will last you until your 90, just don't quote me on that ok....

 

Did you buy a new rear tail light circuit board? cause I did from the dealer, and it was only $35 for one. And there are no sensors in the lights.

 

We can all help you fix pretty much anything.

 

Definately keep at it. Just buy a good service manual and you will save tons of cash. And when something stumps you post it here or there are some other good volvo forums out there with people who can help (www.volvo-forums.com and www.sweedishbricks.com). Good luck with your ride. I think you'll find that Volvo engineering and quality is well worth the minor repairs you'll have to make.

 

Thanks for all of the help! Everything is working now-there is still a problem with the steering shaft-and the mechanic says it will be okay-we will just need to keep putting power steering fluid in. Does this sound like a problem one could fix?

I'm waiting for my service manual to be delivered...

 

If you just have to replace the knuckle that is pretty easy.

 

One word of advice- JUNKYARD!! We have a local you pull it type yard with plenty of older Volvos, I buy used whenever prudent (like I dont buy used brakes or shocks, you know) I always figure if I REALLY screw something up I can usually take it to be fixed. Hang in there... dave

 

Remember Longship's Volvo Principle: "All Volvos cost at least $5,000. If you pay less than that for one, the extent of the difference will soon be spent in repairs to put it in good shape."

Given that your basic $5,000 Volvo is usually a pretty damned good car I don't think that getting a cheap Volvo like you did is necessarily getting taken. There are exceptions, I suppose. But if the body's clean and the engine's been mainatained, you've probably got yourself a good set of wheels. At least you aren't tearing apart the engine. Plus, 98,000 miles is *very* low miles. Count your blessings and treat your new car to a wax job. ;-)

 

Volvo shop labor is well over $100 p/hour in most places now. For $35 or less you should by the Bently Bible (big blue service book). It is vastly superior to any of the others out there (chilton, haynes, etc,). You got a good price on the car. Don't sweat it. Any car 15+ years old will take some work to keep running but you should get another 2-300k mile out of the car. Stick to the maintenece schedule and all should be well.

 

Re: the power steering leak.
My 245t had a steering problem as well. Seals and hoses throughout the system had been sitting completely dry for a year or more when I bought the car and so were very, very dried out. 1 bottle of Lucas stop leak solved the problem. Amazing stuff. 2 years later and not a drop anywhere.

 

Greetings ..Just stay away from THE DEALERS. i.e a tail light can cost you over 200.00 at a junk yard 35.00. talk to people you work with . for there Mechanic .check your local repair shops that have actually worked on 240's ..I wouldn'tBUY anything but a 240 (owned 10) .although I'am looking a a 96/850 now.. a very easy fix and FREE

 

Now dive in there and learn to do the basic maintenance: throttle body cleaning, flame trap, etc. You'll be fine.

FWIW, my local Brick Guru, from whom I bought my son's '83 wagon, says he barely looks at the odometer when thinking about buying a Volvo. He's much more interested in how it's been treated. The '83 came with a 3" stack of dealer service receipts, and essentially drives like a new car.

 

I just bought a 1990 240DL station wagon with 83000 miles on it. I paid$3450. It was a well kept car inside, outside and mechanically. I thought that was a great price. I had a volvo dealer look it over and he said there was no work that had to be done immediately. I originally bought a brand new 1990 240 dl 17 years ago. I followed the maintenance manual and the car went until it hit 198000 miles before it needed anything major. I closely monitor used volvo prices on e-bay and I can tell you that you got a really good deal if the car has only 98000 on it. Even if you put $1000 or $2000 into it now, you will have the car for a very long time. And even with 150000 or 175000 miles on it you can get your original investment back if the interior looks good and there are no exterior extroadinary dents or rust on the car. You definitely did not get sheistered.

 

The only thing that you should need to check on is the timing belt. Sounds like you have a good find.

Nick

 

No you didn't get sheistered. Not a bad price but cars that age will always take some of your money. I'm no mechanic but I've learned a bunch from doing my own repairs. (Mostly replacing worn parts.) The good side of that is that once you've repaired or replaced something, it will last another 100k or so. Take is low and be safe. These guys are good and willing to help.

 

Hello bwookie!
You are just fine. As others have said, your repairs are high because this is a high end vehicle & you are depending on someone else to fix it for you. You would be better off fixing it yourself if you're handy. We found ourselves in a similar position & ultimately ended up giving up on our Volvo. My husband isn't handy at all & I'm only handy with wood & small construction projects. Cars are just alien to us. When the old Volvo broke down the last time, we decided to buy a new car because the repairs were higher than 6 months of payments on the new car! Not a day has gone by that we haven't regretted parking that Volvo.
You have a great car. You didn't pay too much for it. It just needed a little help. It is worth more than you have put in it and may save your life one day as mine did for me. And that, my friend, is worth every penny you've got!
BTW: ours was 20 years old & had over 300,000 miles on it at the end.
Good luck!

[Q[B[/B]UOTE=bwookie;49010]Hello!
I just purchased a 1990 volvo 240 dl with about 98000 miles. I think I am an idiot and that I probably got sheistered. I paid $1300 for the car-which looks good on the outside-except for 1 small dent. It has a clean title-and the same owner for the first 14 years. I went to get the car inspected and have since spent $1600 fixing it. It cost $840 on brake lights-which included a new instrument panel circuit board, and a couple of sensors. A new alternator-exhaust gasket and tail light thingy. I bought the car 3 weeks ago and have hardly driven it. Please give me good news. This car will last until I'm 90 right? Right now I am just so upset and really am looking for somebody to make me feel better. If you can't make me feel better that's okay, too. Thanks.[/QUOTE]