Hello boys and girls! A discalimer here -- this is my first post, this a soft SOS, I am more ape than mechanic. I will share my tale with you, it's winded and likely horrific to the true enthusiests. But my options are limited and the mosquitos are biting so any help from someone with any more volvo experience than me is a major help. That being said, I may have reached the end of the road with my 1984 volvo 244 DL. It's a tan beast. Drove it as my daily for 2 years. 250,000 miles on it. Reliably unreliable. About a month ago, I was driving and the car stalled and slowed to a stop and died on the highway. Tried to jump it, and realized the oil drain plug had fallen off and all the oil litterlly drained out somewhere while i was going a modest 55mph. Got it towed back home, pulled a plug from a 240 at a junkyard, put some new oil in it to see if it would work, checked the coolant and drive belt. It ran for about a week. I was testy with it, took my fiance's car to work that week and rode my bike around but one day decided to go ***** out see if i could drive it to the park. It started making a clanking noise so i truned around after 2 miles or so and the engine overheated stalled and died and no start. Pretty terrfying to see the engine steaming! i freaked. Came back 5 hours later in the evening and it started and made it to the stopsign down the street then died again. Got it towed back to my drive way and its been dead ever since. Just a click, no turn over.

It was having charge problems in June, replaced the alternator. this poor horse it's just fallin apart at the hooves and my lack of expertise leads from one no start to the next.

Is there any way I can test if the engine is completely shot? What are steps to see if I can fix it? What is some advice you all would give? I have looked into Bring - A - Trailer and have debated selling it as it is cosmetically really nice witha couple dings on the exterior. the interior is mostly superb. I live in Nashville, have no garage and the mosqutios thirst for my blood. It's unbearable.
Here is some work i've done in the last year and a half: I've replaced both fuel pumps, battery, starter, radiator, fuses, alternator, distibutor cap and ignition coil.
Ya'll know anyone in Nashville who would come give me an opinion? There's folks at a place called Schnider automotive in Madison, they fixed some fuel line issues a year ago but it was pretty expensive and its far from where I live now and I am a broke musician, covid hasnt helped. Cut my loses? Someone hold me pls. Love this car. If I could fix it somehow, or at least get it to run I would hold onto it longer. Or atleast sell it for much more? I cant replace the engine. I am just a freakin piano player. Help

Love
Shane P.

 

The clanking noise was probably the sound of loose connecting rods. Those bearings would be the first thing to fail with no oil pressure. That or the engine seizing up due to no lubrication on the pistons. - So - the cheapest solution will be a used engine installed, or a different car. If you are considering a used engine - The engine wiring harness is not going to come off in one piece - it will be fried and not reusable. 1983-1984 240s have a specific engine wiring harness - and i'd bet a replacement harness for that car might cost as much as a complete other car.

Sorry for your loss.

 

How did the oil plug fall off? Who changed the oil last? If it wasn't you, let them know, and use extreme violence.
Yeah, your engine is done.

 

Thanks you two for responding. I surmised this to be the case. I did the oil change. I know. i did bad

 

There`s no use crying over splilled milk I guess. just a ``learning experience.

i`d check if there is a local volvo independent shop, see if they have a used engine. otherwise pull all the good parts for spares and buy another. you`ll learn lots pulling it all apart.