My 1981 242 arrived with the engine literally strapped to the crossmember with an old tow strap. The trans was in a trunk. I am just now trying to get it running, but discovered that the engine harness is toast. I’ve found a 1982 harness in good condition, but it contains a gray wire which was not present in the 1981 harness. According to everything I’ve seen, this should connect to a temp sender in the block above the starter. My engine has no such sender. Looking at the connector on the firewall there is a green wire at position 6. According to Dave Barton’s illustrations that is where the gray wire in the engine harness should connect.

Both the 1981 and 1982 harnesses are for the “mpg” version, with Chrysler ignition. Everything except the gray wire on the 1982 harness matches up to the engine and mirrors the 1981 harness.

Can I use the 1982 harness? What about the mismatch at position 6 on the firewall connector?

 

Dave Barton in Texas is a Volvo Enthusiast who has mapped out all the schematics, and offers new harnesses. FYI. He has three useful websites.

 

The '81 Volvo Wiring Diagrams manual is excellent and downloadable for free at https://ozvolvo.org/archive.