hey whats up guys, i am pretty new to the forum so i havent really searched alot in the 240 forum section for answers so i thought id ask myself.
i recently got a 86' 240 DL sedan the car runs great and looks amazing. i am a little worried though aboutt he engine cooling system i realized when i was driving the needle on the dash board for the cooling would get close to the overheating red mark line. ive drove many cars and usually the needle would just sit in the middle of the gauge and stuff but seeing the neede get close to the overheating red line is making me nervous...the water pump was replaced just for your info what should i look at in order to fix this problem???!!! there is no leaking from the gasket as i can see...can you guys help me out here ? thanks

 

Your thermostat might be stuck close

 

brianb i will check the therm. i should just replace i regardless to be honest haha but i am a little confused in which one to get some of them have different degrees ? ex. wahler 92 degree, 87 degree etc. aso if it is not the therm. what else could it bee that i can check ?

ps- someone as telling me it could be a leaking head gasket ?!

 

I went with the 87 on mine when I replaced the water pump:

1985-1993 Volvo 240 Thermostat-87 Degrees

It's pretty cheap and easy to do. In my opinion, it's a good place to start.

 

yea i ordered the therm. hopefully it has nothing to do with a cracked gasket or something from what i heard from other peoples problems! i seriously hope it snot anything with that lol

 

Me, I'd start by making sure that the car actually is overheating. This gadget is what I'll be installing on my '89 this weekend to cure intermittent (and incorrect) high/low temp readings:


Temperature Board Bypass Kit


Here's the explanation:
http://www.ipdusa.com/techtips/10071...rumbs=P0,P5670

If you find that you actually are overheating, the thermostat is certainly a good place to start, as suggessted above..

 

that sound also like a great idea i will order this and try it out.

 

I did this to bypass my temperature compensation board:

Temperature Compensation Board Bypass - Volvo Forum : Volvo Forums

 

guys i haven't yet replaced the thermostat or done the bypass replacement yet due to a busy work schedule this week but i've also realized that when i switch my lights on the cooling gauge goes up it is VERY weird any suggestion on what this may be caused by ? kinda weirded out now that when i turn my headlight light switch on the gauge goes up to the white overheat line.....help!

 

Does it go back down when you turn the lights off?

 

yes, but than before it didnt do anything when i turned the lights on it was fine...random things i turn on in the car on the dash and stuff f***s with the gauge.....