Hello everyone,

I am excited to be a part of this forum! I just picked up an "Urban Barn Find" 1989 740 GL. I don't know much about these cars other than my mechanic telling me that they are super reliable and well built (as per usual with the Swedes) so when it came time for me to look at buying another car I decided it would be a Volvo. Originally I wanted a 740 or 240 wagon, and I looked at/test drove a ton but none grabbed me or seemed a smart purchase. The other morning I got word of this super dusty 740 in a parking garage downtown in the city that had been there for years. The owner could no longer drive due to health reasons however he took incredible care of this thing. Even tho it has been in storage underground for three years, he still moved it around the block once a month and also kept it plugged into a trickle charger. I have got all three original keys, the manuals, and more for this beauty. Best the thing is that it was a California car and has always been stored indoors, so there is no rust anywhere. I am pretty excited about my purchase, but I have a lot to learn in regards to Volvos. I am a Subaru guy myself, with a long history of those, so I know the boxer engines quite well but these red blocks I have very little knowledge of.
I would like to know what the best type of oil to run in these are, some of the other Volvo owners told me they run Rotella T6 and other like diesel oils, but I was not sure what the best is. I live in the Pacific North West, but this car will be spending some time in the mountains and desert also so keep that in mind with your answers. What trans fluid should I run and whats the capacity on the auto trans? Is there anything else I should know about these cars? Also, how does one fix the sagging vinyl/leather headliner?! That is the only flaw with the car other than the Speedo intermittently working around town but not at all on the highway. Does anyone else have that issue? More photos of her to come! She is extremely dusty from storage haha.

 

any major brand 10W30, like Mobil 1, is just fine in the Volvo B230F engines. Use Mahle or Mann oil and air filters, the Fram etc stuff sold at big box auto part stores is junk.

They use Dexron III ATF, again, any major brand, I like the Castrol TransMax Import (for older Toyotas etc, as the Volvo AW70/71 automatic transmissions *are* Toyota, its the same transmission used in many 80s/90s rear wheel drive toyotas like pickups, supra turbos, etc).

the speedo is electronic, the pickup is in the rear axle, on the back of the differential cover, its a single wire to the speedo, if that wire is funky, it cna make the speedo intermittent... but, the speedo itself can be prone to internal electronic problems, I had to replace all the capacitors in my 1992's speedo.

I never had to deal with sagging headliner in a volvo so I am not sure whats the best way to fix it. on a Toyota, the cloth headliner was sagging badly (common problem on early 2000 Camry's), the optimal fix was a new head liner, but the cheap temp fix was to glue the fabric back up with 3M spray adhesive.

 

Trans capacity should be in the owners manual. I get 10 quarts of the castrol that pierce mentioned when I do a flush. Dropping Trans pan is not ideal on these cars. An often used method is to use the trans return line from off the radiator...there are videos showing how it's done if ya ain't sure.

1989 is my favorite Volvo year...I like the sealed beam headlights.

You need a tow hook cover to make that thing cherry.

Starting checking your local junkyards for 2/7/9 series volvos. Get a spare amm/maf sensor... power stage....all the relays you can...

I think you'll find your 740 is stupid easy to work on... for the most part.

Enjoy!

 

note the MAF is version specific, 1989+ LH2.4 uuses a different MAF than earlier ones.

240's don't have the power module as they have a different ignition system. regina 7/9's don't have one, either, as they ahve a completely different coil with integrated power module.

 

Yeah... there is a definite difference between Bosch system and Regina. My '89 740 is Bosch...'92 940 Regina.

My '92 240 and '93 240 both have a power module...I believe Volvo started using them on the 2's when they stopped using that 25 amp fuse by the battery. Neither one of my 240 have that fuse.

Fcpeuro lists +'90 240, 740 and 940 with Bosch system L2.4 as using the power module....

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/vol...module-3501921

 

The maf sensor for the Bosch L2.4 system should have a number on it that ends in "016". The cheap china built units are crap... the $300 rebuilt units are a crapshoot.

All that in mind I like to buy oem junkyard units for $35....I test them by running them in my cars for a month. Been lucky so far and never bought a dud... but I've only bought 2.