Had a rough day today with my car. Long story short, it died many times while on a trip, got it to a Volvo dealer, and they replaced the Distributor Cap, and also told me that the In Tank fuel pump is bad. They estimated over $300 for a new pump, and that was just the pump. They didn't estimate labor. I looked up the pump on fcpeuro.com, and the pump there is $42. Basically, what my question is, is replacing the in tank fuel pump something my father and I could tackle, or should we just leave it to our mechanic, or even the Volvo dealer, perhaps? I really don't wish to go back to the dealership because they really screwed me on the distributor cap replacement. It was $55 for labor, and the total was $81.99, so it's pretty obvious that they charge high for things. That's why I don't wish to go back there. But I do know they would probably do the job right.
Anyway, sorry for the rambling involved with the question. Today was an awful day. So any advice on the in tank fuel pump?
Thanks in advance!
Evan

 

what model and year car is this? does it have regina or bosch injection? regina and *some* last 2 year 940s with bosch have the main fuel pump in the gas tank, and this pump is more expensive.

the intank pump isn't that hard to replace, there's several photo 'how-to's on the web

re: labor charges, most any competent shop around here charges about $100/hour, so its not hard to rack up $55.

 

If you found a dealer to change you $55 for labor you should have thanked them. Labor here is $143 per hour.

You should be able to change the pump yourself, isn't that bad a job. Several years ago the dealer here went in my tank, made a mess, messed up my sending unit, and charged me over $900. Ended up fixing it myself and getting my money back (after some agression). So don't assume a dealer won't hack something up.

 

indeed dealers aren't very good on 20+ year old cars, they mostly only work on nearly new stuff doing warranty repairs and routine service for top dollar.

if you can find a good small shop where the owner is the head mechanic and quite likely worked for a volvo dealer 20 years ago when these cars were new, thats my suggestion. the guy I go to actually wasn't a volvo mechanic, hes a jaguar and other import expert, but he's just plain a good mechanic, knows how to troubleshoot, does stuff for a fair price. his 2nd mechanic did time as a vw dealer wrench.

 

I was having the same problem. changed the in tank pump. still did same thing.

on my 91 740, behind ashtray, there is a set of fuses and relays. when the fuel system relay goes bad it mimics a bad fuel pump.

Find the relays on your car and replace the bad fuel relay.

Find relay locations and replacement at dave barton volvo on net.

costs about $25.

as for fuel pump replacement:

open your trunk or tailgate, pull back carpet on left side near axle, there should be an access panel. the pump access is there.

 

Pierce, its a 1992 Volvo 240. It's main fuel pump is indeed under the drivers side area. We changed a fuel pump a while back and it was there, so I suppose it is a Bosch system.

Big Sam, I suppose it could be a relay, but I'd assume if it was Volvo would have replaced it.

And thanks for the advice all.

 

on a 240, the fuel pump relay is behind the glovebox, its a rectangular white relay, with 6 blades. On a 240, the in-tank fuel pump is accessed from the trunk, under the mat, there's an access panel. Volvo charges a fortune for that pump as they sell it as the whole assembly, you can get just the pump fairly cheaply from FCP, IPD, etc, and replace it within the assembly, I also recommend replacing the 'fuel sock' thats on the end.

here's everything you need to know.
In the Tank - 240 Volvo Tank Pump and Sender

 

Thank you pierce! I forgot to mention it's also a wagon. I assume accessing the panel is similar?

 

yeah, pretty much. I haven't been in a 240 wagon in so long that I'm not 100% sure... on the 7/9 wagons, you fold the back seat down and remove the floor panel thats immediately behind the back seat, and the access is under there. I'd start by looking under the opening panel where the spare tire compartment and 3rd row seats are... if its not accessible from there, its just forward of that...