I have an 89 240DL wagon.has been running fine until just recently.When I start it for the first time each morning it will idle smooth then it will start running rough and the engine shakes the whole car then it will idle smooth again and then it will start shaking again.This goes on for abt 5 to 10 mins then the car is fine for the rest of the day.Also if i am at a traffic lite and it is idleing rough when I go to accelerate it momentarily loses power then catches itself and will go...could this be an indicator that I need to do the timing belt or what???Thanks for any and all comments. BNE

 

checking the timing belt isn't a bad idea. Though your problem may have to do with the mass air flow sensor too

 

Check engine light on?

 

The check engine lite has not come on that i have seen...tomorrow a.m. i will check everything out again before i dive under the hood to check the timing belt and test the MAF...actually i am not sure if the check engine light came on briefly or not.so i will pay closer attention to that when i start it up tmrrw.What would that mean if the check engine lite did come on??Would that mean there is an error code ?

 

That would mean an error code do you know how to pull codes?
If not check out this site.
http://www.troublecodes.net/Volvo/

 

Tech...thanks for the info on how to pull up the error codes....i will check it out tmrrw and i will keep you posted..my Haynes manual does not list how to do this so thanks again for the website very interesting...BNE

 

Update on running rough ...CBEVIS is correct in suggesting that it may be the MAF sensor..and Thanks to Tech for supplying the infor.on how to pull up the error codes....I actually got 4 different codes but the only one that makes any sense is code 121 for the MAF.Today the car started fine and has been running good all day.A friend and Volvo Tech that I know locally says the MAF is "going" but is still working (for the moment) and a new replacement is abt $300.So
I will be getting a new one real soon...Thanks to you guys for helping me out.This forum is worth its weight in GOLD!