So I went and traded a perfectly good 67 ford f100 for a really nice original condition 80 245. It died the first day. I was proud of my amatuer abilities when I diagnosed and replaced the main fuel pump. It died again about 3 days later. I was beginning to feel like a professional when I realized that the hose from the in tank pump was virtually gone. I used replacement parts from the junk yard. Cheap. After these two fixes, it ran wonderfully - to the point that I wanted more volvos. I even took it on a 400 mile trip. The alternator waited until I got home to freeze up.

So now for the questions. My car originally had a main pump next to an accumulator. The junkyard replacement pump was next to a filter (from an 85). I ditched the accumulator and ran the line from the tank, to the pump, to the filter. Was this wise, or does the accumulator have a critical purpose with my fuel system? How much noise from the main pump is normal?

After my long trip, during which the car ran wonderfully, the alternator, as I mentioned, began to sieze up. As I was driving it the day this happened, it began to surge and hesitate. Was this related to the alternator beginning to only turn sporadically, or do I have a new fuel delivery issue?

Also, I now hear a rpm-dependent, gentle knock, knock, knock from the valve cover area. What could this be?

One last thing. It has always started well (when the pumps were working), but during cold starts, the idle immediately drops, and if I touch the gas, it dies. After a minute of allowing the idle to come up, with some very careful encouragement, its good to go. Any ideas?

 

you have multiple problems, much like mine. the alternator is one of the leasts of your worries. look to a couple of volvo part sites here to replace the the alternator pieces or replace the whole thing from Pepboys or an alternative in the USA. If or not here, well find an alternative store in your area. Sorry, I can'tfigure out whereyou're from.

 

y'all will never believe this, but the hesitation and the knock-knock was because one of the spark plug wires was loose at the engine. Really simple fix .

I installed a new alternator which allowed me to bypass the external voltage regulator - hope that's ok

I still have the cold start - low idle problem, but that is so minor and its fine after it warms up. By the way, just how loud should a main fuel pump be?

 

The main fuel pump really shouldn't be loud at all.
That usually mean the intank pump is bad it the external one is loud.

 

There is cold start valve of some sort. I saw people talking about it before on here. Also the idle air control valve could not be operating properly. My 93 240 has a really loud fuel pump as well. I have had the car since June and it has always been that way. I would think if the internal pump was nt working then the external pump would burn out due to it haveing to work so hard but nothing yet. I did just buy another Volvo, an 89 240dl wagon and it is not loud like that. We will see.

 

I've heard the cold start valve reccomendation elsewhere also. I guess I better check it. It's a pretty cheap part. I think I am hearing my intank pump by the way. It's quieter on a full tank of gas and the other day I had the back full of boxes and I could hardly hear it.

 

The main fuel pump shouldn't be loud at all. If you stop and listen for it you should be able to hear it but it shouldn't be noticable. Is your fuel pump fuse blowing out? If it isn't than your in tank is probably good because if it was bad the main pump would be having to pull extra amps and consequently blowing the fuse. I had a problem with mine a while ago, it was really loud and even causing the car to stall. All I did was take it off and sprayed a bunch of carb cleaner in there to clean it out and some wd-40 to lube it up and i also replaced the fuel filter which i think did the most help and it has been fine ever since. My number one recommendation is to replace the fuel filter. Not 100% about the accumulator but it probably wasn't a good mave to get rid of it.