Howdy all,
I've been incognito for a few months - sorry for the delay. My 1987
740 GLE is going WELL. I drove her 1500 miles roundtrip recently and
make routine 150 mile trips. I love my VOLVO.

Well, neighbor's selling her 1985 240 DL wagon, and I think I'm
interested. 230,000 miles, silver, great interior. Driver's seat is
busted up (is that vinyl or leather?)

Rebuilt tranny with papers, they are the 2nd owner. Only complaint is
it leaks oil, but I haven't run the car to see where. Hopefully front
leak, maybe main seal.

Anywho - ya'll know I've torn apart my car and read tons, but mainly
about the 740s.

Couple questions:

1- I'm going for $750 - asking price is $1,000 (will negotiate). Price
seems right, right?

2- Do the 1985 240s have the same wiring harness issue my 740 had?

3- I'm sure I can look this up, but what engine does that car have?

4- Yes- I will check the blower motor. LOL

5- Any bugs/glitches specific to the 240 of this era to eyeball?

Lastly, James Sweet - how have you been?

Jamie

Sharshera wrote:
> I own a 1988 Volvo 740 GLE.
>
> I think I haven't changed either my wiring harness nor my blower
> motor.
>
> Why do I need to change them and why are you guys saying that you
> won't own a car and drive it while that wiring thing has been rebuilt?
>
> P.S. I am not mechanically savvy and I normally try to do things with
> my dad on our own, so your hints would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Thanks a million in advance.
>
>


'88 may be fine, but '80 or so through '87 they used a different
insulation on the engine wiring and it hardens and crumbles off making
the car unreliable.

Blower motors are notoriously difficult to replace on 240s, usually the
bearings start to go by around 200,000 miles. 740 blower motor is easy
to change.

James Sweet wrote:
> Sharshera wrote:
>
>> I own a 1988 Volvo 740 GLE.
>>
>> I think I haven't changed either my wiring harness nor my blower
>> motor.
>>
>> Why do I need to change them and why are you guys saying that you
>> won't own a car and drive it while that wiring thing has been rebuilt?
>>
>> P.S. I am not mechanically savvy and I normally try to do things with
>> my dad on our own, so your hints would be greatly appreciated.
>>
>> Thanks a million in advance.
>>
>>
>
>
> '88 may be fine, but '80 or so through '87 they used a different
> insulation on the engine wiring and it hardens and crumbles off making
> the car unreliable.
>
> Blower motors are notoriously difficult to replace on 240s, usually the
> bearings start to go by around 200,000 miles. 740 blower motor is easy
> to change.


The wiring problem carried over into at least some '88 cars.
Our '88 240 had it. As for the blower motor, I think that it's
more a function of age and how hard the fan was used; 10 years
old seems to be the most common time for the bearings to start to
make some noise.

Sharshera wrote:
>>Blower motors are notoriously difficult to replace on 240s, usually the
>>bearings start to go by around 200,000 miles. 740 blower motor is easy
>>to change.
>
>
> My car has 161000 miles (1988 Volvo 740 GLE).
> Do I need to change the blower motor now or this should be changed
> sooner than later or what?
>

Since it won't be a huge unexpected expense when/if it does
fail, wait until it at least gets very noisy. They rarely fail
all at once.

Sharshera wrote:
>>Blower motors are notoriously difficult to replace on 240s, usually the
>>bearings start to go by around 200,000 miles. 740 blower motor is easy
>>to change.
>
>
> My car has 161000 miles (1988 Volvo 740 GLE).
> Do I need to change the blower motor now or this should be changed
> sooner than later or what?
>


Is it making squeeling noises or not running? If it works, why change
it? If it starts making nasty sounds or blowing the fuse, then swap it
out. Use a blower motor for a 1987 Chevy Citation, it's 1/10th Volvo's
price and is identical.

>
> The last time I dealt with that the Chevy motor fit better than the Volvo
> part! The Volvo part (must have been about 8 years ago) had changed to
> something that required metal cutting just to make it fit. $150 for the
> Volvo part that didn't fit or $30 for the GM part that did... decisions,
> decisions.
>
> Mike
>
>



That's amusing.

When I bought one for mine, the Chevy part was only $18.95, it was truly
an *identical* AC Delco motor to the one originally in the car.