So it took three mechanics to fix the clacking noise in my 240. The first- my usual mechanic who has worked on my cars for at least 10 years- said he took the drive belts off and isolated the noise to the engine. Charged me in labor. Said it was probably a "lifter" noise. The second spent probably 1 1/2 hours doing a thorough inspection, resulting in a 3 page memo of various things wrong with the car... everything but what was making the noise. Charged me </body>. The third mechanic found that the air conditioner compressor had lost a nut off one of the adjustment bolts, causing the pulley to be a little cockeyed and resulting in a chunk of separating drive belt. You'd think that the first guy who said he took the drive belts off would have noticed that. Replaced it, voila, no more noise. What's Swedish for "voila?" He also replaced hardened leaking seals that *should* have been replaced when I had the timing belt replaced 40,000 miles ago, so now my oil leaks should be history. Runs like a top with no weird noises. Aaahhh, I have my 240 back. W00t! It seems to me I need to continue using the third mechanic (Gorshe Auto Service in Minneapolis... lot and shop full of old and new Volvos). Next up, tie rod ends, a control arm bushing or two, and the first new fuel filter in years. And I've got to figure out why there's no high beams or indicator light and why the headlights go out when I flip on the high beams. Tomorrow's project, weather permitting. One instructive thing about the whole exercise was looking into a lot of replacement car options only to find that what I want is a 240. LOL!
