240 1990 engine check light on owner says NP

looking to buy a 240 (1990)the one I looked at had a good body but the
engine check light was on (111k miles), owner said that every 25k miles you
need to have a mech turn it off. I'm not believing that, some brown water
came out the tail pipe when started and a little hard to start also . any
thoughts on this one...........Wayne

 

If it was really no problem, he would have turned it off. The Check
engine light only comes on when there is a problem detected. Learn how
to read what the computer is trying to tell you at:

http://www.brickboard.com/FAQ/700-900/EngineOBDCodes.htm

--
Mike F.
Thornhill (near Toronto), Ont.

NOTE: new address!!
Replace tt with t (twice!) and remove parentheses to email me directly.
(But I check the newsgroup more often than this email address.)

 

The owner's either dodgy or an imbecile. Either way I would stay clear.
As you are likely aware, the service light (not check engine) comes on
and stay on for couple minutes, every 5000 miles - as a service reminder.

Brown water in the tailpipe could be from the car not being run for a
while and run accumulating.

 

The owner's either dodgy or an imbecile. Either way I would stay clear.

Actually, the service light comes on and stays on until a mechanic turns it
off, to get you to the do the regular maintenance. But, as you said, it's the
service light that does this, not the check engine light.

 

Engine check light is just that - something needs checking. if you just
need to take it to a mechanic to turn off, why hasn't the present owner
done it ?

The only regular warning light that should stay lit is the service
light, which just tells you it's time for an oil change (and then the
mechanic re-sets it).

Steer clear of this one !

 

then again, it might be something simple and cheap to fix, on a car that is
otherwise in good condition.... as suggested above, use the built-in
diagnostic connector under the hood to track down the problem, then decide
if it's worth fixing. Something as easy as a defective O2 sensor could be
repaired for very little.....

 

thanks for sall the great replys......... a friend who has a 240 (87) wagon
says the engine needs a valve job ( although I'm not sure how he can tell
this) and that its a $2000 job. he says he hears a tapping or ticking sound.
but its seems that this may not be for me , though I'm not afraid to get my
hands dirty I'm not a mechanic.they want $3000 for the car but not worth the
repair cost if thats accurate............Wayne

 

Subject: Re: 240 1990 engine check light on owner says NP

Don't you have the option to simply take the car to a mechanic and have them do
a used-car pre-sale check? That seems the easiest way to go. It would be a
shame to lose the car if it turns out a mechanic tells you there really isn't a
big problem.

 

that would be ideal but there are no plates on the car and the owner got
really weird when we drove it just 1/2 a block down the street. I really
don't know how that person expects to sell a car without a test
drive.......Wayne

 

Everything you've said about this car indicates that it isn't a desirable
purchase. There are better Volvos to be found on eBay .......

 

From what it sounds like there are better Volvos in the local pick and pull,
RUN!! $3,000 is top dollar around here for a 1990 with low miles in good
condition.

--
Dave Shannon
daveshan_at_spamsoneonelse_cox.net (Spring Valley CA)
1988 240 DL 19X,XXX
1992 745T 15X,XXX
1984 245T 19X,XXX
'01 Jeep Wrangler Sahara 14K
http://www.homestead.com/volvo2/

 

Subject: Re: 240 1990 engine check light on owner says NP

A buyer should be happy -- even anxious -- to have you do a thorough test drive
and even have the car checked out by your own mechanic. If they're not, I
agree with those telling you to run away. I've bought three 240s on eBay over
the years, one from a private seller, two from dealers, and I've been most
happy with each of them.

 

I agree on all counts, here in western NY its hard to find a 240 without
rust ( too much salt on the roads during the winter) I have seen them on
ebay and the good ones seem to be in florida but they do pop up and I'll
keep looking , gotta have my 240.............Wayne

 

Subject: Re: 240 1990 engine check light on owner says NP

I have to say, of the three 240s I've bought on eBay, two have been from New
Jersey, and one from Connecticut. Each time I fly in (CT was close to White
Plains, NY airport) and driven home (Chicago) with my "new" car.

 

Do you know that there are services that will ship a car you purchase
via eBay in Florida to western NY (or anywhere else in the country)?
They are quite reasonably priced - and can be accessed for eBay Motors.

 

yes I know about shipping cars but you dont get to see them unless you fly
down there, its probably $700 to ship one.......Wayne

 

Subject: Re: 240 1990 engine check light on owner says NP

I think it's actually much cheaper than that, unless you're having it shipped
coast to coast.