How much money to put into a 1993 240?

[James Sweet]

Well, I'll give you my address and you can come on over!

I'm already maintaining ~10 different Volvos, I'm really rather full

 

[Richard W Langbauer]

Doing your own auto maintenance/repair is fine if (1) you have the
knowledge; (2) you have the tools; (3) you have the space. I strike
out on all three. I don't have the knowledge, though I could, of
course, acquire it if I wanted to spend the time (I really don't); I
don't have the tools, which I could also acquire if I had the money
and patience (which I don't) and, most importantly, since we don't
have a garage and our cars are simply parked in the street in front of
our house, I don't have the space. It's really far less hassle (and I
also think less expensive in the long run) to take the car to skilled
mechanics who, while perhaps comparitively expensive, also have an
excellent track record for success, and who, on the odd times they do
get something wrong, will work their backsides off to get it right. I
think the trust factor alone is worth anything extra I might spend.
(And I'm saying this as someone who just paid $200 to a garage that
said they gave my car a complete lube job, oil change, rotated my
tires, and fixed my A/C, only to have me drive away in a car with all
the hinges bone dry, all the fluid levels low, all the tires in
exactly the same place, and the A/C not only blowing warm, but missing
the condensor fan!)

this is no longer a job for the BBB but the Cook county consumer fraud
task force. please take the time to file a complaint. it probably
won't help you -- too much time has passed. but after enough credible
complaints, they might do something. (if it's the same as it ever was,
we know exactly what that will be.)

a condenser fan is not standard. on most older auto ac systems the ac
condenser just piggy backs off the radiator fan. this is becoming less
common as mechanical is being replaced by electrical & engine
compartments are becoming smaller. Myst has six condensers/radiators,
four fans & no space. of course, some of this is "non-standard".

 

[Patricia Butler]

this is no longer a job for the BBB but the Cook county consumer fraud
task force. please take the time to file a complaint. it probably
won't help you -- too much time has passed. but after enough credible
complaints, they might do something. (if it's the same as it ever was,
we know exactly what that will be.)

a condenser fan is not standard. on most older auto ac systems the ac
condenser just piggy backs off the radiator fan. this is becoming less
common as mechanical is being replaced by electrical & engine
compartments are becoming smaller. Myst has six condensers/radiators,
four fans & no space. of course, some of this is "non-standard".- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Too much time? This was a little over a week ago!

 

[Tim McNamara]

Many of the items on your list you could (learn to) do on your own.
They're not terribly technical or require special tools or knowledge.
My sister does most of the maintenance on her Saturn... Well, dad did
help her with the spark plugs, and I helped dad figure them out.
Creative (silly) design, that Saturn 4 cyl.

And don't let these guys fool you. An air filter is a half hour job
and at least a scraped knuckle or two... on my '83 anyway. Maybe it's
easier to get at on later models, I dunno.

Ten leisurely minutes on my 1990 240. Remove one bolt to loosen the AMM
from its mount, unsnap the catches on the air box, pull back the cover,
remove and replace the air filter and clean out any debris, replace the
cover, snap the catches and replace the bolt.

 

[James Sweet]

Ten leisurely minutes on my 1990 240. Remove one bolt to loosen the AMM
from its mount, unsnap the catches on the air box, pull back the cover,
remove and replace the air filter and clean out any debris, replace the
cover, snap the catches and replace the bolt.

I usually spend another 10 minutes fussing with the cover to get it to
go back on right.

 

[Richard W Langbauer]

Too much time? This was a little over a week ago!

criminal charges are difficult to bring -- the burden of proof is very
high. stings work, he said she said not so much. (remind me never to
get raped.) now civil charges are a different matter. a week isn't
that bad. get as much documentation as soon as possible, preferably by
somebody who knows automotive forensics. it's not about technical
knowledge. it's about being comfortable in court. as you might guess
general contractors spend some time in court. i will appear in court
for anyone that has a case. i do it because i just can't stand it when
some (expletives deleted) soils my profession. i know mechanics who
feel the same.

as for how to pursue a civil action, there are two typical paths. a)
put together a class action suit. find other defrauded customers. it
sounds like a lot of work because it is. b) keep it simple. just go to
small claims court. there are web sites which can tell you how. not
just the paperwork but prep strategies. when you go to court, remember
those critical words from thgttg "don't worry".

 

[Tim McNamara]

I usually spend another 10 minutes fussing with the cover to get it
to go back on right.

Really? Hmmm... maybe I should check mine to make sure it's on right!

 

[clay]

Really? Hmmm... maybe I should check mine to make sure it's on right!

Even with the AMM unbolted, the cover only moves back a couple inches.
Get the filter in the groove, hook the bottom in the box without
knocking the filter out of the groove.
(at least) one clip always ends up under the cover. Back it off to get
the clip out, the filter falls out of the groove.
Swear, repeat as necessary.
Done!

 

[James Sweet]

Really? Hmmm... maybe I should check mine to make sure it's on right!

240s all seem to have unique personalities. I've never worked on any two
that worked out in exactly the same way. It's part of the charm I guess.

 

[Tim McNamara]

240s all seem to have unique personalities. I've never worked on any
two that worked out in exactly the same way. It's part of the charm I
guess.

LOL! We've had four 240s (1988 245, 2 1990 244s and a 1993 245)and they
have all been unique.

 

[Tim McNamara]

Swear, repeat as necessary.

An indispensable skill!

 

[~^ beancounter ~^]

think about "bringing it up to full speed" over the next
2 years or so...only fix safety/critical items now......i have
and have had a 1993 949t now for over 10 years that burns
and leaks oil...but, i just live with it...and fig i will fix once i
come
across the right replacement b230 motor...till then....it crusies
ok.....esp for the mo payment of $0.00......

chees...and good luck !! the wagons are cool cars...very easy to
get very used to......

 

[Jon Robertson]

Wow I couldn't afford to run my Volvo on those costs and labour .

I'm not the kind of person who would ever do the mechanical work
myself, but I do have a good garage I trust -- Rolf's Foreign Auto in
Evanston, IL, if you want to look up their reviews

I did...
http://www.yelp.com/biz/rolfs-foreign-car-repair-evanston
6 of 8 say they're expensive, and I think I agree.

Here is a list of things Rolf's thinks my car needs to have done.

1. Timing Belt Job (Replace timing belt, tensioner, front engine
seals; replace broken upper timing belt cover) - $588
2. Replace valve cover gasket -- $98
3. Replace upper and lower radiator hose (add fresh fluid, bleed
system, check for leaks [none found]) -- $49
4. Replace cracked A/C belt (no charge)
5. Front pads and rotors - $449
6. Rear shocks rusted and leaking - $340 for both
7. Transmission needs to be serviced - $130
8. Brake fluid flush - $135
9. New spark plugs - $79
10. Steam clean engine compartment due to oil leaks - $78
11. Air filter needs to be replaced - $52
12. Upper/lower radiator hoses have soft spots - replace - $135
13. Fan shroud broken - check replacement part price
14. Lower Splash shield broken - check replacement part price

Maybe I'm just used to doing my own work (and I don't know their
hourly rate, so I can't really comment on the big-dollar jobs), but
some items do stand out as a little.... "extra"-pricey.
Example: #11 - Air filter - Maybe $10 + 30 seconds to install?

And isn't #3 the same as #12?

I don't think their prices are *too* out of line, besides, sometimes you
get what you pay for, and I don't see anything on that list that smells
of BS. An air filter for a 240 is ~$15 for the part as I recall, and
changing it takes a lot longer than 30 seconds, figure 10-15 minutes. I
usually have to unbolt the air mass meter to disconnect the hose and
then sometimes it's a fight to get the cover on and off with the
radiator hose in the way. It's not a huge task, but the price is not
excessive for a business, there's a lot of overhead beyond what the
mechanic gets paid.

yeah, i never did understand the placement of that air filter cover.
you can sneak it in but i think i fixed the problem by renewing the
hose w/ something non-standard. something that no licensed mechanic
would ever think to do because of the liability.

as a retired general contractor i'm intimate w/ the costs of doing
business. if you don't include p & o you soon become an ex general
contractor. if they stand behind their work the prices seem fine.

 

[James Sweet]

Wow I couldn't afford to run my Volvo on those costs and labour .

Could you get any new car for less?

I like doing my own work to save cash, but even if I had to pay those
costs, it's still cheap transportation in my book. Most cars drop in
value by that much just signing the paperwork at the dealer.

 

[Jon Robertson]

We don't have rust issues here and my 20 year old Turbo 740 update is rust
free and original .Working with rust must be hard going .My 740 t is just
run in at 194000 klm or 121 k miles .My black turbo still turns heads when
its washed and polished .Never park near GM cars as rust might be catchy

Wow I couldn't afford to run my Volvo on those costs and labour .

MasterBlaster wrote:

I'm not the kind of person who would ever do the mechanical work
myself, but I do have a good garage I trust -- Rolf's Foreign Auto in
Evanston, IL, if you want to look up their reviews

I did...
http://www.yelp.com/biz/rolfs-foreign-car-repair-evanston
6 of 8 say they're expensive, and I think I agree.

Here is a list of things Rolf's thinks my car needs to have done.

1. Timing Belt Job (Replace timing belt, tensioner, front engine
$ 100 BELT AND LABOUR seals; replace broken upper timing belt cover) -
$588
2. Replace valve cover gasket -- $98
$ IT'S AN EASY CHEAP JOB
3. Replace upper and lower radiator hose (add fresh fluid, bleed
system, check for leaks [none found]) -- $49
VERY REASONABLE 4. Replace cracked A/C belt (no charge)
GOOD 5. Front pads and rotors - $449
$180 FOR ALL and my labour 6. Rear shocks rusted and leaking - $340
for both way over
the top its so simple 7. Transmission needs to be serviced - $130
would need to know more 8. Brake fluid flush - $135
way way too much 9. New spark plugs - $79
my iridiums cost that much my labour 10. Steam clean engine
compartment due to oil leaks - $78
seriously over the top 11. Air filter needs to be replaced - $52
nearer the mark 12. Upper/lower radiator hoses have soft spots -
replace - $135 forgotten how much 13.
Fan shroud broken - check replacement part price
14. Lower Splash shield broken - check replacement part price

Maybe I'm just used to doing my own work (and I don't know their
hourly rate, so I can't really comment on the big-dollar jobs), but
what I can not do I go to Carson and Murphy Volvo

like the
cam belt replace $100 au dollars