Looking for a 940. Anything I should know?

Hi All
Love the collective wisdom found in here.

I'm looking for a 940. I believe that's the last of the old engine/rear wheel
drive Volvos...
Anyway, I've been out of the market for a long time and was wondering if there
is anything
I should know about the car. Is there a better year, a bad year... That sort of
thing.

Thanks for any help.

 

:Hi All
:Love the collective wisdom found in here.
:
:I'm looking for a 940. I believe that's the last of the old engine/rear wheel
:drive Volvos...
:Anyway, I've been out of the market for a long time and was wondering if there
:is anything
:I should know about the car. Is there a better year, a bad year... That sort of
:thing.
:
:Thanks for any help.
:

i have had two '91 940T sedans, and driven lots of 700 series as
loaners when the 940s are in for service.

the turbo makes the car - the non-turbo 700 series just don't satisfy
me, and likely won't satisfy you after you drive the turbo version.
the turbo 700s are enough like the 940T in drive train for me to feel
the same would be true of the non-turbo 940s.-

the 940 is a smoother and gentler car than the 700 series.

both my '91s were purchased at an advanced age, and they were no more
trouble than any other ten year old car (but have your mechanic
check any such out before you buy.

 

If you get one that's been reasonably well maintained then you can't lose,
all the 900 series cars were excellent, as well as most of the 700's.

 

Go for 1996 - 1998 model as has Glass moonroof and best version is GLE. Best
engine is B230FT in States.

Cheers, Peter.

: Hi All
: Love the collective wisdom found in here.
:
: I'm looking for a 940. I believe that's the last of the old engine/rear wheel
: drive Volvos...
: Anyway, I've been out of the market for a long time and was wondering if there
: is anything
: I should know about the car. Is there a better year, a bad year... That sort
of
: thing.
:
: Thanks for any help.
:

 

Wasn't the 940 not sold after 1995 in North America? I thought it was the
960 that soldiered on till its S/V90 days of 1998.

 

Rob Guenther says...

I should have mentioned that I am indeed in the States!
I believe you are correct. I have not seen a 940 listed
past 1995. And few of those. People seem to hang on to them.

I was thinking that I would avoid the turbo since I had
one on my 740 and around town (which is the majority of
my driving) it really didn't seem to acomplish much.

 

I have said it before,
IMHO
You can't beat a 94 940 non turbo with Regina fuel injection. Regina doesn't
use the expensive air mass sensor, just a temp sensor in the intake. Crank
position sensor will fail sooner or later and leave you stopped, so buy one and
carry it in the car.
Parking light lenses are on eBay.
Don't try to use a cheap belt on the AC Compressor, it will squeal in 1000mi.


As you can see below I have had 3.
No engine repairs!
No transmission repairs!
Everything else is DIY and listed on the web, here or elsewhere.
I will drive 94 940s till I can't get any more,.

Al


Had
79 245 D,
81 240 D,
86 240 320,000mi and running fine when traded
94 944 Green 257,503 mi CRUNCH Parted out
Have
94 944 White 149,000 The New one
94 944 Maroon 135,000 mi

 

We went with a 745GLE 16-Valve and a 965 to avoid the turbo-motors. My
father bought these cars, and didn't want the hasstles and potential
problems down the road that a turbo might have... Tho in reality the
multivalve motors we had were/are far more complex then the turbomotors....
But they are a hell of a lot smoother, especially that sweet inline six in
the 965.

With no engine problems after 11 years and 145K Kms (yes I know, that's
nothing for that engine, but technically it is getting a little old) I think
the inline 6 motor is the best Volvo motor around... Despite what some may
say.

 

Thanks!
That sounds like good info.
Now I just have find a good low milage one.

 

Don't know of any specific problems with the 6 but,
I had such good luck with the 4 I thought I should stay with it...

 

the 940 "platform" is a great buy for the $$...imho...i owned
one of the "new generation" volvos and sold it off..going back to
the 90's body & chassis...i live in colorado, so after owning a 94 940
(non turbo) i elected for the 940 turbo..as a project car...i found
one on eBay for a reasonable price...and started "fixing it up" w/IPD
performance parts, and other "tweeks"...the car has turned out to be a
nice driver...esp up here @ 5k feet alt..w/the boost from the turbo
and all...i picked up the car w/aprox 190k miles on it...it now has
225k...here is the dyno chart....i am trying to get to the 0 - 60
times in the 6-8 sec range ... still a bit to go, but gettin
close...the car body is a nice design...easy to work on, not too
complicated electronics..(but, by this time volvo was headed in that
direction)...you wonf go wrong w/the 940/960 models...anything w <
200k miles should have pleanty of life left...and, there are pleanty
of parts on eBay for maint and fixing up...i would go w/the
turbo....just for the "punch" of the performance gain...

 

Low mileage, high mileage, doesn't really matter, look for a well maintained
one.

 

i agree...miliage is almost irrelevent.....it is all inthe maint
records...or indicators....

 

i agree...miliage is almost irrelevent.....it is all inthe maint

I agree... The only thing that has been a bit of a problem is
the interior. Mechanical parts can be replaced or repaired for a
reasonable price. But, oh my GOD what it cost to keep the interior
looking good. That's the main reason I have been looking for a low
miliage 940.

 

true...there are a lot of plastic trip pieces...and
other small items...but, all in all, the items can be repaired
or found on eBay...i have found bulbs, dome lights, wood
trim...etc...lots of stuff avail out there w/a bit of hunting....check
out my dyno run
a few weeks ago... >>>

http://www.richard.bonilla.com/dyno.JPG

we are squezzing a bit of power out of it...it drives smooth and
true...

there are a few 940's on eBay now...i personally would go for the 940t
wagon...

 

Dont' know how the automatic transmission is, but my 91 940, non turbo, had
to get a new manual transmission at 155K. 5th gear started tho whine. Other
than that there's been trouble with the engine electronics.
This car has been owned by my father since 95, and is owned by me now. In
that time it has clocked up 167K and the following has been replaced: ECU,
AMM, Lamda, Alternator, Front rotors, clutch(same time as trans.), exhaust,
cooland sensor, in-tank fuel pump and service items like brake pads timing
belt oil etc. Still drives very good, engine working like new, very little
rust, great car, but could do with some more power. If you decide to go for
a non-turbo look for the B230FB engine as it's the most powerful 8-valve NA
engine fittet to the 940. It's only 130 bhp but it has ha flat torque curve
(137ft.lb) from 3K-5K. No work has been done on the engine besides regular
oil changes. When i decided to check the valves for adjustment at 160K they
where all within spec, and they have never been adjusted before!

[/QUOTE]

 

Aw automatics can last for ever.

Look below;
On the 86 240 I changed the fluid, filter, the tail stock bushing and the Over
Drive sol once that's it.
On the Green 940 I changed the fluid, filter and OverDreie Relay once. The
bushing was upgraded to a roller bearing about 1990.
On the Maroon 940 I haven't touched the trans.
On the white 940 I haven't touched the trans. OD light comes on for a couple
min now and then so I need to solder the OD relay soon...or use the old one
from the Green 940.

N'uf Said

Al


Had
79 245 D,
81 240 D,
86 240 320,000mi and running fine when traded
94 944 Green 257,503 mi CRUNCH Parted out
Have
94 944 White 149,000 The New one
94 944 Maroon 135,000 mi