Plastic belly pan on my 240

The plastic belly pan on my 240 came off today, fractured and dragging
on the ground. This is the second time and today had no option but to
yank it off to drive home. The bolt holes had broken off. Does this
thing serve an essential purpose- as in "do I need to replace it
immediately" versus waiting for better weather?

Thanks!

 

The first thing is to determine why this is happening. If the bolts
are still there and are tight then you need to figure out what you are
hitting to damage it. It might be that the front springs are sagged or
the strut cartridges need replacing.

They do protect the bottom of the motor, steering parts, and related
hoses and other parts from damage as well as keeping snow, slush and
mud from building up. It also directs air and helps keep the motor
cool I think.


__ __
Randy & \ \/ /alerie's
\__/olvos
'90 245 Estate - '93 965 Estate
"Shelby" & "Kate"

 

Lots of Volvos driving around without them. Good news is they are available
aftermarket and reasonably cheap (as volvo parts go). IPD and Groton offer
them. If part of the bolt holes still remain you can repair by epoxying
appropriate sized metal washers in place and then rebolting the pan to the
car. This has worked a a fix for over two years on my 940.

Howard

 

i always upgraded my 240's w/the metal ipd
ones.....they are bullet proof...you do want one
for air flow, cooling, and keeping debris from gettin'
up in the engine compartment....

 

Thanks! I figured it was there for a purpose, but with no garage and
the ice/snow I didn't feel like laying on the ground to install a new
one. The old one is pretty much shot- banged up when I bought the car
and repaired once already by me.

 

a local volvo or tyre shop can install one
in aprox 5 min...much easier w/a lift...

 

Oh heavens yes. When I patched it up last time I put the car up on
ramps, but that's really not very convenient. And it was warm and
sunny that day, not icy and below freezing like today. Having the
proper tools makes things so much easier!

 

There isn't really anything to determine. The belly pan is really cheap
plastic that is designed to fail irrespective of the condition of the
"springs". The cheap, plastic belly pan was Volvo's first attempt at
keeping the owner going back to the dealer. IPD used to sell a thick
aluminum belly pan that would probably outlast the vehicle but they no
longer offer it.

 

JBincyberia:

IPD still offers an 1/8" thick aluminum belly pan.

They sell for $128 USD and as of today (02 December 2005) are in
stock.

Here's the link:
http://www.ipdusa.com/ProductsCat.aspx?CategoryID=517&NodeID=851&RootID=629

I know it seems pricey....but keep in mind it is that last one you
will ever need to buy.

If I were planning on selling a car I'd buy the $30 plastic unit..but
for me the price is not an issue as my 240 is a '93 and I plan to
still have it 20 or 30 years from now (if I live that long.)

Cheerio,

Doc

 

That's good to know, Doc. I was on their site a few days ago and didn't
see it. In the last ten or twelve years, I've had at least six of those
cheap plastic belly pans. It seems that every other oil-change (If I
have someone else do it), they get the bolts just a little too tite and
the plastic cracks where the hole is in the plastic. The plastic ones
are pretty supple when new, but afteer a year or so of driving around
town here, the engine heat combined with the 200 degree reflected heat
from the pavement cooks them to the point where they feel like bakelite.

Shuffle up and DEAL!