u.k. '89 240 with b230k

Looking for some advice on this one.

1989 240 in the uk with b230k and 182,xxx miles.

About 6 months ago had rough running and, eventually no tick over at
all. I had the volvo people to look at it and they said it was lean
running and problem was down to ware in the karb and suggested I scrap
it and find a fuel injected version. They told me that the B230k was
"never much good" and to stay away from them.

As a replacement karb was around £500, more than the value of the car, I
got one from a scrap yard.

Now, I am noticing the same problems starting again, an uneven tickover
and will stall if allowed and lumpy when not under load i.e. going down
hills.

So my questions:

Is the B230k known to be problematical and should I give up and get a
fuel injected model?
Is there a way of rebuilding a karb cheaply? I had to get a fair bit of
welding for the last mot so am thinking it may not be worth throwing
lots of money at this.

Lastly, anyone recommend a mechanic within say 40 miles of bridgend in
south wales?

Many thanks.


Keith Barrett

 

Why didn't you ask on Volvo Owners Club (UK) website? Try either Les Jones
in Tonyrefail (on trading estate opposite Bryn Golau, Gilfach Road) or, if
you go onto the old airfield trading estate near the Pied Piper, Bridgend,
you should be able to find the ex GMG Ewenny team who bought out the Volvo
servicing part and setup on the estate. I have a 244 with the B200E engine
which is fuel injected, the parts will certainly fit your car, if that is
any help.

All the best, Peter.

700/900/90 Register Keeper,
Volvo Owners Club (UK).

 

Can you just send the carburetor off to be rebuilt?

 

Thanks Peter and if I were to convert to fuel injection would I just get
the head and associated parts changed or change the engine?

Been poking around today and found more rust getting in to wheel arches
and another patch in floor so perhaps time to call it a day with this as
I only have another 5 months mot and will need to be welded again.

 

So fix it. That sounds awfully like an air leak somewhere around the
inlet manifold. Could be ignition timing too - particularly worn
centrifugal mechanism.

Volvo built carburettor engines for years. They're not exciting, but
they work, and they go on working. There's nothing magic in there,
nothing that we didn't spend years sorting out without thinking twice
about it. Volvos are only "hard on their carbs" because they do twice
the mileage other engines do before terminal failures, so you see wear
in carb parts that don't normally suffer.

Yes, the injected version is probably better. But not so much better
that I'd swap engines without trying to fix the original fault first.

What's the carb model, BTW ?