Advice needed - 1991 240 idle problem

  • Thread starter Thread starter Todd
  • Start date Start date
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Todd

Hi everyone,

I just picked up a 1991 Volvo 240 wagon from the original owners with
147K miles. Paid $2500. This car drives great, even though I am used
to driving BMWs (and still do). I have always loved the look of the
240 series, and am glad I found such a great car.

The car has one problem whose cause I cannot immediately identify.
About every fifth time I start the car, it dies as soon as I put it
into reverse or drive. It may take several tries to get the car
started, since it will start right up and then then die as soon as I
get it into gear (it is an automatic). As soon as I get it going, it
gets going fine. The baffling thing is that the car does not do this
behavior in any pattern - it happens with a hot engine, cold engine,
first thing in the morning, or in the middle of an afternoon of
errands.

My uneducated guesses are: Air mass meter, idle control valve.

I am not going to be doing the work myself, but I would just like to
find out the most likely cause. The car has to be dropped off for the
annual maintenance service anyhow, but I'd just like to know what the
problem is and how much $$ it might entail.

Other plans for the car: Replace driver and passenger plastic lower
door panels, replace A/C switch, install dashboard cover, install
floor mats, install cargo cover, install fog lights, install armrest
with cupholders, tint windows, add CD player. I have discovered IPD
and they have great catalogs.

Any suggestions about the idle problem or the upgrades are
appreciated. Thanks!

--Todd
 
Todd

You may want to start with having the Throttle Body
cleaned and adjusted. It's something that needs to be
done periodically. Shouldn't be terribly expensive. I
just had mine done for $60.

Dale

| Hi everyone,
|
| I just picked up a 1991 Volvo 240 wagon from the
original owners with
| 147K miles. Paid $2500. This car drives great, even
though I am used
| to driving BMWs (and still do). I have always loved
the look of the
| 240 series, and am glad I found such a great car.
|
| The car has one problem whose cause I cannot
immediately identify.
| About every fifth time I start the car, it dies as
soon as I put it
| into reverse or drive. It may take several tries to
get the car
| started, since it will start right up and then then
die as soon as I
| get it into gear (it is an automatic). As soon as I
get it going, it
| gets going fine. The baffling thing is that the car
does not do this
| behavior in any pattern - it happens with a hot
engine, cold engine,
| first thing in the morning, or in the middle of an
afternoon of
| errands.
|
| My uneducated guesses are: Air mass meter, idle
control valve.
|
| I am not going to be doing the work myself, but I
would just like to
| find out the most likely cause. The car has to be
dropped off for the
| annual maintenance service anyhow, but I'd just like
to know what the
| problem is and how much $$ it might entail.
|
| Other plans for the car: Replace driver and passenger
plastic lower
| door panels, replace A/C switch, install dashboard
cover, install
| floor mats, install cargo cover, install fog lights,
install armrest
| with cupholders, tint windows, add CD player. I have
discovered IPD
| and they have great catalogs.
|
| Any suggestions about the idle problem or the
upgrades are
| appreciated. Thanks!
|
| --Todd
|
 
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