Low mileage, poor performance

Recently someone posted about a 240 with both poor performance and
poor mileage. I think the post was with reference to an '89 model.
Total mileage was not mentioned, at least in what I saw.

Well, I've not seen this happen personally but an '89 is getting to
the point where the catastrophic converter might be buggered up.

The 'Net has sources for converters so, if you've tried everything
else, it's probably gotten to converter time.

Chuck Fiedler
Nothing but Volvo since 1974
Currently a '93 240 and a '97 850

 

[ ... ]

Heavens! That might be catalytic!


Gary

 

The Haynes manual (of all things!) for my daughter's Honda has a nice way of
checking for a blocked cataclysmic converter. <8^P It uses a manifold
pressure to view the effects of the engine not being able to exhale. The
guage is hooked up, the engine started and the idle reading noted. The
engine is run up to about 2000 rpm for a few seconds and then the throttle
is released. The guage should return to the idle reading within two seconds.
If it hangs at the high reading for a moment or takes a long time to return
to the idle reading it points to an exhaust blockage.

Mike

 

I'm the gal who posted that original request to which you are
referring. Total mileage is 125,000.

The catastrophic converter has just been changed, in this effort to
raise mpg. And at the cataclysmic price of $200. That does include
the O2 sensor and a couple of clamps to hold it all on. I did the work
myself to save labor charges. The volvo mechanic, who was suggesting
this, didn't think the converter was original oem equipment, so it may
have been done around 60K, and still have been time for another. MPG
did go up to 16mpg. And power improved by a small but noticeable
amount. Like about a 5mph gear shift improvement. I am still having
to rev high before changing to a higher gear, in order to keep from
lugging the engine in the initial push in the new gear. v Can't even
use fifth gear unless going 65mph. Speedo (and hopefully odometer) is
accurate in that it takes exactly 60 seconds to go one measured mile on
the interstate.

Thanks Chuck for the idea, tho and also thanks to Gary and Michael for
responding.

I'm thinking something along the lines of fuel, fuel rail, or
pressure or injectors. Idle rpm is a little high. Does my car have
this 'power stage' that the groups are referring to when they say there
is a connector on the fender.? And just what is that, if it does.
.... '89 245 DL ver 2.4 computer, no turbo, M47 transmission.
Compression all within 10% of each other.
Lesley.

 

Did you try swapping the air mass meter? That's a common failure and
will cause the fuel economy to plummet. You should be getting at least
25 mpg.

 

Yes, the chaotic converter has been known to run in circles and
eventually become cataleptic when honeycomb construction no longer
catalyzes.

 

I assume that you have already replaced the fuel filter and checked the
fuel pressure? Low power is usually caused by insufficient fuel to the
engine, most commonly by a plugged fuel filter. If it idles okay but
has no power then it sounds like there is too much resistance in the
fuel filter so the fuel pump can only create enough pressure at a low
flow (idle speed). Have you checked the timing? Replaced the plugs
and wires? Sometimes plug wires that are very old will short out when
the engine is under load, but not when at idle. The high vacuum in the
combustion chamber when at idle creates less resistance at the spark
plug gap. A good check for this is to rev the engine and look at the
spark plug connections near the exhaust manifold in the dark. If you
see any blue flashes, you should replace the plugs and the wires.