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Car Forum / Volvo Cars / June 2004

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240 1990 engine check light on owner says NP

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Wayne Smith - 11 Jun 2004 14:01 GMT
looking to buy a 240 (1990)the one I looked at had a good body but the
engine check light was on (111k miles), owner said that every 25k miles you
need to have a mech turn it off. I'm not believing that, some brown water
came out the tail pipe when started and a little hard to start also . any
thoughts on this one...........Wayne
Mike F - 11 Jun 2004 14:40 GMT
> looking to buy a 240 (1990)the one I looked at had a good body but the
> engine check light was on (111k miles), owner said that every 25k miles you
> need to have a mech turn it off. I'm not believing that, some brown water
> came out the tail pipe when started and a little hard to start also . any
> thoughts on this one...........Wayne

If it was really no problem, he would have turned it off.  The Check
engine light only comes on when there is a problem detected.  Learn how
to read what the computer is trying to tell you at:

http://www.brickboard.com/FAQ/700-900/EngineOBDCodes.htm

Signature

Mike F.
Thornhill (near Toronto), Ont.

NOTE:  new address!!
Replace tt with t (twice!) and remove parentheses to email me directly.
(But I check the newsgroup more often than this email address.)

Bev A. Kupf - 11 Jun 2004 14:43 GMT
> looking to buy a 240 (1990)the one I looked at had a good body but the
> engine check light was on (111k miles), owner said that every 25k miles you
> need to have a mech turn it off. I'm not believing that, some brown water
> came out the tail pipe when started and a little hard to start also . any
> thoughts on this one...........Wayne

The owner's either dodgy or an imbecile.  Either way I would stay clear.
As you are likely aware, the service light (not check engine) comes on
and stay on for couple minutes, every 5000 miles - as a service reminder.

Brown water in the tailpipe could be from the car not being run for a
while and run accumulating.

Signature

Bev A. Kupf
"The lyfe so short, the craft so long to lerne" -- Chaucer

PButler111 - 11 Jun 2004 15:13 GMT
>The owner's either dodgy or an imbecile.  Either way I would stay clear.
>As you are likely aware, the service light (not check engine) comes on
>and stay on for couple minutes, every 5000 miles - as a service reminder.

Actually, the service light comes on and stays on until a mechanic turns it
off, to get you to the do the regular maintenance.  But, as you said, it's the
service light that does this, not the check engine light.
aaaa - 11 Jun 2004 15:20 GMT
Engine check light is just that - something needs checking.  if you just
need to take it to a mechanic to turn off, why hasn't the present owner
done it ?

The only regular warning light that should stay lit is the service
light, which just tells you it's time for an oil change (and then the
mechanic re-sets it).

Steer clear of this one !

> looking to buy a 240 (1990)the one I looked at had a good body but the
> engine check light was on (111k miles), owner said that every 25k miles you
> need to have a mech turn it off. I'm not believing that, some brown water
> came out the tail pipe when started and a little hard to start also . any
> thoughts on this one...........Wayne
Otto Mobile - 11 Jun 2004 22:12 GMT
then again, it might be something simple and cheap to fix, on a car that is
otherwise in good condition.... as suggested above, use the built-in
diagnostic connector under the hood to track down the problem, then decide
if it's worth fixing. Something as easy as a defective O2 sensor could be
repaired for very little.....
Wayne Smith - 12 Jun 2004 04:41 GMT
thanks for sall the great replys......... a friend who has a 240 (87) wagon
says the engine needs a valve job ( although I'm not sure how he can tell
this) and that its a $2000 job. he says he hears a tapping or ticking sound.
but its seems that this may not be for me , though I'm not afraid to get  my
hands dirty I'm not a mechanic.they want $3000 for the car but not worth the
repair cost if thats accurate............Wayne
PButler111 - 12 Jun 2004 16:24 GMT
>Subject: Re: 240 1990 engine check light on owner says NP
>From: "Wayne Smith" wsmith5@rochester.rr.com
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>hands dirty I'm not a mechanic.they want $3000 for the car but not worth the
>repair cost if thats accurate............Wayne

Don't you have the option to simply take the car to a mechanic and have them do
a used-car pre-sale check?  That seems the easiest way to go.  It would be a
shame to lose the car if it turns out a mechanic tells you there really isn't a
big problem.
Wayne Smith - 12 Jun 2004 18:21 GMT
that would be ideal but there are no plates on the car and the owner got
really weird when we drove it just 1/2 a block down the street. I really
don't know how that person expects to sell a car without a test
drive.......Wayne
Bev A. Kupf - 12 Jun 2004 18:37 GMT
> that would be ideal but there are no plates on the car and the owner got
> really weird when we drove it just 1/2 a block down the street. I really
> don't know how that person expects to sell a car without a test
> drive.......Wayne

Everything you've said about this car indicates that it isn't a desirable
purchase.  There are better Volvos to be found on eBay .......

Signature

Bev A. Kupf
"The lyfe so short, the craft so long to lerne" -- Chaucer

Dave Shannon - 12 Jun 2004 19:00 GMT
> Everything you've said about this car indicates that it isn't a desirable
> purchase.  There are better Volvos to be found on eBay .......

From what it sounds like there are better Volvos in the local pick and pull,
RUN!!   $3,000 is top dollar around here for a 1990 with low miles in good
condition.

Signature

Dave Shannon
daveshan_at_spamsoneonelse_cox.net  (Spring Valley CA)
1988 240 DL       19X,XXX
1992 745T           15X,XXX
1984 245T           19X,XXX
'01 Jeep Wrangler Sahara 14K
http://www.homestead.com/volvo2/

PButler111 - 12 Jun 2004 20:14 GMT
>Subject: Re: 240 1990 engine check light on owner says NP
>From: "Wayne Smith" wsmith5@rochester.rr.com
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>don't know how that person expects to sell a car without a test
>drive.......Wayne

A buyer should be happy -- even anxious -- to have you do a thorough test drive
and even have the car checked out by your own mechanic.  If they're not, I
agree with those telling you to run away.  I've bought three 240s on eBay over
the years, one from a private seller, two from dealers, and I've been most
happy with each of them.  
Wayne Smith - 13 Jun 2004 03:43 GMT
I agree on all counts, here in western NY its hard to find a 240 without
rust ( too much salt on the roads during the winter) I have seen them on
ebay and the good ones seem to be in florida but they do pop up and I'll
keep looking , gotta have my 240.............Wayne
PButler111 - 13 Jun 2004 04:19 GMT
>Subject: Re: 240 1990 engine check light on owner says NP
>From: "Wayne Smith" wsmith5@rochester.rr.com
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>ebay and the good ones seem to be in florida but they do pop up and I'll
>keep looking , gotta have my 240.............Wayne

I have to say, of the three 240s I've bought on eBay, two have been from New
Jersey, and one from Connecticut.  Each time I fly in (CT was close to White
Plains, NY airport) and driven home (Chicago) with my "new" car.
Bev A. Kupf - 13 Jun 2004 06:06 GMT
> I agree on all counts, here in western NY its hard to find a 240 without
> rust ( too much salt on the roads during the winter) I have seen them on
> ebay and the good ones seem to be in florida but they do pop up and I'll
> keep looking , gotta have my 240.............Wayne

Do you know that there are services that will ship a car you purchase
via eBay in Florida to western NY (or anywhere else in the country)?
They are quite reasonably priced - and can be accessed for eBay Motors.

Signature

Bev A. Kupf
"The lyfe so short, the craft so long to lerne" -- Chaucer

Wayne Smith - 13 Jun 2004 18:24 GMT
yes I know about shipping cars but you dont get to see them unless you fly
down there, its probably $700 to ship one.......Wayne
PButler111 - 13 Jun 2004 19:00 GMT
>Subject: Re: 240 1990 engine check light on owner says NP
>From: "Wayne Smith" wsmith5@rochester.rr.com
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>yes I know about shipping cars but you dont get to see them unless you fly
>down there, its probably $700 to ship one.......Wayne

I think it's actually much cheaper than that, unless you're having it shipped
coast to coast.
 
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