Buying a 1990 Volvo first one for me Topic is solved

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 08 May 2005, 22:15

Hello tomorrow I am going to buy a Volvo and wanted to ask some questions here first. its a 1990 740 Volvo turbo 2.3 motor. 121K No rust on the body, but the speedomoter doesnt work. The tach does, the boot gauge works, gas gauage. Now he is telling me the speedo needs to be rolled back, I think it needs a new speedo gear? Also I drove the car for a few mintues it drives fine. It pulls to the left a little so he said it needs a aligment. This was my first time in a turbo car and when he hit the gas hard it spooled up quick and since the speedo doesnt work he was in 4k rpm. Someother problems are the anti lock brake light stays on, the check engine light stays on and the light next to the check engine comes on when he breaks? he says its just the bulb. I know from other cars the check engine light can come on for anything if the ac doesnt work maybe its cause of the speedo not working. I would just like to know why the speedo doesnt work, check engine light is on also anti lock brake light. Thanks in advance.

Post by **matthew1** » 08 May 2005, 22:29

If this car is more than US$400, I'd think twice about buying it.

What's right with it?

Abben3 · Post by **Abben3** » 08 May 2005, 23:00

The car cost $500. Other than those things it needs nothing the owner tells me. Has very little rust underneath the car. Boost works fine when he drove it pretty hard this evening. He has a new car and he needs to get rid of it he tells me. It had a tuneup 2-3months back.

M Jarve · Post by **M Jarve** » 09 May 2005, 09:33

This does sound like a "handy-man" special.

You can have the OBD scanned to see what the check engine light is on for. On some Volvos, the brake light will come on even if the brakes works. It will come on (along with a few others) because the alternator light is on, if it uses the same diagnostics as my 940.

If he has not changed the head gasket and/or timing belt recently, those will have to be taken care of. Timing belt is fairly easy, but head gasket (if done right) is a job and a half, and expensive if you bring it to a mechanic.

So, you are looking at $500 for the car, and if you are not mechnically inclined, another $1000 to have the ABS serviced, head gasket and timing belt changed, and speedo repaired.

This $500 car will climb to $2000 before you know it.

On the plus side, if it does only have 120K and change for miles, and if it has been well maintained (oil changes regular with synthetic oil and good filters, tranny serviced as it should) then it is a $2000 car, and could be worth fixing.

At the very least, have the OBD scanned before you buy (most shops only charge $40 for this) and see what codes it brings up.

Abben3 · Post by **Abben3** » 09 May 2005, 12:46

Thanks for the answers. I couldnt get the car scanned the guy had to have plates back. But today the anti lock brake light didnt come on, the only light on is the bulb light and check engine. I am going to try to scan the codes from myself that I found on another Volvo site.