Keep Going or Move On?

[marytylermoore2]

My beloved formerly reliable 1993 240 wagon is in the shop yet again, and I'd love some additional opinions on the work my mechanics are saying needs to be done.

1)The big issue is a new motor - one from a 240 with 80k miles has been located. There is a noise coming from beneath the engine that might be the oil pump, but not sure until they start taking things apart, which might reveal something else entirely, so best to replace the motor.

2) The heater blower fan motor is not happy. It hasn't been happy the past two years, and I'm afraid it will go soon at a very bad time with winter approaching.

3)It also needs a new O2 sensor.

For these three repairs, plus an airbag clock spring, I've been quoted $2600. There are also ongoing electrical issues no one has ever been able to fix that cause power to the instrument cluster to cut in and out, which I assume would mean a whole new harness at some point. I'm not a Volvo mechanic at all, and so am wondering do I give in now or just grit my teeth and cash and keep going?

[RBH]

You have come up against a common dilemma. Does one keep spending on this car or spend more on a new (or newer) car? The problem with repairing this one is that you are unsure what it might do to you next (and how much it will cost). Maybe one thought to consider is shopping for another 240 that has fewer problems. $2600 would get you a long way towards another 240. Another way of looking at it would be to prioritize the repairs and do them one at a time and compare them to what monthly new car payments would be. A number of months of repair payments will come to an end while car payments go on and on.

As far as the instrument cluster goes, I would be reluctant to assume the harness is the culprit. I have read on this site about other problems leading to the symptoms you describe.

Good luck.
Bob