1981 245 DL Rattle at 15mph & increases with acceleration

TheLemonZinger · Post by **TheLemonZinger** » 21 Sep 2015, 07:52

My wagon developed a rattle over the weekend that I originally thought was an exhaust issue. Rattle starts at 15-20mph and increases with acceleration - goes away when: in neutral, when clutch is engaged, when you take your foot off the gas.
I live in a small town and don't have a mechanic willing to work on my car - luckily i've had her for 3 years with no problems i couldn't fix. clutch problems are out of my league. if i can give the foreign shop here an idea of what to look for they might agree to work on it. they've replaced my clutch cable in the past because that was a known fix.
i'm thinking pilot bearing or throwout bearing? except would these occur when clutch is engaged (in gear, accelerating). tried to drive it the 2 miles to the shop and the sound increased on the way so it's sitting in a parking lot waiting to get towed over.
also, if anyone out here in the Denton/Dallas/Ft. Worth area knows about a mechanic who works on the older volvos, please let me know

thanks in advance for your help!

93Regina · Post by **93Regina** » 21 Sep 2015, 15:47

TheLemonZinger wrote:Rattle starts at 15-20mph and increases with acceleration - goes away when: in neutral, when clutch is engaged, when you take your foot off the gas.

Drive-shaft's u-joints would be a good place to start....which can be done via grabbing each one, then move in two different directions.....if true, also replace carrier bearing. Keep driveshaft in same alignment when changing out u-joints, and mark where it inserted on both flanges (transmission and rear-end)

Salomons Driveway · Post by **Salomons Driveway** » 22 Sep 2015, 11:32

I have had a good experience with an older (1987) 740 at Dallas Elect Auto in Richardson TX. http://dallaselectautocenter.com/
But, I would suggest trying to find the problem yourself first because most mechanics are very expensive. 93Regina has suggested what seems to be the most common problem, worn driveshaft bearings.

TheLemonZinger · Post by **TheLemonZinger** » 05 Jan 2016, 15:43

ok i'm the worst forum member. i never got back to this after we figured out the problem.
i mentioned before i have a hard time finding someone to work on my volvo. i had taken it in to get my clutch cable repaired a few months before this rattle and asked the guys to check both my oil pans because i had a slow leak. guy said i was leaking a bit of oil but it wasn't a problem and i should be concerned. took it back after the rattle developed and guy said my differential was bone dry because i needed a new gasket and had been leaking oil.
i'm kind of pissed because i don't think the first guy they had look at it realized i had a second oil pan. i'm also mad at myself for not insisting. likely the rattle was caused by this.
i have a new guy who seems well versed in volvo's and i'm going to have him take a look at the drive bearings when i bring it in next. thanks everyone for the help