Newbie from KL

[GeorgeKL]

Good afternoon all, new here. I'm a Brit whose been living and working here in sunny Kuala Lumpur since last December. There's some really good stuff on this forum and I hope to be able to contribute a bit back too. I'm also a member of a KL forum and I'm sure there's loads on there too, but as I don't read Bahasa Malaysia (yet), much is destined to remain a secret!

Recently I was offered a 1990 240 saloon and at the price, couldn't resist it. It's ideal for Malaysia's less than excellent roads and big enough to intimidate taxi drivers. no mean feat I'll tell you. There's plenty here too and parts supply is no issue.

Anyway, here's a salutory tale.

When I first got the 240, I always felt it had a fuelling problem. It went OK on the flat, would cruise happily and tickover was good, but it never really liked hills. As it had full engine rebuild only in November (before I got it) I just thought it should go better.

At my last service I asked the mechanic to check the fuel system over and got the reply that all was good. His face was a picture when, two days later, I rolled up with the high pressure pump wailing like a banshee. Anyway, a new pump was fitted and I asked him to check out the in-tank pump as well. This was dead. It was therefore deduced that this had failed some time before and the extra strain on the high pressure pump of lifting the fuel as well, had led to its own demise.

Sooo....off we go, and the big noisy thing at the front obviously appreciated a good supply of explosive liquid stuff from the back and was tons better. However, I still felt that there was something missing. Mid-range acceleration was marginal to say the least, which made overtaking something that had to be planned a good week in advance. Also joining highways on an up-angled slip road could be fun too. Although a run to Singapore via Malacca last weekend gave no problems - if you exclude the blow-out.

Checking round the engine bay with a torch during a smoke break at work yesterday (as you do), I came across a 1" diameter hole in the bottom of the flexible trunking from the air-box to the intake. It had obviously been previously rubbing on something and had been rerouted, but not replaced! "Hmmm" I thought, "I wonder". So, wondering no more, I got some trusty Gaffer Tape and sealed up the offending leak. What a transformation! The Mass Air Meter had something to do again. Put your foot down now and something actually happens. Hills? A breeze. Joining highways? A pleasure. So check your hoses now. You know it makes sense.

Seriously though, the fact that it is so much better isn't the surprising part, it's the fact that in all this time, it's always been silky smooth, albeit slow, with no hesitation, stumbling or stalling. Volvo, you've got to love 'em.

Now, about that air-con...........

[billofdurham]

Welcome to Matthew's Volvo Site.

I never go anywhere without a roll of gaffer, or bodge, tape in the car. It is amazing what can be repaired with it.

Bill.