242 / 244 / 245

1974-1993 / Sedan / Estate / Sweden

All 242 / 244 / 245 problems All workshop issues

Common Fuel System

Air leaks in intake system (LH 2.4 mass airflow sensor)

Symptoms

Rough idle, hesitation, poor fuel economy, check engine light. Engine may stall.

Cause

The rubber accordion hose between the MAF sensor and throttle body cracks. Unmetered air enters, confusing the ECU. Also check for vacuum leaks at the intake manifold gasket, idle air control valve, and brake booster hose.

Fix

Replace the intake hose (cheap, about $20).

Inspect and replace any cracked vacuum lines.

Spray carb cleaner around suspected leak points with the engine running, if the idle changes, you've found it.

Clean the MAF sensor with MAF-specific cleaner (CRC or similar).

Do not use anything else, you'll destroy the fragile hot-wire element.

Cost mentioned in fix

$20

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Other known issues

Critical Fuel System

Leaking fuel pressure regulator

Fuel smell, rough running, black smoke, poor fuel economy. You might see fuel dripping from the vacuum line or the regulator itself.

Common Fuel System

Blocked fuel filter

Hesitation under load, stalling, won't rev past a certain point, hard starting.

Minor Engine

Oil leaks from valve cover, front crank seal, and rear main seal

Seepage or drips from the valve cover gasket, front timing cover, or rear of the engine. Oil may pool on top of the gearbox bell housing or drip onto the subframe. You'll smell burning oil if it hits the exhaust.

Critical Engine

Clogged PCV system (flame trap, oil separator box)

Oil leaks from multiple places, rough idle, high oil consumption, smoke from the engine bay. Sometimes the oil filler cap pops off under pressure.

Common Engine

Piston ring wear and oil consumption (LH 2.4 engines, 2010-2018 T5/T6)

Engine burns oil between changes, blue smoke on startup or acceleration. Spark plugs may foul. Not specific to the 240, but worth noting for anyone considering newer Volvos.

Critical Engine

Timing belt and water pump failure

Belt snaps, engine stops immediately. If it's an interference engine (all B21/B23 are), valves hit pistons. Game over. Water pump failure causes overheating, coolant loss.

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