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MOTRS

242 / 244 / 245

1974-1993 / Sedan / Estate / Sweden

All 242 / 244 / 245 problems All workshop issues
Common Fuel System

Blocked fuel filter

Symptoms

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

Cause

The inline fuel filter (big metal canister under the car, passenger side near the tank) gets clogged with rust and debris from old fuel tanks. Volvo filters are huge and last a long time, which is why people forget to change them.

Fix

Replace the filter every 50,000 km or when symptoms appear.

Make sure you fit it the right way, arrow points toward the engine.

Relieve fuel pressure first (pull the pump relay, crank the engine until it dies).

Have rags ready, it'll spill.

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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

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

Rough idle, hesitation, poor fuel economy, check engine light. Engine may stall.
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.
View all 24 242 / 244 / 245 problems