242 / 244 / 245

1974-1993 / Sedan / Estate / Sweden

All 242 / 244 / 245 problems All workshop issues

Common Electrical

Headlight relay and wiring overheating

Symptoms

Headlights dim or fail, melted connector at the relay, burnt smell.

Cause

Too much current through undersized wiring. The relay and its connector overheat and melt. Happens on nearly every 240 eventually.

Fix

Replace the relay and connector with a higher-quality setup.

Some people re-wire with heavier gauge wire and modern relays.

At minimum, clean the terminals, apply dielectric grease, and keep an eye on it.

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Other known issues

Critical Electrical

Fuse box corrosion and composite fuse failure

Intermittent electrical gremlins, wipers stop, lights flicker, fuel pump cuts out, gauges go dead. You'll chase your tail trying to diagnose.

Critical Electrical

Fuel pump relay failure (covered above under Engine, but worth repeating)

No start, or engine cuts out while driving.

Critical Electrical

Bulb failure sensor issues

Brake lights or turn signals stop working, even though the bulbs are fine. Warning light on the dash.

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.

View all 24 242 / 244 / 245 problems