242 / 244 / 245

1974-1993 / Sedan / Estate / Sweden

All 242 / 244 / 245 problems All workshop issues

Critical Fuel System

Leaking fuel pressure regulator

Symptoms

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

Cause

The diaphragm inside the regulator splits. Fuel gets sucked into the intake via the vacuum line, richening the mixture. Or it leaks externally.

Fix

Replace the regulator.

Disconnect the vacuum line and check for fuel inside, if you see any, the diaphragm's gone.

Use genuine Volvo or Bosch.

Pressure should be 2.5 bar on LH 2.2, 3 bar on LH 2.4.

Don't mix them, wrong pressure causes running issues.

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// More 242 / 244 / 245 problems

Other known issues

Common Fuel System

Blocked fuel filter

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

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