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MOTRS

242 / 244 / 245

1974-1993 / Sedan / Estate / Sweden

All 242 / 244 / 245 problems All workshop issues
Minor Transmission and Drivetrain

Rear differential whine or clunking

Symptoms

Whining noise from the rear, especially on deceleration or under load. Clunking when you take up the drive.

Cause

Differential bearings wear, or backlash increases in the ring and pinion. Low or contaminated oil makes it worse. The Dana 30 diff in the 240 is tough, but not indestructible.

Fix

Check the diff oil level (there's a fill plug on the front of the diff).

Top up with 75W-90 GL-5 gear oil.

If it's still noisy, the diff may need a rebuild or replacement.

Some noise is normal, they all hum a bit.

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Other known issues

Common Transmission and Drivetrain

Worn transmission mounts (manual and auto)

Clunking when you shift or accelerate, excessive vibration, difficulty engaging gears. The shifter feels loose or notchy.
Common Transmission and Drivetrain

Worn driveshaft carrier bearing

Vibration or rumbling from under the car, especially at motorway speeds.
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