242 / 244 / 245

1974-1993 / Sedan / Estate / Sweden

All 242 / 244 / 245 problems All workshop issues

Common Transmission and Drivetrain

Worn driveshaft carrier bearing

Symptoms

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

Cause

The centre support bearing (carrier bearing) on the two-piece driveshaft wears out. The rubber mount perishes.

Fix

Replace the carrier bearing and rubber mount (about $50-80 for the assembly).

Requires dropping the driveshaft.

Not difficult, just messy.

Cost mentioned in fix

$50-80 for the assembly

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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.

Minor Transmission and Drivetrain

Rear differential whine or clunking

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

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