262 / 264 / 265

1974-1981 / Coupe / Sedan / Estate / Sweden

All 262 / 264 / 265 problems All workshop issues

Common Suspension and Steering

Worn front suspension bushes and ball joints

Symptoms

Vague steering, clunking over bumps, uneven tyre wear, wandering on the road.

Cause

Rubber bushes perish. Ball joints wear. Track control arm bushes fail. The MacPherson strut top mounts degrade.

Fix

Jack up the front and check for play in all ball joints, bushes, and links.

Replace anything worn.

Poly bushes are available if you want a firmer, longer-lasting setup, but NVH increases.

Fit new strut top mounts if they're original, they're a common cause of knocking.

Get a four-wheel alignment done after any suspension work.

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// More 262 / 264 / 265 problems

Other known issues

Common Suspension and Steering

Leaking dampers (shock absorbers)

Bouncy ride, nose-diving under braking, oil on the damper body.

Common Suspension and Steering

Power steering leaks and heavy steering

Whining noise from the pump, heavy steering, puddles of ATF (power steering fluid), steering suddenly goes heavy.

Common Engine

Cooling system leaks and overheating

You'll notice the temp gauge creeping up, puddles of coolant under the car, or the heater not working properly. The engine may consume coolant without obvious external leaks.

Common Engine

Poor starting, especially when cold (B27/B28 with K-Jetronic)

The V6 is reluctant to start when cold, runs rough for a few minutes, or won't start at all. Once warm it's usually better.

Common Engine

Oil leaks from everywhere

Oil spots on the driveway, oily residue on the underside of the engine, falling oil level.

Common Engine

Engine runs rough, misfires, lacks power

Uneven idle, hesitation under acceleration, flat spots, check engine light (if fitted).

View all 27 262 / 264 / 265 problems