1988 Volvo 240 GLE review from Australia and New Zealand

I had the car 1 week and I was going to my freinds house when I pulled into his driveway when the belts started groaning loudly and intermittantly. The crankshaft pulley was 'walking' foward towards the fan, on the crankshaft. I tightened the retaining bolt and this solved the problem...

...for 1 more week when it came back - I happened to be way over the other side of the city, murphy's law! I called the AA and he hummed and ahhed and said to see a mechanic about it and not to drive the car home (a $105 tow, $40 paid by the AA). The mechanic came to see the car and diagnosed the problem as: when the crankshaft pulley came loose, the woodruf key (keeps the pulley and the crank spinning at the same speed) had fallen out. I called Volvo New Zealand and was told the there is not seperate key and that the key is built onto a cog the fits over the end of the crankshaft, I ordered one for a steep $253 (incl tax/GST). The mechanic pulled the front of the motor apart and found the the key/cog had re-machined the pulley. Back on the phone to Volvo I ordered the new crankshaft pulley at $344 (incl tax/GST). This solved the problem! (thank god because parts are prohibitively expensive in comparison to other brands)

These cars are not sports cars (but that's not why I brought one) and handling is OK once you get used to its wallow. The pay off is a comfortable ride.

These cars are not quick off the mark, but they have keen gearboxes and are therefore plenty quick enough above 50Km/h. They kick into 2nd (they're a 3 speed with overdrive so are basically a 4 sepped auto) at 120Km/75MPH and will hold it past there.

Myne has leather seats, air conditioning, central locking, alloy wheels, electric windows and mirrors... the list goes on, this is a very luxerious car, particularly for the year.