1987 Volvo 744 problems
The Volvo 700 series is a range of executive cars produced by the Swedish manufacturer Volvo Cars from 1982 to 1992. The 700 series was introduced in 1982 with the luxurious 760, followed two years later by the lower priced 740 which capitalized on the prestige attained by the very similar 760. The 700 series was then gradually replaced, beginning in 1990, by the 900 series. The 700, designed by Jan Wilsgaard, was originally to have been a replacement for the 200 series, but production of that model continued until the early nineties. The expensive 780, a Bertone-designed coupé version, entered production in 1986 and departed without a direct successor only four years later.
The most visible differences between the 700 and the 900 series were the more rounded corners on the body of the latter, and a somewhat better-appointed interior. The 700 series came to an end in late 1992 when the last 740s were built (although they were considered to be of model year 1993). The range had been augmented and finally supplanted by the Volvo 900 in 1993, with the last of the 900s being sold in 1998.
Volvo 740
Introduced in early 1984 (in the U.S. and Australia for the 1985 model year), the 740 arrived nearly two years after the luxurious 760. It was the lower-end version of the original 760, intended to be a mid-size car that offered more style, performance, and luxury than the 200 series. The '4' in the middle of the Volvo model name had once signified a four-cylinder engine, but by the time of the introduction of the 740 it simply meant less luxurious equipment as four- and six-cylinder engines were fitted across both ranges. The 740 was available as a four-door sedan (sometimes referred to as the 744) and a five-door station wagon (also known as the 745). The station wagon premiered simultaneously at the 1985 Toronto and Chicago auto shows in early February 1985. The wagon was aimed squarely at the North American markets and only went on sale in Europe several months later, in the fall of 1985.
The Volvo 740 was a popular choice as a police car in several parts of Europe, especially so with the police in Scandinavian countries.
For 1985, an intercooled version of the 2-litre turbo engine (B200ET) was introduced for markets such as Italy, where larger engines were heavily taxed. This unit produces 160 PS (118 kW) at 5500 rpm, ten horsepower more than the preceding non-intercooled B19ET variant, enough for a claimed 200 km/h (124 mph) top speed. Model year 1986 marked the worldwide introduction of the station wagon; other differences were limited to a new font for the "740" badging and new hubcap designs. First shown at the 1988 Geneva Motor Show with tentative specifications but only going on sale with the introduction of the 1989 model year cars, a 16-valve version of the larger B230 engine was introduced (B234). This model has nearly as much peak power as the turbo version and was Volvo's first multi-valve engine.
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Common 1987 Volvo 744 problems
The Volvo 744, a four-door saloon version of the Volvo 740, was introduced in 1984 as a lower-end counterpart to the 760. It was equipped with a 4-cylinder engine, offering less power but better fuel economy than its 760 predecessor.
One common problem with the Volvo 744 is related to the power steering system. The power steering pump may fail, causing a squealing noise during harder corners at low RPMs (under 1200 RPM) and at start-up. This issue can be caused by a worn-out power steering pump pulley, which can become misaligned with the crank pulley. The pump bracket (Volvo p/n 1346267-6) may wear out over time, causing the pump to shift position and the belt to make noise.
To diagnose and fix this issue, you can follow these steps:
- Remove the fuel pump fuse to prevent the engine from starting.
- Crank the engine and turn the steering wheel simultaneously full left to full right slowly until bubbles stop appearing in the reservoir. Do not crank the engine for more than 30 seconds at a time.
- Install the fuel pump fuse, start the engine, and let it idle. Turn the steering full left to right slowly until air bubbles stop appearing in the reservoir. If the steering continues to pulse or vibrate, continue bleeding by rotating the steering wheel full left to right until vibrations diminish.
- Reconnect tie rod ends and adjust toe-in to specifications. Check for leaks and proper fluid level.
- If the system is filled too quickly, the fluid can be prone to retaining air. Once this occurs, it can take one to two days of normal driving before the air is released from the system. In bad cases, you can install a schrader valve, without the valve core, into an old reservoir cap and use a Mityvac to purge air through vacuum.
- If the power steering pump pulley is canted in toward the engine and not aligned with the crank pulley, replace the pump bracket (Volvo p/n 1346267-6) with a new one from the dealer. This will restore correct alignment and eliminate the noise.
Another issue that may arise with the Volvo 744 is related to the engine performance. The engine may have idle problems, such as poor idle, idle surge and hunt, or engine dies after starting and won't idle. These issues can be caused by a clogged flame trap, dirty throttle body, or dirty injectors. To solve these problems, you can clean the throttle body, replace the flame trap, or clean the injectors.
In some cases, the engine may run rich, producing black smoke and poor acceleration. This can be caused by a faulty ECT, TPS, or FI. To address this issue, you may need to replace or repair the faulty component.
Lastly, the Volvo 744 may experience issues with the fuel system, such as no start, poor fuel economy, or stalls in heavy rain. These problems can be caused by timing issues, water leaks in the hood, or faulty sensors. To diagnose and fix these issues, you may need to check the timing, inspect the hood for water leaks, or replace the faulty sensors.
In summary, the Volvo 744 may experience common problems related to the power steering system, engine performance, and fuel system. By following the diagnostic and repair steps outlined above, you can address these issues and keep your Volvo 744 running smoothly.
1987 Volvo 744 car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Volvo 744 problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Unknown or other problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 1987 Volvo 744 vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
1987 Volvo 744 complaints
The NHTSA has received 1 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1987 Volvo 744.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1997-07-17
- VIN: YV1FX8846H2
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: FIRE STARTED UNDER THE RADIO COMPARTMENT.
1987 Volvo 744 recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 1 recalls for different components of the 1987 Volvo 744.
- Manufacturer: VOLVO OF AMERICA CORP.
- Components: POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
- Summary: FRONT DRIVESHAFT FLANGE BOLTS MAY LOOSEN.
- Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN SEPARATION OF THE DRIVESHAFT FROM THETRANSMISSION AND DAMAGE TO THE GEAR SELECTOR.
- Remedy: REPLACE THE DRIVESHAFT FLANGE BOLTS AND NUTS; MODIFY THE JOINT BETWEEN THE DRIVESHAFT AND TRANSMISSION.
Additional sources
More sources of information about 1987 Volvo 744 problems:
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