My new GLT and noise.
 

I collected my new GLT estate (The Major*) from Birmingham yesterday. Three and a half hours back to Exeter, cruised happily at 70mph and above when asked. Engine seems solid and not over thirsty.
My major concern is how noisy the car seems. My other GLT (The Colonel*) purrs along and you have to look at the tacho to check the engines running.

The noise is difficult to pin down, it seems to come from back left and front right, but then my hearing is not wonderful and easily confused. (I've met those who can listen to a car and tell which ashtray needs emptying.) It mostly sounds like loud road noise, there is no vibration associated with it through the steering column. It increases in volume when steering to the left, no change to the right.
I checked round the wheels when I got back last night and there was no over heated hub, which may point towards wheel bearings. The tyres are good condition, though I did notice the absence of any balancing weights which seemed a bit odd.

I would be grateful for any advice as to what to check next, but please assume your addressing a mechanical ignoramus.

*I don't normally name my cars but the "Colonel" came with that when I bought it. The paperwork included original delivery note to an army colonel in Germany.
Found similar note but to a "Major" in the new one. My 240SE is referred to as LBJ from its reg., but hasn't acquired a name as yet.

Simple first check is the condition of the gearlever boot and its attachment to the floor. An incredible amount of general noise can get through a tiny gap.

Hi,

I would also check the state of the Viscous coupling for the cooling fan.
If that is on the way out or gone, then you will get increased fan noise as the fan is spinning more than it should..

Des. . . ;)

Hi ken..just a thought....i"ve had a new tyre fitted to the back of my volvo estate..and i can hear more road noise from it...may be worth checking to see if any difference in wear on tyres which may indicate a recent replacement?.. congrats on new volvo...ps between you and me my volvo is called hercules!!...regards hj.

I have had a look at the fan, presuming lack of viscous coupling would let it rotate with little resistance, this doesn't seem to be the case. Though I did note that the temperature gauge does not rise to same level as my other GLT.

The tyres all appear to be in good condition and look near new. The virgo alloys are in very good condition, but I cannot find any evidence that they have been balanced. There are no counterweights attached. I'm thinking if this isn't the cause of all the noise it is something that needs to be done anyway.

There are plenty of other issues with the car which the seller was economical with the truth about. Tailgate wiper and central locking not working. Slight dampness in footwell, bodgy repair and respray to tailgate edge, radio and tape not working, rear seat belt damaged. Nothing unusual for a 240, but an inexperienced ebay seller obviously chose to cover up rather than come clean.
The worst crime however was their choice of air freshener; you know those dangly cardboard christmas trees which smell of orange tainted vomit, i've found 7 of them so far and sure there are several more lurking. Anybody got a good way of removing the stench.

Hi,

Yes, the viscious coupling should allow the fan to rotate freely when cold and when warm stiffens up - thus increasing rotation of the fan..

As for the smell - I can only think of a good wash of the carpets.
I won't suggest fabreeze as I don't know if it works..

Des. . . ;)

You could just try the effect of unbolting the viscous coupling for a test run- it's only 4 nuts on studs - and packing out with large nuts to hold the pump pulley.
You would be amazed at the quietness. I fitted an electric fan when the coupling went, and it is silent. It hardly ever needs to cut in, except on hot days in traffic or going up steep hills.

Thanks chaps.
I have driven the car round some quiet roads with the window open and the noise is definitely, front right and back left. The noise from the rear I'm pretty sure is fuel pump, and from the front is the brakes. Offside disc is worn and has a lipped edge. When turning left the noise increase but stops if you touch the brakes.

Hello again ken...perhaps the disc is warped?..you say there is a lip on it where its worn down and when the brake is applied it pulls it straight again....may be worth taking the wheel off and having a closer look ..perhaps spinning the wheel?..as for the radio i think its coupled with the cigarette lighter fuse..i"ve had these blow before?....regards hj.

One of my old saloons had been used to ferry dogs around and the smell was awful. I sprinkled deodorising dry shampoo powder over all the internal fabric, left it for 30 minutes and then hoovered it up. I then used a whole bottle of fabreze spray. Things were then a lot better. The more fresh air that you can get circulating through the interior the better - whenever possible get the windows open. The power of cold fresh air to remove smells is amazing. When smoking was allowed in pubs and I would return home smelling like an old ashtray I would often hang my jacket outside overnight (if the weather was dry of course!) and it was usually fine by the next morning - the colder the air the more effective it was.

It is amazing what some sellers on ebay don't mention in there adverts for cars in excellent condition, with "service history".

Just retrieved the Blue GLT estate from garage and have a long list of things needing attention.

Heater blower not working.
Rear middle seat belt casing missing.
High level brake light hanging off.
O/s wiper has scratched screen.
Both headlamp reflectors badly tarnished.
Headlamp aim high.
O/s headlamp adjuster broken.
Radiator in poor condition, needs replacing.
N/s and O/s front flexy brake hoses in poor condition.
slight play in n/s and o/s rack knuckle.
Play in o/s/f bottom ball joint.
Play in n/s/f wheel bearing.
o/s/f wheel bearing noisy. This was replaced as car was getting undriveable.
Tailgate electrics not working to wiper, central locking and demister.
Very poor repair to tailgate edge, silicon bathroom sealant.
Very poor respray of tailgate, including non standard 240 GLT badging.
Radio cassette eats rather than plays tapes.
No intermittent on front wipers and they also don't return to start position.
Nice virgo alloys and new tyres, but wheels had not been balanced.

And thats what been found so far. Some of the MOT critical items like brake pipes, wheel bearing, headlamp alignment, seat belt are quite clearly things which haven't been right for some time, yet MOT issued in May did not have any advisories.

I so wanted to love this car. It looks good and the midnight blue with tan leather interior is such a good combination. Pity that the seller was persuaded that two packets of cheapo air fresheners would give it that "new" car feel, he has succeeded in making the interior smell so strongly of vomit that it is difficult to sit in the car for long without wanting to puke.

So there's my sales pitch. Anyone want a GLT in "excellent condition":mumbles::mumbles:

ken,
i bidded on this car, as it looked like a great car, the blue with the tan leather done for me too. most of the things you have listed are a pain in the a*** for sure but can easily be rectified so dont be to cheesed off, it's and old car with a lot of miles on it so things are bound to wear out. at least you'll have somthing to do over the next few weekends that'll save you going shopping with the wife.

i bid and won a 940 estate on ebay myself a few weeks ago and travel from s.e.london to woodbridge in suffolk by train to pick up the car only to find a massive oil leak coming from the just beneath the head, the guy had clealry put in his add that there was no oil or water leaking from the car i was proper p***ed off i can tell you you as it cost me another £31 to get home again including a 2hr wait for the sodding train.

Perhaps a front wheel bearing is noisy ? most noticable usualy about 40 mph and tails off over 50 mph?

Hi ken..wow that is a list of things to do!!..buying second hand or in my case five previous owners!! is fraut with hazards..as i walk up to any car i suddenly go blind and can only see the odd stone chip here and there...as i read the list i though yes mine had this issue...and that one!...they are pretty common faults for 240"s..the heater may be a little more complex if it needs replacing but some members have done this job and though its quite labour intensive is pretty straight forward...i will not begin to tell you what i spent on mine for the mot this year...lets put it this way i could have bought perhaps three off ebay!!...but hey better the devil you know!...i"m a gardener by trade and my 240 smells all year round of grass cuttings and petrol...ahhhh...lovely!...cheers ken and good luck with the work..regards hj.

Hi Ken sorry to hear your problems but the previous guy is right minor problems easily rectified hope you sort them out and enjoy the car I am new to this forum but will be looking in more often about to purchase a Volvo S60 so will be on one of the other forums. Rich1967

Thanks for the encouragement chaps. I think the stress of the last week was showing through, what with the problems with this one, then being rear ended on sunday in my 240SE- see "Expletive Deleted" thread.

Todays nice and sunny in Devon, I've got tomorrow off work and will make a start on the things I can do myself.