How to Replace the Starter Motor on a 1990 Volvo 240 DL
by Christian Killian
The 1990 Volvo 240 is a rear-wheel-drive, front-engine car available as both a sedan and station wagon. Replacing the starter on these cars is a good home project. It will save you a costly repair bill and with the cavernous engine compartment and the small engines in the cars, there is plenty of room to remove and install the starter from above, through the engine compartment. Located on the driver’s side of the car, the starter can be seen and accessed standing at the driver’s side fender.
Step 1
Locate the negative battery cable end under the hood of your Volvo 240. Remove the retaining bolt from the cable end with a wrench and remove the cable from the battery.
Step 2
Locate the starter from the top of the engine compartment. Look straight down under the intake manifold on the front of the engine. Remove the wiring-harness connector from the starter. The first is the “S” terminal; unplug it from the connector on the starter solenoid. Lay the wire out of the way for now.
Step 3
Locate the second connection, the “B” terminal. Remove the nut from the terminal with a wrench and remove the cable from it. Lay the cable aside and move to the front of the starter.
Step 4
Locate the two retaining bolts on the face of the starter and remove them with a socket and ratchet. Lift the starter out of the engine compartment. Lower a new starter into place and align it with the hole in the bell housing.
Step 5
Slide the nose of the new starter into the bell housing, then align the mounting holes on the starter with the holes on the bell housing. Install the two mounting bolts into the starter and tighten them to 25 ft-lbs. with a torque wrench.
Step 6
Plug in the “S” terminal connector to the connector on the starter, making sure it locks in place. Slide the “B” terminal wire onto the “B” terminal at the back of the starter solenoid. Thread the retaining nut onto the stud and tighten it with a wrench.
Step 7
Install the negative battery cable on the battery terminal and tighten the retaining bolt on the cable end with a wrench.
References
- “Haynes Repair Manuals 1976 to 1993 Volvo 240”; John Haynes; 1998
Things You'll Need
- Wrench set
- Socket set
- Ratchet
- Torque wrench
Writer Bio
Christian Killian has been a freelance journalist/photojournalist since 2006. After many years of working in auto parts and service positions, Killian decided to move into journalism full-time. He has been published in "1st Responder News" as well as in other trade magazines and newspapers in the last few years.
