new member in los angeles - desperately needing help please!!

[jonwaltermoceyhanton]

hello friends

my name is jon and i live in los angeles
eleven years ago in february 2010
i bought a 1984 240 dl wagon with manual transmission
it had about 230000 miles on it when i purchased it
it was sold as being "hard starting"
and sadly over the past decade plus i have only been able to drive this sweet ride for significantly less than 5000 total miles
as it has unfortunately been in and out of at least six different volvo mechanics shops all over the greater los angeles area
i have paid for quite a bit of various services to be done on it over the years
but since i got it and even after various repairs is has never started consistently
i have had all the glow plugs replaced multiple times
when i have been able to get it to start it has been prone to overheating regularly
at this point the mechanic whose shop it has been at for over a year now says that the engine either needs to be completely replaced or fully rebuilt
from his testing the compression of the engine is very low
unfortunately he says that after extensive searching he has not been able to find anyone that can rebuild this d24 engine and can not find any full engine replacements available

so i am here desperately looking for any help that you all on this forum might be able to offer??
is there anyone here that lives in los angeles and has diesel volvo experience??
can you all recommend any mechanics in the greater los angeles area that can work on this car??

on a side note:
one dream when purchasing this vehicle was to run it on alternative diesel fuels - biodiesel waste veggie oil straight veggie oil
is there anyone here within the forum who has experience running these d24 engines on alternative fuels??
would that ever even be possible and reliable with this car??

including a few pictures of my beautiful baby attached:
its got a sweet all black on black interior
i really love this car and want to get it back up and running again
its a really sweet ride when it works

thank you all in advance for any help that you can offer!!

[RedArrow]

Car looks mint and body is sharp! Wagons are very practical, I`d say keep it :-)
In the worst case scenario the engine needs an overhaul. A no-rust manual wagon really deserves it, but only if necessary.
Everything probably must be confirmed from the start (about current condition).

Share as many details as you can (in this case the more the better) about what you see/hear/experience when you start/drive the vehicle. Don`t use starting fluid sprays, rather check timing as step one. Ever found oil in water or vice versa, in the time of your ownership?
There is a d24 timing tool etc kit available on ebay as we speak (not mine).

Hopefully the forum can help you to troubleshoot and also help you find parts, the needed d24 tools, maybe even d24 owners near where you live.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Volvo-Diesel-D-24-Engine-Tools/224342550866?hash=item343bdba952:g:I0YAAOSwuDlgHzM q

Welcome to the forum!

[ngoma]

Suggest you study the sticky on hard starting. Go thru the entire list systematically before you let the mechanic condemn the engine. Several of the conditions for hard starting are simple, yet commonly overlooked.

What were the compression test readings? How was it performed? Wet or dry? How long had the engine been sitting before the test?

Alternative fuels:

Good quality tested biodiesel is well tolerated by the D24 as is. May degrade some older injection pump seals and fuel hoses. Lighter/less soot, more pleasant odor is a bonus.

Used cooking oil is possible, I ran it successfully for several years. Requires two-tank system (heated 2nd tank, heated fuel hoses, heated 2nd filter, switching valves, etc.). In addition to the extra on-car equipment, it requires the means to collect the messy oil and filter/dewater it to the level required to not damage the engine.

Think hard about this if you personally don't have good mechanical skills, understanding of IDI diesel technology, fabrication skills, extensive tool collection. And the space to safely and conveniently store and filter/dewater the oil.

I never made my own biodiesel (had kids in the house so didn't want to risk working with methanol) so can't comment on that.

[jonwaltermoceyhanton]

Car looks mint and body is sharp! Wagons are very practical, I`d say keep it :-)
In the worst case scenario the engine needs an overhaul. A no-rust manual wagon really deserves it, but only if necessary.
Everything probably must be confirmed from the start (about current condition).

Share as many details as you can (in this case the more the better) about what you see/hear/experience when you start/drive the vehicle. Don`t use starting fluid sprays, rather check timing as step one. Ever found oil in water or vice versa, in the time of your ownership?
There is a d24 timing tool etc kit available on ebay as we speak (not mine).

Hopefully the forum can help you to troubleshoot and also help you find parts, the needed d24 tools, maybe even d24 owners near where you live.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Volvo-Diesel-D-24-Engine-Tools/224342550866?hash=item343bdba952:g:I0YAAOSwuDlgHzM q

Welcome to the forum!


thank you for your reply redarrow
my general experience with starting this car is that it will take several minutes or cranking it over and over again and sometimes after as much as ten minutes (sometimes more sometimes less) after sitting trying over and over again eventually it may turn over and start
this is after giving the glow plugs the right amount of time to warm up
but it is always a real struggle
cold weather seems to exacerbate this experience
on a warm summer day if its been sitting in the sun sometimes it will start right up normally
as for overheating - i will generally be fine on surface streets - but often when i bring it on the freeway and get it up to speed after ten fifteen minutes i will watch as the temperate slowly starts to climb
if i go up any significant hill at freeway speed it really struggles to make it and will almost certainly overheat
this is all after checking the water and oil and making sure they are at proper levels
i have never personally used starting fluid sprays but i believe various mechanics have during troubleshooting
i dont believe that i have ever found oil in the water or vice versa
thank you for alerting me to the availability of the timing tools on ebay
i personally have almost no mechanical experience with engines
so i dont know if this would be of benefit to me
would it be something that i would bring with me to a mechanic??
is it the only timing tools kit that works with this engine??

thank you again for your assistance
i am really hoping someone on here is located in los angeles and has experience repairing these engines

[jonwaltermoceyhanton]

Suggest you study the sticky on hard starting. Go thru the entire list systematically before you let the mechanic condemn the engine. Several of the conditions for hard starting are simple, yet commonly overlooked.

What were the compression test readings? How was it performed? Wet or dry? How long had the engine been sitting before the test?

Alternative fuels:

Good quality tested biodiesel is well tolerated by the D24 as is. May degrade some older injection pump seals and fuel hoses. Lighter/less soot, more pleasant odor is a bonus.

Used cooking oil is possible, I ran it successfully for several years. Requires two-tank system (heated 2nd tank, heated fuel hoses, heated 2nd filter, switching valves, etc.). In addition to the extra on-car equipment, it requires the means to collect the messy oil and filter/dewater it to the level required to not damage the engine.

Think hard about this if you personally don't have good mechanical skills, understanding of IDI diesel technology, fabrication skills, extensive tool collection. And the space to safely and conveniently store and filter/dewater the oil.

I never made my own biodiesel (had kids in the house so didn't want to risk working with methanol) so can't comment on that.


thank you very much for your informative reply ngoma
may i ask what you mean by "study the sticky on hard starting"??
is there a thread somewhere on this forum with a checklist of things to check??

i do not know the specific details about how the compression test was run or its readings
but i will inquire next time i speak to my mechanic
if i have him run a compression test again is there a preferred method?? wet/dry?? how long or little to have the engine sit before testing??

i am very limited in my mechanical skills
the most "advanced" thing i have tackled on this car was replacing the windshield wiper motor myself
i have no real experience under the hood with the exception of checking and maintaining fluids
i hope that is not too blasphemous of me to admit to here on this forum
but i am eager to learn!!

i appreciate the input about alternative fuels
a two tank system and collected waste veggie oil would be the goal eventually i hope
but the first step has been to have the engine running consistently and smoothly on real diesel first
its just unfortunately been a very long slow process to just get to that point

thanks again
i really appreciate it!!

[ngoma]

may i ask what you mean by "study the sticky on hard starting"??
is there a thread somewhere on this forum with a checklist of things to check??
Yes, look in the "Diesel Engine and Drivetrain" section. ;)

i do not know the specific details about how the compression test was run or its readings
but i will inquire next time i speak to my mechanic
if i have him run a compression test again is there a preferred method?? wet/dry?? how long or little to have the engine sit before testing??
Test dry first, then pour 1/4 teaspoon motor oil in each cylinder, retest "wet," compare. GET THE NUMBERS FOR EACH CYLINDER FOR EACH TEST.
If the engine has been sitting several months or years (looks like may be your case?) the piston rings can dry out and not seal well until oil is introduced to help them seal again. Results in (dry test) low compression.

i am very limited in my mechanical skills
the most "advanced" thing i have tackled on this car was replacing the windshield wiper motor myself
i have no real experience under the hood with the exception of checking and maintaining fluids
i hope that is not too blasphemous of me to admit to here on this forum
but i am eager to learn!!
We will try to help as much as possible. WARNING: Major time and effort investment!

but the first step has been to have the engine running consistently and smoothly on real diesel first
Yes that is the correct expectation, glad you recognize that! ;)

General Observation: You mention your mechanics. Do they have plenty of experience on these D24 engines? Or (2nd best) on VW diesel engines from the 70s-early 90s? Otherwise, we can almost guarantee they will destroy the engine, lacking the necessary (and getting harder to source) special tools, and equally necessary special knowledge. Sadly, have seen it happen too many times. :(

[jonwaltermoceyhanton]

Yes, look in the "Diesel Engine and Drivetrain" section. ;)


Test dry first, then pour 1/4 teaspoon motor oil in each cylinder, retest "wet," compare. GET THE NUMBERS FOR EACH CYLINDER FOR EACH TEST.
If the engine has been sitting several months or years (looks like may be your case?) the piston rings can dry out and not seal well until oil is introduced to help them seal again. Results in (dry test) low compression.


We will try to help as much as possible. WARNING: Major time and effort investment!


Yes that is the correct expectation, glad you recognize that! ;)

General Observation: You mention your mechanics. Do they have plenty of experience on these D24 engines? Or (2nd best) on VW diesel engines from the 70s-early 90s? Otherwise, we can almost guarantee they will destroy the engine, lacking the necessary (and getting harder to source) special tools, and equally necessary special knowledge. Sadly, have seen it happen too many times. :(


thank you very much ngoma for all this helpful informative advice
i think a major part of my problem over the ten plus years that i have had this car is that i have not been bringing it to mechanics with d24 experience
i really hope that the engine has not been destroyed
but i guess thats really what i am desperately in search of by coming here to this forum....
really hoping that there might be someone on here located in los angeles that could work on my car or that someone can recommend a good mechanic anywhere in the los angeles area that has the experience and speciality tools necessary to get this car back up and running well

keeping my fingers crossed that someone on here sees these posts and can offer some assistance

[Roger P]

Jon,

I own a 1982 245 and have lived in the LA area for over twenty years. I'll pass along contact info for two shops that may be able to work on your car.

Swedish Car Clinic in Harbor City. The service manager was Don Weihs, 310-326-9895. Visited them and talked about having them change the timing belt. Don said Peter that worked there at the time knew how to do it and had the D24 tool set. Did not actually use this shop so I don't have an experience good or bad that can be related.

The timing belt change was actually done in Perris, Ca. at Swedish Speed 951-657-7788 by a mechanic named Mark. They also had the D24 tool set and were working on another diesel when I took my car there for the timing belt change about two years ago. The engine has performed well since then, and I have confidence in his work.

Use to have work done in Long Beach but that shop decided to stop working on Volvos and then recommended the Swedish Car Clinic.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Roger

[jonwaltermoceyhanton]

Jon,

I own a 1982 245 and have lived in the LA area for over twenty years. I'll pass along contact info for two shops that may be able to work on your car.

Swedish Car Clinic in Harbor City. The service manager was Don Weihs, 310-326-9895. Visited them and talked about having them change the timing belt. Don said Peter that worked there at the time knew how to do it and had the D24 tool set. Did not actually use this shop so I don't have an experience good or bad that can be related.

The timing belt change was actually done in Perris, Ca. at Swedish Speed 951-657-7788 by a mechanic named Mark. They also had the D24 tool set and were working on another diesel when I took my car there for the timing belt change about two years ago. The engine has performed well since then, and I have confidence in his work.

Use to have work done in Long Beach but that shop decided to stop working on Volvos and then recommended the Swedish Car Clinic.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Roger


roger
thank you so much for this very helpful comment and the great recommendations
i will definitely reach out to them and see if they can help me
i really appreciate you sharing these contacts
hopefully i can find someone who can help me with my car

[jonwaltermoceyhanton]

roger
thank you so much for this very helpful comment and the great recommendations
i will definitely reach out to them and see if they can help me
i really appreciate you sharing these contacts
hopefully i can find someone who can help me with my car

roger

thank you again for the suggestions
unfortunately peter at the swedish car clinic in long beach no longer has the tools available to work on my car
he suggested another spot in fjords of sweden in bellflower and the owner there named art also does not have the ability to work on the diesels
and it would appear that swedish speed in perris may no longer be in business as their number is disconnected

i am unfortunately at a bit of a loss as i dont have anymore leads on shops that can help me get my car back up and running

i am desperately hoping that someone here might miraculously see my posts here and have a suggestion of someone that can help in the los angeles area

fingers crossed

[jonwaltermoceyhanton]

hello d24 friends

i shared my story over in the new member introductions thread you can read the details there

but to summarize i am in desperate need of a d24 mechanic in the los angeles area
i am unfortunately getting very close to having to say goodbye to my beautiful dream car as i cant find anyone with the tools or ability to work on my car

so this is a last ditch plea for help to anyone that might know of mechanics in the greater los angeles area who can service these engines??

any leads would be so greatly appreciated!!
thank you

from
jon walter mocey-hanton

[ngoma]

I am going to merge this thread with your existing thread of similar title and issue, in an effort to help current and future info seekers and to keep the forum slightly more organized. :)

[v8volvo]

Don't make any rash decisions yet, give it a little time. ;)

The group of folks willing/capable to work on these is small but the right people are out there. Southern CA is a dense area and there will be someone who can help you not far away, just plan on doing a little more leg work, and figure on starting a good relationship with whoever you do find, make it worth their time to do everything right for you. :cool:

How far are you willing to travel for work on this collectible, classic car you are seeking to get back on the road? FYI: of the folks out there who own these cars and don't perform the maintenance themselves, it is common to travel a significant distance to have upkeep/repairs done by an expert. Tom Bryant in Maine sees cars brought to him from many states away. In comparable/similar cases of other types classic vehicles requiring the attention of a "guru", this kind of thing is also commonly seen.

What I'm saying is that you can definitely keep your car and get it in tip-top shape but it might mean using someone a couple of hours away.

Have you contacted Josh / Yoshifab in San Diego? He has done several D24T builds.

How about member adamdrives on this forum, now residing somewhere in CA, I believe San Jose?

Forum member 745 TurboGreasel doesn't post here as often as he used to but is experienced with these engines and no doubt could help with the work if he could be persuaded to. He is near Watsonville.

Cast the net a little wider, and you have options.

[v8volvo]

I posted in your other thread which will merge with this one. You should not throw in the towel yet, don't get rid of it because you can't find a shop to handle it -- the next person will only encounter the same problem. ;) It's better off in your hands to be cared for. Plan on transporting it a little further outside the neighborhood and you will succeed in finding good hands to get it to. We will help you.

[Roger P]

Jon,

I am sorry to hear that you were not able to contact anyone that could help you out. Let's keep trying though.

Looked up Swedish Speed in Perris, CA on the internet and it appears that the name has changed to Champion Automotive. It's operating out of the same address and using the phone number provided in my last posting so its puzzling why you could not get through.

Oh, I took my car to Art at Fjords for years to do non engine work and had the engine work done at Werstat West in Long Beach. Werkstat had recommended Swedish Car Clinic when they declined to work on it any longer.

I would try to contact the shop in Perris again. I may take a drive out there or call myself to find out if they are still open, it appears so from there posting on the internet under Champion.

Roger

[Roger P]

Jon,

Since my last post I have done some more investigating. Nothing for certain yet that is worth posting. Since finding a mechanic with the proper experience would benefit both of us, suggest you call me some evening to discuss. My home telephone number is xxx-xxx-xxxx.

Roger

[ngoma]

I have removed your telephone number from your last post.

There are webcrawlers that scrape the internet to harvest telephone numbers for spam lists. Figured you didn't want the extra aggravation of added telephone spammers.

Suggest you use the Private Message feature of the forum by clicking on the member's handle, and choosing "Send a private message to JohnDoe."

Check your private message inbox by clicking the "User CP" menu from the menu bar near the top of the page.