Can anyone verify that a 1989 240 Volvo came with a metal hood prop rod?

10

Asked by RuthieGal Jan 21, 2014 at 01:13 PM about the 1989 Volvo 240 GL

Question type: General

I had one on my car and it disappeared.  My (former) mechanic, who just gave me a check for $500 refund, since I have proof he charged me two times for something, and he put on bad struts, now says that if I can show him proof my car ever had the metal rod that held up the hood, then he would replace it.  (I think he probably has it on another car.)  I have a 1989 240 GL that was purchased in the Chicago IL area brand new.  (Needless to say, I have called another mechanic, but that guy who is younger than me, has never seen the hood rod before.)  Thank you to anyone who can prove this for me.  If you can supply a picture of one, that would be fabulous, too.

16 Answers

44,605

I have found hood hinges but not a prop rod. If your car has the hinges with springs there is no need for a prop rod. eBay item number: 261374494099

10

It was a long thin metal rod. Had a little thing that sort of held it down in the middle of that flat piece of metal where the hood latches into it. The end that went into a hole in the hood, had a small sort of hook on it. It had to be held onto the car with one washer on, I think the right side of the car, if you face the car. That mechanic probably has it on another car, and I just need poof that I am right. If anyone has a more definitive memory, or perhaps, God willing, a photo of theirs, then please let me know. The car did not even need the hood prop, but mine had it and that creep has it now. I only want it back, but I have to be able to prove it. He said a few years ago that GL's are very rare in this area, and the young mechanics I contacted today, haven't see one. I remain hopeful and thanks. I am blessed to learn that another place who had lost their mechanic who knows the old Volvo's, has moved back to this area and the item I got a refund for, can now be fixed. Thanks again, and I remain hopeful. Someone might find a picture of a car that still has one intact. It will probably be a GL, like mine, too.

44,605

You are correct then. If it has a slot in the hood and a place on the body it had one.

1 people found this helpful.

I had two of these....replaced the engine harness because they caught fire..removed the head....you think I'd remember something like this....yes a DL...they both were....small prop rod mid-fender~

1 people found this helpful.

spring hinges so you didn't have to do any heavy lifting...but a prop rod so in high winds wouldn't come crashin' down on ya~

1 people found this helpful.
10

Yes, there is an extra little hole in the hood, that I pointed out to the mechanic that I think is where it was supposed to be secured. The prop had kind of a little hook type turn on the end that held it in the hole. Judge-Roy, I do not understand your "mid-fender". It was not mid fender. It was attached on the right side of the hood. Anyone who has an old one will see a small nut on the right and left side of the hood, on the flat metal piece that goes across the front of the car, and that is where the hood had a latch (for the prop rod) located in the middle of it, too. (I now think that the rod could have been Iinstalled/attached on either side of the car, left or right since there is an identical nut on either side now. Mine has a missing washer on the right side, where he removed the prop rod. Mine is a GL, not DL Judge-Roy, and I do not know if yours had a different type of rod, but mine was not mid-fender. Also, there was some kind of piece in the middle, near the place where the hood latches, that was a sort of hook type thing that the rod secured under it. It held it in place. If anyone could come up with someone who has a photograph, I can call the newspaper and TV if he does not give it back. I feel quite sure he put it on some car he owns, or else his brother put it on one of his. They work together. Thanks again for your input. I will check back later, and am going to run some errands now. Thank you so much, and if anyone can find someone who has one on their car now, who might post a picture, it would be fantastic.

no the rod is there...it runs along the fender and is half the length of the fender...is attached to the fender and swivels up to meet a "key" hole~ I'm not imagining this~ could draw you a cartoon....hard to find any images of this...and you're right it was the GL not the DL...probably would have run bio- diesel in it if I had one of those~

I remember thinkin' this is a stupid design cause it could flop down and touch the battery terminals~

1 people found this helpful.
44,605

Yeah. I didn't know for sure if she had the hinges or the rod at the time.

10

I just looked at the car. There is nothing for the rod to lay on down the fender. I am sure mine was attached by the nut on the right side, as you face the car, so drivers left. It swung up to go in one of the holes in the hood. It also laid down across the front and had some kind of little thing that stuck up enough to allow it to fit under it, as a sort of holder. I am sure about that. I have sent an email to someone, who might remember it well, and I just thought of another person. Your remember it is great, and a big help. Maybe if you sleep well tonight, you will remember how yours might have been like mine was, in the morning. Things can always clear up in the am. I wish you could look at someone's old Volvo, because if you did you would see how it had to be attached by the nut (mine is missing a washer on that side now.) and it would have had to be able to lay down and there is no way for it to do that on the fender. But it did swing up on the right kind of over the right fender. Thank you so much, and I remain hopeful someone might see this and have an actual picture to show my creepy mechanic. Another guy who will fix the bad struts says I should not even call him a mechanic. I agree, I probably should not give him the credit for being that smart at all. Thank you again, and I remain hopeful, that someone will come along that still has one, and that you Mr. Judge-roy will be very rested and remember it well in the morning. If you know someone who has an old Volvo, I wish you could look at it. I know it would refresh your memory. The thing swung up to the right, but laid across the front and had a piece of metal that it sort of tucked under when laying down. Thanks again everyone. The rod is not necessary, to anyone who might think it is. It was just another Volvo safety feature. I now think it might not have been on DL's, too.

1 people found this helpful.
10

There was no way the rod could have flopped down. It has a hook like turn on the end where it secures to the hood. Nothing stupid at all about that car. It is the safest ever built, per an ER doctor. He told me that if I ever sell, I am original owner, that he wants to buy it, too. I really want that part back. Thank you all and I do hope someone comes along and can show everyone a picture of it. Does anyone know of any Volvo forums where I might ask about it, too? Thank you all very much.

the "L" keyhole slot on the hood is the tell...go straight down from that location...bet yours was thrown away....torn off.....causing shorts on the battery terminals or some such thing...at least the hood has springs to put it up~ you're right about them being different~ one cannot expect the same exact construction in one plant and another across the US....this design has flaws...I can remember this~

1 people found this helpful.
Best Answer Mark helpful

I currently own 6 volvo 240's, I own a 1979, 1983 GL, 1988 GL, 1990 dl, 1991 dl, 1992 classic, and I must say, I have been working on Volvo's for almost 40 years and I have Never, ever,ever seemed a hood prop-rod on any volvo240.. if you see one, please send me a picture. hogsupersport@yahoo.com

Your Answer:

240

Looking for a Used 240 in your area?

CarGurus has 7 nationwide 240 listings and the tools to find you a great deal.

ZIP:

Own this car?

Share your experience with others.

1989 Volvo 240

Review another car

CarGurus Experts

  • #1
    burner
    Reputation
    80
  • #1
    apbimmer98
    Reputation
    80
  • #3
    ytlas
    Reputation
    70
View All

Know more, shop wisely

Search

Related Models For Sale

Used Volvo 760
1 listing
Used Volvo 780
1 listing
Used Honda Accord
1,269 Great Deals out of 28,843 listings starting at $995
Used Mazda MX-5 Miata
127 Great Deals out of 2,694 listings starting at $4,495
Used BMW 3 Series
1,022 Great Deals out of 13,263 listings starting at $955
Used Volkswagen Golf GTI
174 Great Deals out of 4,471 listings starting at $2,995

Used Cars For Sale

Content submitted by Users is not endorsed by CarGurus, does not express the opinions of CarGurus, and should not be considered reviewed, screened, or approved by CarGurus. Please refer to CarGurus Terms of Use. Content will be removed if CarGurus becomes aware that it violates our policies.