Volvo 121 User guide

TWO- AND FOUR-DOOR
CARS
(
121/122 S M)
DESCRIPTION DRIVING
SERVICING

BEFORE YOU START DRIVING YOUR NEW VOLVO
PLEASE READ THROUGH THIS
INSTRUCTION BOOK CAREFULLY. IT CONTAINS ALL
THE INFORMATION YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO
DRIVE AND SERVICE YOUR VEHICLE IN THE BEST
POSSIBLE WAY. BY FOLLOWING THE INSTRUCTIONS
GIVEN IN THIS BOOK, YOU WILL FIND THAT
YOUR VOLVO WILL COME UP TO ALL THE
EXPECTATIONS CONCERNING ECONOMICAL
OPERATION AND EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE THAT
YOU HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO EXPECT OF
A TOP-QUALITY VEHICLE.
THIS INSTRUCTION BOOK IS NOT INTENDED TO
BE A COMPREHENSIVE TECHNICAL MANUAL AND
DOES NOT CLAIM TO MAKE THE
READER INTO A PERFECT CAR MECHANIC. IT WILL,
HOWEVER, SHOW YOU HOW TO LOOK AFTER YOUR
VEHICLE SO THAT TROUBLE IN THE FUTURE
CAN BE AVOIDED
AB VOLVO

DO NOT
WAIT UNTIL SOMETHING GOES
WRONG BEFORE YOU START READING
THIS BOOK. READ IT NOW.
THE SHORT TIME THIS TAKES WILL MORE THAN
REPAY YOU IN THE LONG RUN.
THE BETTER YOU KNOW YOUR VOLVO, THE
BETTER SERVICE IT CAN GIVE YOU.
THIS BOOK CAN CONTAIN SOME VALUABLE
INFORMATION EVEN FOR AN EXPERIENCED
MOTORIST
FINALLY, WE WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS OUR
APPRECIATION FOR THE CONFIDENCE
YOU HAVE SHOWN IN THE NAME OF VOLVO
BY CHOOSING A VOLVO VEHICLE.
WE ARE SURE THAT THE DEMANDS YOU MAKE
ON YOUR VOLVO WILL BE MORE THAN
SATISFIED, APART FROM THE FACT THAT YOU
WILL ENJOY DRIVING IT, AND THAT IT WILL
GIVE YOU FAITHFUL SERVICE FOR MANY,
MANY MILES.
3

CONTENTS
4

CONTENTS

VOLVO SERVICE
Volvo Service Organization
In order to get the most out of the invested capital represented by a car,
it must be looked after and serviced rationally. Volvo has gone to a great
amount of trouble in the design and selection of material to ensure that
the car in question only requires a minimum of servicing. All this work
will be in vain unless we can count on your co-operation - that is to
say, that you make sure that your vehicle gets the regular 'servicing it
needs. In order to help you, Volvo has built up a world-wide service
organization. All Volvo dealers have specially trained personnel and
receive a continuous supply of technical information from the Volvo
Service Organization concerning repair and adjustment work. They have
also special tools, designed at the Volvo factory.
All Volvo dealers have a comprehensive stock of spare parts which is
your guarantee for genuine Volvo spares. This is why our dealers are in
the very best position to give your vehicle first-class service concerning
both maintenance operations and repairs. You should also refer to your
dealer if you need information about your Volvo that is not included
in this instruction book.
It is not only in your own country that there is a Volvo workshop within
easy reach but Volvo also has a widely distributed service network in
other countries too.
6

VOLVO SERVICE
Warranty and Service Booklet
A warranty and service booklet accompanies each vehicle when it is
delivered.
This book contains a coupon entitling you to a cost-free ser-
vice inspection after 2 500 km (1 500 miles) running. If possible, let the
dealer who supplied the vehicle carry out this service inspection. If nec-
essary, however, any of our dealers can do this.
I f our six-month guarantee is to apply, we make one absolute condition
and that is that the above-mentioned cost-free inspection is carried out
at roughly the mileage shown and that the vehicle has been looked after
in accordance with the instructions in this book.
Service Inspections
After the cost-free service inspection has been carried out, you should
make an agreement with your dealer concerning continued,
regular ser-
vice inspections in accordance with the suggestions made in our
Service
Book. Thorough and regular servicing is o f vital importance for the per-
formance and length o f life o f the vehicle.
Always use genuine Volvo spares.
7

DESCRIPTION
General
The Volvo 121/122 S is a two- or four-door, five-seater car. Many
colours are available and in each particular case the colour of the internal
fittings and upholstery harmonizes with the external finish of the car.
In addition to a spacious luggage compartment, where the spare wheel
and tool kit are stowed, there is also plenty of storage space inside the
car itself, such as a shelf with its own lighting under the dashboard,
a recessed hat shelf below the rear window and roomy pockets on the
inside of the front doors. Standard equipment on the car includes a trip
meter in the speedometer, a windscreen washer and a back-up light which
goes on automatically when the reverse gear is engaged. Both front seats
are fitted with safety belts. The car is of the integral construction type
so that there is no separate frame. The front and rear suspensions as
well as the engine and transmission are attached directly to the body.
The surface finish of the body is synthetic and the primer used rust-
proofs the body. The car is also thief-proof since the connection between
the ignition switch and the ignition coil is in the form of an armoured
cable.
8

Type designations
In all correspondence con-
cerning your vehicle with
the dealer and when order-
i ng spare parts, the
type
designation, chassis and en-
gine number should always
be quoted.
On the USA market, 12234 and 13234 have desig-
nations 12244 and 13244 respectively.
Moreover, the letter M is not included in the
type designation for the models on the USA market.
1. The type designation and chassis number are
stamped on the cowl under the bonnet.
2. Stamped on a plate to the left under the bonnet
is the type designation together with the code num-
bers for colour and upholstery.
3. The engine type designation, part number and
serial number are given on the left-hand side of
the cylinder block. The last figures of the part
number are stamped on a tab. The serial number
follows this with all the figures stamped on. For
i
dentifying the engine, both the part number and
serial number should be quoted, for example
496801-12345.
:j.)
See separate supplement.
This instruction book deals with vehicles having the
following type designations:
Type designation Engine Gearbox
121341 M or 121342 M B 18 A M 40
121361 M or 121362 M
B 18 A BW 35*
122341 M or 122342 M B 18 D M 40
122351
M or
122352
M B 18 D M 41
122461 M or 122462 M B 18 D BW 35*
131211 M or 131212 M B 18 A M 30
131341 M or 131342 M B 18 A M 40
131361 M or 131362 M B 18 A BW 35*
132341 M or 132342 M B 18 D M 40
132461 M or 132462 M B 18 D BW 35*

DESCRIPTION
The engine is a four-cylinder carburettor unit with overhead valves.
The pistons are made of light-alloy and the upper compression ring on
each piston is chromed. The main bearings and connecting rod bearings
are replaceable. The crankshaft is statically and dynamically balanced.
Engine type B 18 A has an output of 85 h.p. (SAE) and is equipped with
Zenith-Stromberg horizontal carburettor.
Engine type B 18 D
has an output of 100 h.p.
(
SAE
)
and is equipped
with twin SU horizontal carburettors.
Fuel system
The fuel system is fed from the tank to the carburettor by a fuel pump
which is driven by a cam on the engine camshaft. There is a filter in the
fuel pump which traps water and other impurities in the fuel.
Lubricating system
The engine lubrication is taken care of by a gear pump which sucks up
oil from the sump on the bottom of the engine and forces it through the
oil filter out to the lubricating points in the engine. A relief valve is
built into the oil filter which prevents the oil pressure from reaching
excessively high values.
Cooling system
The engine is water-cooled and the cooling system is of the pressure type.
Water is circulated by means of a pump fitted on the fan shaft. A thermo-
stat with an opening temperature of about 76
°
C (169
°
F) prevents the
cooling
water from passing through the radiator before the engine has
reached its normal working temperature.
1 0

1 1
1.
Carburettor (B 18 D) 12. Oil dipstick 21. Relay for back-up light
2. Float chamber (B 18 D) 13. Distributor 22.
Relay for headlight
3. Air cleaner (B 18 D)
14.
Heater flasher
4. Expansion tank with 15. Starter motor 23.
Motor for windscreen
filler cap for coolant 16. Ignition coil washers
5. Charging control 17. Plate with type desig-
24. Fluid container for
6. Dynamo nation and code for windscreen washers
7. Oil filler cap colour and upholstery
25. Oil trap
8. Air cleaner (B 18 A) 18. Fusebox 26. Fuel pump
9. Carburettor (B 18 A) 19. Brake fluid container
27. Steering box
10. Battery 20. Clutch fluid container 28. Horn
11. Hoses for heater system

DESCRIPTION
Electrical system
The electrical system is of the 12-volt type and is fitted with a volt-
age control dynamo. The starter motor is controlled from the instrument
panel by means of the ignition key. This key also forms the main switch
for the rest of the electrical system. The cables to the headlights, parking
lights and internal lighting, however, are not taken over the ignition
switch but can be switched on and off without the ignition key being in
position.
Lighting
The lighting on the vehicle consists of two headlights (full and dipped)
together
with two combined flasher and parking lights. At the rear the
lighting consists of two tail lights including flashers, combined lamps for
the tail lights and brake warning lights, and the back-up light. Internal
lighting consists of a roof light above the rear view mirror and a light
for the parcel shelf.
See pages 42-44 concerning replacement of bulbs.
Fuses
The electrical system is protected by means of fuses fitted in a fusebox to
the left on the bulkhead under the bonnet. When replacing a fuse, be sure
that you use a one of the right rating. If one of the fuses should blow
repeatedly, do not fit a more powerful fuse. Instead, take the vehicle to
a workshop for a check of the electrical system.
1
) Applies only to cars equipped with overdrive
1 2
1. Flasher and parking 22. Battery
screen wiper and
light, left 23. Fusebox washer
2. Headlight, left 24. Brake contact 43. Lighting switch
3. Horn 25. Door contact, left 44. Ignition switch
4. Headlight, right 26. Light signal device
45. Cigarette lighter
5. Flasher and parking 27. Relay for horn 46. Control for
light, right 28. Overdrive switch')
ventilation fan
6. Connector 29. Roof light 47.
Glove compartment
7. Junction block 30. Switch for roof
lighting
8. Relay for headlight light
48. Switch for glove
signal 31. Flasher unit, direc-
compartment
9.
Reversing light tion indicators lighting
contact 32. Door contact, right
49. Fuel gauge
10. Distributor
33. Control lamp for i mpulse unit
11. Dynamo charging
50. Rear lamp, left, with
12. Charging control 34. Control lamp for
rear light, stop light,
13. Relay for reversing fullbeam headlights
flasher and back-up
light 35. Control lamp for light
14. Relay for over- direction indicators
51. Number plate
drive')
36. Control lamp for lighting
15. Overdrive contact') oil pressure
52. Rear lamp, right,
16. Ignition coil 37. Fuel gauge
with rear light,
17. Oil pressure 38. Windscreen wiper
stop light, flasher
warning indicator 39. Instrument lighting and back-up light
18. Foot dipper switch 40. Ventilation fan A = White E = Grey
19. Solenoid for
41. Control lamp for B=Black F =Yellow
overdrive') overdrive C= Blue G=Brown
20. Starter motor
42. Control for wind- D = Green H =Red
21. Windscreen washer
I = Spare lead

DESCRIPTION
Power transmission
Clutch
The function of the clutch is to transmit the power from the engine to
the gearbox. The clutch is of the single dry plate type with diaphragm
spring. The diaphragm spring 'functions partly as a lever when declutch-
ing and partly as a pressure spring when engaging.
Gearbox
The gearbox is used to regulate the speed ratio between the engine and the
rear axle so that the engine always operates in its most favourable speed
range. The gearbox is synchronised on all the forward gears; this means
that gear-changing can be carried out without double declutching. Since
the gearbox is fitted with helical gears and the gear lever is rubber in-
sulated, excellent sound insulation is obtained. See page 57 for data.
Propeller shaft
The propeller shaft, which is the connecting link between the gearbox
and the rear axle, is divided into two sections. The forward section is
journalled at its rear end in a bearing housing suspended in a rubberized
ring.
Rear axle
The driving power of the engine is transmitted from the propeller shaft
to the rear wheels through the rear axle. The rear axle is of the hypoid
type, i.e. drive pinion is below the centre line of the drive shafts. See
page 57 for data.
Brakes
The vehicle is equipped with disc brakes at the front and drum brakes
at the rear as standard. The brake system is also provided with a re-
ducer valve, which prevents involuntary locking of the rear wheels.
The footbrake system is hydraulic and influences all four wheels. The
hydraulic system consists of a 'fluid-filled master cylinder which, when
the brake pedal is depressed, transmits the brake pressure through the
brake fluid in the lines to the wheel unit cylinders. The plungers in these
are then pressed outwards and apply the brake shoes or brake pads res-
pectivly.
Vehicles fitted with the B 18 D engine are also provided with vacuum
type servo brake cylinders.
The handbrake system operates mechanically on the rear wheels.
Wheels and tyres
The vehicle has pressed steel wheels with lugs for the attachment of the
hub caps. All wheels are carefully balanced and the tyres are of the tube-
less type.
1 4

Gearbox
1 5

DESCRIPTION
Body
Bonnet
The bonnet is fitted with a catch
which is operated from the driving
seat through a handle located to the
left under the instrument panel. The
bonnet catch is released by pulling
the handle out.
When the bonnet catch handle has
been released inside the car, the
bonnet is still retained by a safety
catch.
After this is pressed in as
shown, the bonnet can be lifted
up. When the bonnet is closed
the
bonnet catch is automatically
locked and cannot be lifted until
the handle inside the car has been
pulled again. Check to make sure
that the bonnet is properly secured
when it is closed.
Luggage compartment
The door key is used to lock the
luggage compartment, which is open-
ed by pressing the handle upwards
as shown. The luggage compartment
lid is balanced and does not need
to be held up. To the left in the
compartment there is room for the
spare
wheel and tool kit. Always
make sure that the spare wheel is
fastened securely and that the tool
kit is firmly stowed, otherwise irri-
tating rattles can occur.
16

Doors and locks
There is a lock with a keyhole on
each of the front doors. All the
doors can be locked from inside
the car by pressing down the lock
buttons on the window ledge. On
the rear doors, this button must
first be pulled up before the doors
can be opened from the inside. This
is an important safety factor if
children are alone in the back. All
the doors can be locked by pressing
down the internal lock button and
then closing the doors. Do not leave
the keys in the car, otherwise you
can easily lock yourself out.
Many people make it a habit of
pressing down all the lock buttons.
In itself this is not an extra safety
precaution. On the other hand,
however, the passengers are locked
in and this might be dangerous
should an accident occur, especially
involving fire. For this reason you
should always leave at least one
door (for example, one or both
front doors) "unlocked" when driv-
ing.
The doors are opened from the in-
side by turning the handle to the
rear. The ventilation windows for
the doors are opened by unscrewing
the lock stud, after which it can be
pressed in and the handle turned up-
wards.
With the stud in the screwed-
i n position, the handle is locked.
The rear side windows of two-door
cars can be partly opened by setting
the handle at the rear edge in diffe-
rent positions (does not apply to
13121).
In order to prevent freezing-up of
the locks, a suitable anti-freeze agent
should be used in cold weather. If
the locks are already frozen, do
not exert undue force on the key
otherwise you might break it. Instead,
heat it with a match or similar and
place it quickly into the keyhole.

DESCRIPTION
Front seats
The front seats can be slid back-
wards or forwards after the knob
on the outside of the seat is pressed
down. Exert leverage with your feet
on the floor and slide the seat to
the desired position.
If necessary, the seats can be moved
25 mm (1") further to the rear than
permitted by the slide rails by using
the extra holes in the seat frames.
The backrest inclination of the front
seats is smoothly adjusted by means
of an adjuster knob located at the
outside of the seat frame at the
bottom.
On the two-door model the backrest
is locked in the raised position by
means of a catch. In order to tip
the backrest forwards the catch at
the rear edge of the seat frame must
be lifted backwards and upwards.
The front seat is also provided with
an adjustable lumbar support. For
adjusting this, the backrest is pro-
vided with holes on both sides. To
tension the lumbar support, turn the
screw clockwise and vice versa.
The inclination of the whole seat
can be adjusted with the eyelet
screw at the front under the seat.
Remove the screw which goes
through the eyelet and tip the seat
backwards as shown in the figure.
Then slacken the locknut on the
floor and screw the eyelet screw
upwards or downwards to the de-
sired height. Then secure the eyelet
screw with the locknut.
The whole seat can also be raised or
lowered, which is done as follows
Remove the seat cushion, unscrew
the two bolts on the seat frame
attachment and then place them in
one of the other holes in the bracket.
The front seat backrest has built-in
attachments for fitting a headrest.
18

Safety belts
Standard on this vehicle includes
safety belts
for both the front
seats. Utilize this simple but effective
safety device.
Even when driving
slowly, for example, in town traffic,
a sudden, unexpected stop can cause
serious injury. For this reason, the
safety belt should always be on
when driving.
The length of the belt can be ad-
justed at the outer, lower attach-
ment.
When the belt is to be used, it is
removed from the retaining hook
on the door pillar and then placed
with one band round the waist and
the other band over the shoulder
and chest and then locked in the
anchorage between the front seats.
The belt is released by moving the
lever in question to the rear.
Make a habit of always hanging up
the belt when not in use. If it is
allowed to lie on the floor it will
become dirty and frayed and will
obstruct getting in and out of the
vehicle.
Check now and then that the bolts
which hold the belt are properly
tightened. If the belt has become
dirty it can best be cleaned with
water and synthetic washing agent.
Petrol and similar must not be used
since this can cause stains.
As the safety belts lose much o f
their strength when exposed to
stretching, they should be replaced
after a collision even though they
may appear to be undamaged.
Rear seat
The rear seat is provided with a
folding armrest in the middle.