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FCP Euro Service Kits

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The tell tale coil- Rex ignition coils are easily identified and are usually mounted on the driver strut mount. The tell tale coil- Rex ignition coils are easily identified and are usually mounted on the driver strut mount.

I have always been a Volvo man. My first car was an 83 240 wagon, which according to the state, I still own... (always keep your plates at the time of sale). I graduated from that 240 to a 940 and then to a 960. Each of these cars were an absolute joy, and I would have any one of them for my daily driver, even today. The 240 and 960 were like nice, stable relationships with an austere yet dependable partner. It's nice because you always know what to expect. My 940 was a bit different, a bit exotic. It had the Rex/Regina engine management system that Volvo used briefly in the early 90's. The system was extremely reliable, but it was quite different from the Bosch systems I was used to, and took a little bit of research and understanding to figure it out.

Engine Management Differences

Rex/Regina is an engine management system that handles both ignition and injection, and was designed by Bendix. It's not difficult to tell what system you have, as the most clearly defined feature of the Rex ignition system is the giant transformer on the driver side shock tower. This transformer sits on top of a control module and makes up the ignition coil for the system. This is in contrast with the standard Bosch ignition coil that looks more like a tin can. Also, the air charge on the Bosch system is measured with a mass airflow sensor, where the Regina injection system measures the air charge with an intake air temperature sensor and a manifold absolute pressure sensor. The idle air control valve differs between the two systems, and the Bosch system employs two fuel pumps where the Regina system only uses one, located in the tank. Lastly, it is important to note that the O2 sensor is different between the Regina and Bosch systems. A simple search on FCP for keyword “Regina” shows you some of the vehicle specific parts this system employs.

A typical Bosch ignition coil. A typical Bosch ignition coil.

In the case of my 940, the system is very reliable. I have to admit that this particular Volvo has lived a long and torturous life. Despite that, I have only had two issues = the crank angle sensor on the bell housing giving out, which causes a random shut down and no-start condition, and a few fuel pump relays which won't prime before startup. These issues are standard fare on this model, and I haven't had to sink thousands into this car to keep it on the road. On the whole, I wouldn't hesitate at all to get another Rex/Regina car, and may even choose it over a Bosch if the situation presented itself. The real Achilles heel of this system doesn't come into play until you start doing performance modifications.

Bosch is best for modification

Turbo Redblocks from this era generally use the Bosch system, and as most enthusiasts will tell you, it is a difficult proposition to build a turbo setup using the Rex/Regina system. However, many users have claimed, and it has been my personal experience, that in stock form, a comparison between the Rex/Regina and Bosch systems show the Rex/Regina to be a strong contender with better fuel economy to boot. I'm not much for performance mods, but I can absolutely see the merits of the Bosch system where this is concerned, and I have to admit that if I were trying to build a monster redblock, I'd probably do so using the Bosch engine management system, as the documentation, modifications, and parts are more readily available.

All of this is to say that, truly, there is no bad Redblock. The Rex/Regina system has caught some friction from Volvo and Bosch purists in the past, but I believe it has proven itself over and over again as the years wear on. Most of these cars are approaching their mid 20's right now, and a good lot of them are over 250,000 miles. There are not a lot of other manufacturers that can say that.

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Dan BullmoreDan Bullmore is a physicist and engineer from Houston, TX. Preferring the old to the new, Dan has owned many examples of Mercedes and Volvos and has devoted much of his time to maintaining and understanding them.


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Written by :
Dan Bullmore

Dan Bullmore is a physicist and engineer from Houston, TX. Preferring the old to the new, Dan has owned many examples of Mercedes and Volvo vehicles and has devoted much of his time to maintaining and understanding them.


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