Car is a 92 Volvo 740 Turbo with an automatic.
The wife was driving the car (isn't that how these stories always start?), she had drive maybe a quarter of a mile, took off from a stop sign, and the car died on her. Shes says it was like stalling a manual transmission car. The car cranks but doesn't want to start.
Getting it towed home later today so i can get more details but for now here's what I know:
It will crank but not fire, won't even threaten to. Lately the speedometer has been jumpy, even with the car sitting still. Speedo seems to jump most when i turn the key or even apply pressure to it while it's in the ignition. Timing belt seems to be fine. When i stop cranking after trying for a few seconds, it continues cranking for another second or so, sometimes seeming like it wants to catch for a second before stopping.
That's all i've got for now, hopefully more details to come.
thanks!
Jacques
Sounds like an ignition switch but could be anything. Check the fuses and relays? Got fuel? Got spark?
Ok, went to try it once more before calling a tow and it fired up, this after it sat about 7 hours. Ran a little rough when i first started it but that may have been the excess gas from much cranking burning off. It seemed to run fine for the other 1/2 mile i drove it.
I have a possible theory. We got biblical rain yesterday. The distributor is right at the back of the hood. Possible some moisture got in there and burned off over the course of a sunny dry day?
I'll be giving it a good look over once i get the chance.
thanks!
Jacques
Don't think it's the rain.
"Speedo seems to jump most when I turn the key..."
And this was before the monsoon.
Fair amount of keys or oversize key fob on the key ring?
I think you just got lucky with it restarting. Hope I'm wrong, but, everythingpoints to electrical problems in the ignition switch.
If it's been pretty hot, you might check the ignition control module. It looks like this:
Not sure where it's located on a Volvo (eEuroparts says lower driver side fender) but it'll have a metal heatsink behind it.
A common failure mode is they die -- sometimes in a lot of heat -- then, when cooled off, run again. Have read about this a bunch for Saabs (same Jetronic system as the Volvo) and have experienced it first-hand (I keep a spare in my Saabs).
If that's not it, the jumping tach. leads me to suspect crank sensor.
If you haven't already, check out turbobricks.com for more info.
If it turns out to be the ign. contrl mod. and you are not interested in spending $80 for a new one (more if you buy from an actual store, not online), then here's the cars in the junkyard that have the same one:
Volvo: 89-93 240, 740 all 85-92, 760 V6 87-90, 760T 85-90, 780V6 87-90, 780T 87-90, 940 all 91-95.
Saab: 900 16V non-turbo 86-87, 90-93(and 94 convertible), 9000 16v 2.0 non-turbo 87-89
Do NOT use one from a Saab 900 or 9000 Turbo -- they look the same but are not compatible on account of having a completely different ignition system than your Volvo's.
All that said, you might be able to find a cheap-o aftermarket one as well. Huco or Hueco (sp??) seems to be a common alternative to Bosch.
Just went to take it for a test drive around the block now that it starts again and it's stuttering during acceleration. Think I'll be junkyard sourcing that ignition module tomorrow.
Tired a junkyard ignition control module, no luck. While it seems to have no problem starting now, it's stuttering while accelerating.
Think i'll try crank sensor next.
Ok, just to make sure, the crank (TDC?) sensor is on the bellhousing right underneath the distributor and held in by two bolts?
Also, i can hear the pre-pump running with the car on and the fuel relay does click, though i think i'll still try testing another one.
In reply to PubBurgers:
Sorry to hear it wasn't the ICM. Being a Saab guy (haven't owned a Volvo in ~15 years) I couldn't tell you where the crank sensor is, but turbobricks.com is gonna have tons of folks who can help you out. One thing that does strike me as a bit odd is that you're hearing the fuel pump running. On LH2.2/2.4/2.4.2 Saabs, the fuel pump relay will not pull down unless there's an ignition signal coming in (safety feature) so now I'm wondering if you're having pump troubles?? Again, check out turbobricks...
Good luck getting it running again.
Ok, got to spend some time with it today.
Started by trying to find more parts at the salvage yard but all the Volvos were picked clean of the pieces i needed. Picked up a fuel pump relay at NAPA for $30, that wasn't it. Headed down to autozone who had plugs, wires, and the crankshaft position sensor in stock.
Getting the plugs out was fun. Two of them were in there nice and tight, once of which i broke the ceramic to pieces on. So out came the vacuum cleaner to make sure nothing found its way into the motor. Wires were easy. Both the plugs and wires were in absolutely deplorable condition. One question though, the plug set came with six wires, four for the plugs, one for the coil, and a sixth for what?
Crankshaft position sensor was easy enough once i broke my arm in three places to get the bolt holding it in out. Though i did lose an extension and a 10mm socket trying to get it out. I think they're on top of the transmission but i can't see or feel them.
After all of this it runs nice and smooth. There were a couple times after quickly accelerating and stopping that the idle dropped low but that doesn't seem too abnormal. The speedo doesn't seem to be jumping around anymore either.
I am still a little worried about the fact that it stalled and wouldn't restart before all of this began. Are any of the parts i replaced capable of causing that?
Now to replace that leaky radiator....
thanks for all the help!
Jacques
