Volvo 850 1996 non-turbo wagon non start problem

[david]

Hi!
My wifes Volvo will not start. I pulled the fuel line at the fuel
rail and it is getting fuel there. I replaced the rotor button and
distributor cap. (They were both rough looking, corroded pitted etc.)
I am getting fire to the coil but not from the coil to the
distributor. I took the coil module (on the firewall) and crankshaft
sensor (on top of the bellhousing) and had them installed on another
Volvo and they started THAT one up. My battery has a weak cell in it
as well and will not hold a charge long. Any help would be
appreciated. Thanks! David

 

[Guest]

Hi!
My wifes Volvo will not start. I pulled the fuel line at the fuel
rail and it is getting fuel there. I replaced the rotor button and
distributor cap. (They were both rough looking, corroded pitted etc.)
I am getting fire to the coil but not from the coil to the
distributor. I took the coil module (on the firewall) and crankshaft
sensor (on top of the bellhousing) and had them installed on another
Volvo and they started THAT one up. My battery has a weak cell in it
as well and will not hold a charge long. Any help would be
appreciated. Thanks! David

Well fix the battery first so it will hold up to 11.5v under cranking!

recheck for a good fat spark on the coil king lead at the dissy end by
wedging it ~4mm from a good earth and cranking. If no, replace the king lead
and try again, if still no coil or amplifier is knackered. If yes then
recheck why spark isnt reaching plugs. (cap, rotor arm etc.)

Tim..

 

[Mechanic]

Had an 850 with a weak battery that would turn over but refuse to start.
I assumed that with a battery charger running and turning over, that
the car should start. It would not. Once I connected a 2nd good battery
with booster cables, the car immediately started. Seems like the
electronics need to see a certain voltage and current level to start. I
would replace the battery first and try again.

 

[Stewart Hargrave]

Had an 850 with a weak battery that would turn over but refuse to start.
I assumed that with a battery charger running and turning over, that
the car should start. It would not. Once I connected a 2nd good battery
with booster cables, the car immediately started. Seems like the
electronics need to see a certain voltage and current level to start. I
would replace the battery first and try again.

Yes indeedy. The starter motor uses a very large current, and if the
battery is not in good condition there simply won't be enough energy
left over to make a good spark. Even if you can see a spark when you
pull a plug lead, it has a tougher time under compression, especially
if the engine is cold.
--

Stewart Hargrave


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[Ron /Champ 6]

NOw that you mention it, our 850 refused to start after being left for
2 weeks with the glove box light on ( OK, I did not know it would not
go out until I tried to figure out why the battery went flat)

Jumper cables would spin it, but it would not start. My charger was
dead, so I bought a new one, charged it, and it started fine.

Had an 850 with a weak battery that would turn over but refuse to start.
I assumed that with a battery charger running and turning over, that
the car should start. It would not. Once I connected a 2nd good battery
with booster cables, the car immediately started. Seems like the
electronics need to see a certain voltage and current level to start. I
would replace the battery first and try again.

Ron/Champ 6

1963 8E5 Champ (Champ 6)
1962 Lark Daytona Convertible (Boomerang)
1995 VW Passat (Vanilla..yuk)
1994 Volvo 850 (Tilley)