No start on 1973 144E after restoring engine compartment. Topic is solved

macdnife · Post by **macdnife** » 16 Aug 2025, 17:30

Restoring a 1973 144E I bought new in Germany. Body is painted close to original canary yellow, interior completed back in 1990. Everything was working fine until I disconnected most of the under hood electrical components to allow painting of wheel well areas. Reattached all componenets carefully (I thought) and now the fuel system will not pressure up for the normal 1-2 seconds when turning on ignition.Fuel pump still works. I thought I might have shorted out the pump and injection relays so I purchased new relays on EBay which were supposedly valid replacements but they did not solve the problem. I located a trouble shooting guide for this very issue and ran it to the point of checking the pump using a remote starter switch. After coming up with no fix I think there could be some basic mistake made when reattaching all the under hood electric componenets including injection sustem plugs. Open to any thoughts or ideas that might shed light on a possible oversight. If I can't figure this out, I may have to change over to a carburator system.

Post by **volvolugnut** » 16 Aug 2025, 17:59

Several general thoughts here, although I am not familiar with the 144E.
Do you have an electrical schematic or Volvo shop manual? Original Volvo shop manuals for 240 series were very detailed. If the 144E has the Bosch Mechanical fuel injection system, the early 240 shop manuals may be instructive.
How long since the engine last ran well? Modern gas can go bad fast and gum up lines and filters.
Have you added a fuel pressure gauge teed into the fuel line to see actual fuel pressure?
Will engine fire with starter fluid sprayed into air intake? If so, then you know electric system is OK, but fuel system is the problem.
Do you have any loose wiring connections anywhere?
Don't change to carb yet. This can be fixed.
volvolugnut

Post by **chrism** » 25 Aug 2025, 18:10

“… now the fuel system will not pressure up for the normal 1-2 seconds when turning on ignition…”

Does the pump run once you start cranking the starter?

“….Fuel pump still works…”

Does it only run when you connect power directly to the pump?

Vova585 · Post by **Vova585** » 25 Aug 2025, 20:07

Please make a photo of that you have under the hood. I belive it should be D-jetronic(I only once worked on this car and it was close to 20 years ago). However diferent cars can be equipped with K-jetronic or KE-Jetronic system.

When the last time this car was running? Was it running fine? What was disconnected(distributor cap-maybe firing order is incorrect, distributor itself? Fuel lines?)
Here is some troubleshooting for D-jetronic. Hope helps.

https://w107.pbworks.com/f/DJetronic.pdf

Post by **chrism** » 26 Aug 2025, 05:49

Vova585: Yes, a ‘73 144E would be a D-Jet.

Macdnife: If you run power directly to the pump will the engine start?
Have you tried removing the fuses and cleaning their tips and contacts on the fuse block?

macdnife · Post by **macdnife** » 28 Aug 2025, 18:06

Good news! I have solved the no start issue on my 1973 144. Somehow a wire inside a bundle running from the main relay (attached to the fuel pump relay) to the coil was broken. This explains why I couldn't hear the pressure up indication when the key was turned on. Routed a new wire and the car starts and runs great. The 52 year old 197,000 mile alternator is dead now but that is an easy fix.

I really appreciate the quick pithy wise comments and suggestions. I hope I can return the favor with some help and ideas to those of you who took the time to offer help. Thanks and blessings to you.

Post by **volvolugnut** » 30 Aug 2025, 08:03

Save the oldies!
volvolugnut

122sPhil · Post by **122sPhil** » 20 Oct 2025, 16:22

fuel injection no points, and no stupid troublesome ECU , no electronics ! no electronic breakdowns!

it just never got any better , although dual SU's would rock if you wanted to go that way, , Its probably great just like that.