1993 940 Station Wagon - Won't Start!

Eric Kropp · Post by **Eric Kropp** » 20 Oct 2009, 19:05

Yesterday I was driving home from running errands in town and the orange light came on, signaling that I only had just over a gallon of gas left. I parked at my last stop and parked the car on an inline. After coming back to my car I started it and it died real quick. I attempted again and the same thing happened. After this my car would not start. I Moved the car, put gas in it, got the car jump started and drove it home. Today I drove it around for about an hour. I parked it at a friend's house to drop him off. After he got out of the car, I went to start it and the same thing happened. It still has half a tank of gas in it, yet when I went to start the car up it would not start. It started for a second and then died. I waited five minutes, tried again, same thing happened. It would attempt to turn over. I believe the battery goes dead with repeated tries. I find this peculiar because I was able to start the car several times today, and only towards the end of the day did it not start. Do you think a weak or low battery could cause problems with the computer, or maybe a solenoid...? or could it be a fuel filter or pump problem... has this happened to anybody? I've driven this car for over two years and have never had this happen.

Post by **outdoor7or24** » 20 Oct 2009, 19:50

Did you hear a click when you were turning the key?
Could be your fuel injection relay.

Check here for some diagnostic info:
http://www.brickboard.com/FAQ/700-900/F ... osticTests

Eric Kropp · Post by **Eric Kropp** » 20 Oct 2009, 20:59

Thanks a bunch for the diagnostic information. One thing I did notice is the mention of noisy fuel pumps. I have never heard the fuel pump on this car. I never really listened for it. I have Chevy suburban and you can hear the fuel pump from 20 feet away with it running. I don't recall such a thing with this car. Should you be able to hear it ...generally? The diagnostic information will give me a good start on looking for a cure. Where is the relay that was mentioned when you turn the key on that you should be able to feel with your finger?

Thanks,
Eric

Post by **outdoor7or24** » 21 Oct 2009, 04:34

http://www.brickboard.com/FAQ/700-900/E ... el_Removal

Look at the index and look for Relay location.

It is under the radio, behind the fuse panel. The Fuel Pump Relay is typically the big white relay on the left rear.
You will hear it click on when you turn the key or feel it.

Yes, you should hear the fuel pump kick in when you turn the key to start it.

Post by **billofdurham** » 21 Oct 2009, 12:43

940 relay locations:

: 940 relays.jpg (81.35 KiB) Viewed 8097 times

Bill.

Eric Kropp · Post by **Eric Kropp** » 25 Oct 2009, 20:33

Here is where I am with the 940. I found the relay behind the fuses and the existing one clicked. I swapped it out with the new on and the car still did not run. This did not surprise me since the existing one clicked. I jacked up the car and had some one turn on the key to the almost cranking position and I could hear the pump in the tank run. When the tank pump runs the second pump get the message to run according to my test light. The light goes off as soon as the tank pump stops. This seems logical and right to me. I removed the second pump assy from under the drivers seat and tested the pump and it runs. Assuming that the since both pumps run there is fuel to the filter at least, could the filter be so clogged that it wont pass enough fuel? Is there any reason to think that either of the pumps don't work even though they run? I am planning on changing the filter since it is out. I just have not cleaned up that assembly and removed it yet.

Eric<><

Post by **outdoor7or24** » 26 Oct 2009, 05:30

Eric Kropp wrote:Here is where I am with the 940. I found the relay behind the fuses and the existing one clicked. I swapped it out with the new on and the car still did not run. This did not surprise me since the existing one clicked. I jacked up the car and had some one turn on the key to the almost cranking position and I could hear the pump in the tank run. When the tank pump runs the second pump get the message to run according to my test light. The light goes off as soon as the tank pump stops. This seems logical and right to me. I removed the second pump assy from under the drivers seat and tested the pump and it runs. Assuming that the since both pumps run there is fuel to the filter at least, could the filter be so clogged that it wont pass enough fuel? Is there any reason to think that either of the pumps don't work even though they run? I am planning on changing the filter since it is out. I just have not cleaned up that assembly and removed it yet.

Eric<><

Unless you test for pressure, you will not know if the main pump is failing. The filter could be an issue, worth changing.
After re-reading your first post, I would check the fuel pressure on the system. The main pump may be on its way out, even though it still runs.

Let us know what works.

Eric Kropp · Post by **Eric Kropp** » 29 Oct 2009, 18:10

Sooooooooooooooo.......Here is what is going on. My cousin owned a Volvo repair shop for 30+ years and he suggested the fuel relay also. When that did not pan out he said that if the Mass air flow sensor croaks it acts the same way. He informed me that to check the Mass air flow sensor, you just unplug it and see if it will fire. So I put every thing back together with a new filter and unplugged the sensor and she fired right up, ran crummy, but ran none the less Then I plugged it back in while it was running and it kept on running and seems to be running fine now............. Kind of hard to fix something that aint broke.....I am actually thinking it might have been the filter all along. Even after the old filter dried out you could hardly blow air through it. I could easily blow through the new filter.

Thanks for all the help.
Eric<><

Post by **outdoor7or24** » 29 Oct 2009, 18:15

Eric Kropp wrote:Sooooooooooooooo...... I could easily blow through the new filter.

Thanks for all the help.
Eric<><

Eric, glad you got it solved. I am about to replace my fuel filter(s) this weekend, the 945t has hit 200k and the 855t is due as well (182k).

Post by **billofdurham** » 30 Oct 2009, 13:02

Eric, thank you for the update.

Bill.