960 1993 cranks, won't start...intermittently

CapnJon · Post by **CapnJon** » 28 Dec 2009, 18:59

960 Wagon with 115,000 miles. Over the past 6 months, the engine will crank but not start. It has happened about a dozen times, usually after the car has sat overnight. The last time was 2 months ago, until today. Turned over, wouldn't start. Had it towed to mechanic. He turned it on, started right up! Three previous times when this happened and it was towed, it started right up! The other times, I left it for a few hours and it started by itself. Everyone is baffled...
Help!!!

Cap'n Jon

DanR · Post by **DanR** » 29 Dec 2009, 09:53

Someone needs to determine if it is a lack of fuel or spark that is preventing the engine from starting. Unfortunately, this can only be done while it is in the not starting phase. But the usual suspects, fuel pump relay, main fuel pump, injector relay, ignition relay. There is a 2nd priming fuel pump in the gas tank, but mine ran without it for about a year, is there any pattern regarding fuel level? The lack of any engine codes seems to make it a mechanical issue, relay or pumps.

The ECU will cut fuel flow without the presence of spark, ie., in an accident where a fuel line is broken and the engine is no longer running. So that should be considered in diagnostics.

Once it is running, what is the idle like?

DanR '94 964 347,000 miles (113,000 on the new engine)

Post by **billofdurham** » 29 Dec 2009, 15:38

CapnJon, welcome to Matthew's Volvo Site.

Have you checked for fault codes?

Bill.