no click on starter when trying to start 5 speed 850 wagon

[holler1]

Check to make sure you have battery voltage at the blade terminal on the solenoid when the key is turned to start. If the solenoid voltage is there, and there is no crank, it indicates a bad solenoid or starter. If no voltage at the solenoid terminal, there is an interruption somewhere in the key switch or circuitry to the solenoid.

[Ozark Lee]

You are to the point where you need to fire up the VOM and start checking voltages on the starter itself. It is tight confines but, depending on your emission codes and how much crap is in the way, you can likely get a probe to the terminals. You will need to remove the plastic dust cover off of the back of the starter to get to the terminals.

Check the big wires for constant battery voltage and then the small wire for battery voltage with the key in POS III. If those voltages check out good and the car still won't crank then the starter is done.

We proceeded on to our friends home, another 100 miles and watched the 1980 US Olympic hockey team make history that weekend at Lake Placid.

The Miracle on Ice. I have never been a big hockey fan but that was fun to watch.

Thanks for the memories,

...Lee

[popo]

I had the same problem for a few months, intermittently, but finally resolved the problem. I had plenty of juice but no crank until a very diligent mechanic discovered the problem. There is a plastic connector attached to the end of the clutch cable with tiny finger-like extensions on it. These "fingers" are part of a mechanism that signals the neutral safety switch. My car, an S60 T5, had lost roughly half of these little extensions on the end of the clutch cable, causing intermittant starting problems. It sounds odd, but I inspected the broken part myself and have had no troubles since the repair...so far.

[jim 43]

Thanks for all suggestions. It turned out to be starter and solenoid. Replaced both, one may have had some life, but that was the time to do it. This car has no safety switch, I was very surprised to learn, as my 88 Chevy truck and 91 Toyota both have that feature. Volvo must have picked it up soon. Thanks for all the help guys. Jim

[Cudrefin]

Glad you got the problem fixed. I've had a similar problem on my 2001 V70 (auto). A couple of sharp taps on the starter motor got it going but the problem came back. I then paid £300 for my Volvo dealer to fit a new starter motor. A few months later the problem returned. Turned out to be the 12v spade connector to the starter motor solenoid. Now whenever I turn the key but there's no 'click' and the engine doesn't turn over all I have to do is 'wiggle' the connector to the solenoid and the problem is solved. I guess the spade connector gets moisture in it and corrodes a bit making a bad connection. At the last service I asked the garage to clean the connector and make sure it was a tight fit. No problems since then