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850 Won't start... Has good spark, help please.

Help, Advice and DIY Tutorials on Volvo's P80 platform cars -- Volvo's 1990s "bread and butter" cars -- powered by the ubiquitous and durable Volvo inline 5-cylinder engine.

1992 - 1997 850, including 850 R, 850 T-5R, 850 T-5, 850 GLT
1997 - 2000 S70, S70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70, V70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70-XC
1997 - 2004 C70

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jblackburn
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Year and Model: 1998 S70 T5
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Re: 850 Won't start... Has good spark, help please.

Post by jblackburn »

Glad you got it going :mrgreen:
'98 S70 T5
2016 Chevy Cruze Premier


A learning experience is one of those things that says, "You know that thing you just did? Don't do that."

mercuic: Long live the tractor motor!

cn90
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Year and Model: 2004 V70 2.5T
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Post by cn90 »

I used to live in the cold winter of Montreal Canada.

When weather is too cold (minus 30 deg C!), after a few tries of no-start, fuel is dumped into the combustion chamber and basically floods the spark plugs.
So inside the combustion chamber: no spark!
Repated cranking makes the problem worse.

The solution is as jablackburn mentioned: remove sp plugs and let it air out.
And always make sure the battery is fully charged!
A weak battery will cause flooding!
2004 V70 2.5T 100K+
2005 XC90 2.5T 110K+

hatemy850
Posts: 7
Joined: 28 February 2010
Year and Model: 1995 850
Location:

Post by hatemy850 »

I had the same issue and messed with it for a couple of weeks, completely stumped. Spark was good, cam sensor working, fuel pressure 58lbs, plugs, cap, and roter all in good shape. After reading this post, I did the compression test and saw that I only had 70 lbs. So, I tried the oil in the cylinders. The car fired immediately.

I've gotten really good at finding the best price on parts, but this issue goes down in the history books as my first FREE repair. I can only imagine what the dealer would have replaced.

So, I am left incredibly grateful MVS. Question: Will I encounter this on a regular basis? Or, is this an infrequent occurrence?

Ozark Lee
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Post by Ozark Lee »

Question: Will I encounter this on a regular basis? Or, is this an infrequent occurrence?
Of the four in my fleet it has happened to two of them, just once each, over the last 4 years or so. Once I figured out not to start any of them and then move them a couple of feet and shut it off again it hasn't happened since.

The short answer to your question is that you may encounter it again but it is infrequent and you can largely control it.

...Lee
'94 850 N/A 5 speed
'96 Platinum Edition Turbo
Previous:
1999 V70XC - Nautic Blue - Totaled while parked.
1999 V70XC - RIP - Wrecked Parts Car.
1998 S70 T5
1996 850 N/A
1989 740 GLT
1986 740 GLT
1972 142 Grand Luxe

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