my volvo engine problems

lord william a · Post by **lord william a** » 20 Apr 2011, 13:30

i have a 1994 volvo 850 se with 2.0 litre engine with 145k on the clock, was running fine yesterday even though it had a light come on (triangular) warning light, shut it off yesterday intending to use it today but it wont start, any idea why?
list of possible causes guessed at by me, cold start mechanism not engaging, computer failure, distributor cap or rotor button, distributor not turning? definitely sounds ok when turning over so cant see timing belt as a problem as sounds like compression is ok. could any external lights failing cause this problem as i have heard of that one before

zanzabar · Post by **zanzabar** » 20 Apr 2011, 15:43

Go under the hood and get the trouble codes from the OBD interface. We're all pretty much in the dark here until you can do that.

VolvoTurbo850 · Post by **VolvoTurbo850** » 20 Apr 2011, 16:48

Well there are 3 things required to start a car. Air, spark and ignition.

Check the rail to see if there is fuel.

Check for spark.

Hopefully air is there.

Are you saying that the engine is cranking or nothing is happening?

That is the lambda light going off and usually has something to do with the airflow and gasoline for emissions but can also be set off by other things.

Read a few posts on no starts and see what you can try from there.

Post by **pkc303** » 20 Apr 2011, 22:58

Perhaps Mass Airflow Sensor. Try unplugging it to see if it starts without it.

lord william a · Post by **lord william a** » 04 May 2011, 15:20

to zanzabar
trouble codes? obd interface? where do i get a code reader? do I need a code reader? where is the OBD interface found on that car? How do I get the codes from that car? Is any engine code needed and if so how do i find that? I have never dealt with any car this computerized before. I know the vehicles from the past that are mid 1970s and older but this is a first for me to have a car with this much computer stuff aboard.

to volvoturbo850 - there is no spark, coil was checked by me and a mate, coil LT side has power but coil HT side is dead, any special reason for that?...I.E.
sensors causing coil HT side to be dead?
engine cranks fine though and had been running fine up until the 18th of april when I shut it off even though that dashboard light in 1994 owners manual on page 3-1 item numbered 21 had been on for a couple of days before.

pkc303 where is that?...mass airflow sensor

lord william a · Post by **lord william a** » 04 May 2011, 15:28

also is there such a thing as an immobilizer on these cars?
also fuel pump's working as I heard the pump working last night when i tested the coil and on the 18th in the morning I had added £15 of petrol into it, I have an old petrol landrover and use the same petrol pump and same petrol station always and always take steps to verify which pump I use so there is no chance of putting in something stupid like diesel as has been suggested by a close friend of mine.

VolvoTurbo850 · Post by **VolvoTurbo850** » 04 May 2011, 16:41

I would suggest you do some searches on this site with those items to help you figure things out.

One of the advantages of earlier Volvo's is that they have a built in code reader. That will help you determine the problem.

If you do not have any codes and you have no spark it could be because of your cam sensor. Again I would suggest you look these things up on the site to begin your Volvo experience!

lord william a · Post by **lord william a** » 04 May 2011, 16:45

if it was a cam sensor wouldnt that stop the coil LT wires from putting power into the coil at all?....or not?

Post by **polskamafia mjl** » 04 May 2011, 17:23

Lord william, this is how to check your codes. You just need a finger, pencil, and a peice of paper to write the codes down on. Once you get those, post them here and we'll hopefully be able to guide you along.

--> http://www.troublecodes.net/Volvo/

lord william a · Post by **lord william a** » 05 May 2011, 12:48

polskamafia mjl wrote:Lord william, this is how to check your codes. You just need a finger, pencil, and a peice of paper to write the codes down on. Once you get those, post them here and we'll hopefully be able to guide you along.

--> http://www.troublecodes.net/Volvo/

except for one small problem, the code reader thing can not be located on the car even though I was given this link
due to left hand side defined how?....from the front of the car or as if one was standing behind the car?
also there is now a car alarm problem so it is just getting worse and has for now made a good car that needed some form of repair useless and the alarm has really crippled it and me so mad I could spit