Wanted to share information about my 1996 Volvo 850 stalling problem that has been solved. After 5 months of intermittent problems, I finally concluded the fuel pump relay was at fault. Since replacing it (cost for the relay about $50 including tax at a foreign car repair shop) the stalling problem has ceased.
Many threads in this forum were helpful in my times of extreme frustration ("hey kids, no movies tonight 'cause the old man's car won't start!") and so i wanted anyone else who googles "1996 850 volvo stalling" to have additional insight from my experience.
Car: 96 Volvo 850. About 135K miles (odometer stopped at 95K 5 years ago and I only use car for local commute and errands) and well-maintained. I drive it less than 150 miles weekly around town.
Problem - Winters in Texas are mild, but when temps dipped below freezing this January the car began to stall less than 1 minute after starting. The RPMs would slip below 1000 and this coincided with a clicking noise from behind the left dash. The RPMs would usually spike over 1000 after a "click," but inevitably the car would stall. No amount of gas pedal pushing helped. It's no fun stalling in traffic!
The stalling appeared to be influenced by colder temps (about 30 degrees) as it most frequently occurred in the cold morning going to work and cold evenings leaving work. Generally the car ran fine once warmed up. But occasionally it would stall after a brief (less than 1 hour) stop during shopping errands, dinners out etc....
The check engine light came on and the code 440 for Evap system.
Solutions - After reviewing several internet postings related to similar problems, I worked systematically through various solutions: Checked gas cap, checked for fuel line leaks, checked hoses, cleaned the idle air control valve, checked vacuum tubes, and spray cleaned various electrical connections including the fuel pump relay. The fuel tank and pump had been replaced about a year before (under recall) and so I could eliminate those two items. After that process, the weather warmed up and the car miraculously began running just fine. I assumed the weather was the big culprit.
Fast forward 5 months later, however, and the car began stalling again. And this time the temps outside were in the 80, so the stalling not related to cold temps. At that point, I opted to replace the fuel pump relay and the stalling has stopped. No evap code comes on and the car is back to it's good old self for my short commute. Fingers crossed I can get another year or two from car.
Feel free to e-mail or post questions if you have any.
1996 850 Stalling Problem (Solved)
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austinphil
- Posts: 1
- Joined: 18 May 2011
- Year and Model: 1996
- Location: Texas
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