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850 Cranks but Won't Start

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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mschneider
Posts: 11
Joined: 29 November 2011
Year and Model: 97 850 T5, 00 v70XC
Location: Minneapolis, MN

850 Cranks but Won't Start

Post by mschneider »

I've got a 97 850 T5 Wagon and it just stopped running, and I'm stumped.

The starter turns the engine over, I've got spark. The OBDII scan tool doesn't report any codes.

I've got new plugs and wires (wanted to make sure plugs weren't fouled), a new fuel filter (didn't remember the last time it was changed, so it didn't hurt to change). Timing light shows spark.

I bench tested the coil anyhow, and it reads 0.7 ohms at the primary, and 7660 on the secondary (the book says 8000-9000 for the secondary, but a new coil at Napa reads the same exact specs as my existing coil.

I get a squirt of fuel out of the test port, so it seems I have pressure (going to go get a pressure gauge to test for sure).

I replaced the fuel pump relay just for grins.

There is fuel in the tank, I put a charger on the battery to be sure it is fully charged...

We just had a cold snap, so this could have aggravated an existing condition, but I'm at a loss to say what it is.

Anyone have any thoughts?

mschneider
Posts: 11
Joined: 29 November 2011
Year and Model: 97 850 T5, 00 v70XC
Location: Minneapolis, MN

Post by mschneider »

I'm unable to perform a pressure test at this time, however, I did verify that the fuel pump fuse was good.

One more tidbit. When my wife last drove the car, she noticed a sputter when first starting it, and also noticed a sputter when idling at a light.

I drive a 2000 v70xc most of the time, and she drives the 850. In the v70, I hear a noticeable whine/zip sound when I put the key in position 2. I don't hear the same noise in the 850, I'm not sure if this indicates a failure of the fuel pump, or if the 1997 T5 behaves differently than the post-1999 v70xc.
The XC does have a different injection system (ME7 instead of ME4.3).

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rspi
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Year and Model: 850 T-5R Wagon
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Post by rspi »

Spark, Fuel, and Air. Is your idle valve buzzing?
'95 855 T-5R M, Panther - 22/28 mpg, 546,000 miles
'95 955 T-5R Yellow Wagon, Lemonade, 180,000 miles
--------------------
Volvo's of past: '87 740 GLE, '79 262C Bertone, '78 264, 960's, '98 S70 GLT, '95 850 T-5R YellowVolvo Repair Videos

mschneider
Posts: 11
Joined: 29 November 2011
Year and Model: 97 850 T5, 00 v70XC
Location: Minneapolis, MN

Post by mschneider »

That's the solenoid under the cover next to the accelerator cable drum, right?
It buzzes when the key is in position 2, and for about a minute after an attempt cranking, even if the key has been removed?

Ozark Lee
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Post by Ozark Lee »

mschneider wrote:That's the solenoid under the cover next to the accelerator cable drum, right?
It buzzes when the key is in position 2, and for about a minute after an attempt cranking, even if the key has been removed?
That is exactly right and that behavior for it is normal.

...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

mschneider
Posts: 11
Joined: 29 November 2011
Year and Model: 97 850 T5, 00 v70XC
Location: Minneapolis, MN

Post by mschneider »

Put a meter on the leads to the fuel pump and put the key in position 2, got 12 volts for a few seconds before it trailed off. Also got 12 volts when cranking, however I didn't hear the pump operate at all.

I picked up a salvaged fuel pump and installed per
https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... =1&t=14484

Now, when placing the key in position 2 or cranking I get a nice reassuring pump sound.

However, it didn't start immediately. Frustrated, I went and had some lunch, came back and tested the basics (fuel, spark, air) and ended up disconnecting the MAF and opening up the intake pipe near the throttle body (after the turbo), the combination of the two was enough to get it started. It ran rough until I reconnected the intake pipe and MAF.

I guess I'm going in search of some cleaner for the MAF, and we'll see how things turn out in the long run.

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rspi
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Year and Model: 850 T-5R Wagon
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Post by rspi »

Sounds good. Your last issue may have been from the car being flooded. Chow!
'95 855 T-5R M, Panther - 22/28 mpg, 546,000 miles
'95 955 T-5R Yellow Wagon, Lemonade, 180,000 miles
--------------------
Volvo's of past: '87 740 GLE, '79 262C Bertone, '78 264, 960's, '98 S70 GLT, '95 850 T-5R YellowVolvo Repair Videos

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