850 Not Starting

NewToVolvo850s · Post by **NewToVolvo850s** » 15 May 2012, 22:10

The Car:
1995 Volvo 850 GLT with 200,400 miles.

Problem:
This morning when I went to start my car nothing happened. All the electronics turned on but nothing when I turned the key. I tried to jump it with my other 850 and still nothing. Recently the car was needing to be jumped every few days which I thought was due to an ollddddd battery, but all the electronics turn on but nothing when i turn the key, no noise, or clicking.
Could this be from a dead starter or completely shot battery?

Post by **steve850** » 15 May 2012, 23:23

Could be both. A dying starter or one that is grounding can kill a battery pretty quick.

Does the dome light dim when you turn the key?

Post by **MoVolvos** » 16 May 2012, 01:51

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Work backwards on this by starting with the Battery. Make sure all connections and grounds are clean and tight. Can not emphasize how important this is. Sometimes a tight contact/connection is not a clean contact. The no crank on my S70 was from the Red Cables at the Starter. The bolt was tight but after removing it you can kind of tell it was not making full contact with each other even after snugging it very well. After Sand papering the Post and Seat on the Starter and the Red Cables It has not fail to start for several months now whereas before it would just not crank over without warning and would need to sit for several hours to a day sometimes before it started again and do the same thing over and over again.

The next step is to test the Starter on the car. Remove the small Green Wire on the Starter. Use a Wire or Alligator Clip to jump the Starter using the Power from the Red Cable/Post you just cleaned to the Spade on the Starter where the Green Wire use to go. If the Starter cranks you know it is good and will need to look else where for the problem. Be sure not to short the Wire or Alligator Clip on any ground as the power on the Starter Post is directly from the Battery.

Blessings,
BKM
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NewToVolvo850s · Post by **NewToVolvo850s** » 20 May 2012, 20:39

Ok so today I got home from being on vacation and checked out the car. It was dark so I could not look at the cables today but yes the dome light dims when I turn the key and no noise or anything. All electronics work though. I will look at the connections tomorrow after school.

Post by **steve850** » 21 May 2012, 00:09

If the dome light dims a lot, it usially means battery. Bit a shorted starter will do that too. BUT ( as always) BKM has given you the best route to follow. I've bern stuck a couple of times over the years with bad battery post connections. Pull them off (always undoing the negative first and putting it on last in case you hit a metal part of the car with your wrench) and wire brush the posts and the clamps. Rhe make a tool for this, but a plumber's brush fir copper pipe works in p pinch.

NewToVolvo850s · Post by **NewToVolvo850s** » 22 May 2012, 17:04

I leaned contacts today and still no start :/ probably gonna pick up a starter this friday and hope it starts up.

brad850 · Post by **brad850** » 23 May 2012, 11:22

yesterday i stopped to get gas, then got back in to crank it up, lights and slight wirr, then nothing. So I am pissed, then I massage the steering wheel of my 850 and tell her nice things, that I am sorry. I get a guy to jump it, still nothing, we debate about starters etc then we push it out of the gas lanes to a spot. I steam about calling a tow truck and I am running late to my kids' activity at his elementary school. Before calling the tow I get out and check connections around the battery and the wire from the hood catch and move the battery out and back in.

I got back in the car, and it started. And i notice that the Volvo radio asked for the security code, which means it lost contact with the battery at some point. It started again fine two more times last night and fine again this morning, so I have to find where the randomly moving loose wire is and fix it.

Post by **jblackburn** » 23 May 2012, 11:40

Clean the battery terminals with a wire brush and make sure they're tight. Check out the terminal connections on the starter and alternator as well - they can corrode up or come loose as well.

If it still acts up again, replace the positive battery cable to the fuse box and starter.

brad850 · Post by **brad850** » 23 May 2012, 11:45

Thanks Jblackburn

Post by **Pauloil** » 23 May 2012, 17:19

I agree jblackburn. you also need to measure the batt voltage. 12.6 is full charge. report back the voltage you get here.
search this forum for "voltage drop" and how to test your cables before replacing components