Volvo 850 (non turbo) cuts out in rain Topic is solved

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 07 Jun 2003, 06:27

My 94 Volvo 850 non turbo has developed a problem over the past several years. This only occurs when it is raining and seems worse if you drive through a rain puddle and water is directed up into the wheel wells. In fact it has reached the point where I won't take it out in the rain.

The engine suddenly stops and all the dash lights come on. Naturally the power steering fails and the car is hard to steer. After a few moments, you can restart the car.

My first inclination was to assume some bare wiring shorting out when it gets wet but then I found two archive posts on the internet that seem to describe the exact same problem, down to the year and model. (copies of posts below)

Unfortunately the answers to those posts seemed to be unrelated. But the fact that others are having the exact same problem tells me that this is a systematic issue with the 850 model.

I hope I

dpauto.com · Post by **dpauto.com** » 07 Jun 2003, 16:35

There are many components in your VOLVO that can cause your engine to stall out. What I would do is looking for something that is possibly loose or has poor connection (corrosion). With the engine runnig....start yanking and tapping on harnesses, connectors, and relays. I have experienced various cases where the fuel injection relay (by the radiator fan shroud) go bad....loose and corroded connection at the cam postion sensor.....bad fuel pump....bad fuel pump connector....an many others. You just have to be LUCKY to catch it. Well....knowing where to look helps in all cases.

Good luck,
Dave

William · Post by **William** » 13 Jun 2003, 22:24

I have a 93 that does the same thing. If I am not mistaken the air inlet to the Fuel Injection runs from the bottom pan under the engine, the one that protects the engine from road debre and you have to take off to service the car. I think that the water splashes up into the inlet and starves the engine of air causing it to die until the water goes out again allowing the engine to restart.

My 95 and 96 850 Turbos route the air from the front grill and they don't have that problem.
That's my hunch anyway. Try an after market filter or take the hose off and reroute it to the front of the car and and see if this makes a differance.

Paul93-850 · Post by **Paul93-850** » 23 Oct 2003, 10:35

For the record, my 93 850glt goes electrically haywire when I drive through just about any puddle at all. Oddly, the engine never stops running, neither does it appear to lose power. However, the entire dash electrical turns off completely (not sure about outside lights) and then comes back on a few seconds later in what I call the "ignition on - engine off" mode where all the dash lights light up.

I'm confused about it - and thinking I should buy a newer volvo ... one with turbo!

StephenD · Post by **StephenD** » 05 Nov 2003, 11:47

Bought a used '93 850 GLT with 100k and not even 4 days after I bought it, the car has a bad habit of wanting to stall out when it rolls to a stop..whether warmed up or not. I don't know if it's just coincidence, but I had a mechanic check the car out yesterday and he replaced the plugs from Bosch Platinum out to the normally recommended type. Car stalled after going through a puddle, stalled again this morning not even a mile from my house. Brought the car back to the mechanic..he tugged all the wires, checked the new plugs to make sure they were OK and is basically unclear what the problem is. Any advice would sure be appreciated. Thanks,
sd

Paul93-850 · Post by **Paul93-850** » 06 Nov 2003, 19:13

The dealer told me that the electrical problems likely stemmed from a bad a bad ignition. I asked what that had to do with me hitting a puddle and losing all dash power and was told that a weak ignition would probably cause that behavior when water hit other wire connections.

Perhaps I need a clue-by-four to the head, but that sounded a bit loony to me. I declined the repair and swerve around the puddles now. Still have no idea what's causing it.

I'd ask that mechanic for those platinum plugs back!

93 & 97 850 · Post by **93 & 97 850** » 07 Nov 2003, 04:39

my 93 850 used to stall suddenly with out warning,

I finally think I solved the problem, by replacing the
fuel pump relay, a $43 part found above the fuse box
under a flap held down by four torx bolts.

my car still idles like crap though

mrbob · Post by **mrbob** » 20 Nov 2003, 12:18

My 1995 850 Turbo was doing the same thing. Was told by my new mechanic that when he replaced the serpentine belt problem would stop. Said Old belt was slipping. Rained the other day and had no problem. We'll see.