95' 850 mess of a couple months, save it from the scrapyard!

[irishjays]

I replaced the plugs, caps, rotor, and wires, a month ago when the problem first started.

The new codes showed "Weak long term fuel mixture at idle" That was based on the Hayes manual code chart.

I didn't get a error code for the ECT sensor, I'll look online and see if I can test that. A quick glance suggested Cranking is a symptom of that. Could that be why it would crank for a few seconds, then pause, then start normally because the fuel mixture changes? It seems like such a sensor "issue" I wonder, if I disconnect the ECT sensor at the connector would it test normal, like removing the MAF?

[kcodyjr]

With the smell of fuel around it, I don't think your current woes are related to running excessively lean.

And, especially since the plugs are new, they're your best diagnostic of what's happening inside those cylinders. We're looking for whether they show signs of rapid fouling, and if so, which type of fouling.

If your dash temperature gauge is behaving, it's probably not the ECT.

If it's showing a weak long term fuel mixture after resetting, they weren't fully reset. Make sure you're getting only 1-1-1 out of it, then do the full adaptives reset where you take off a battery cable, step on the brake a few times, then reconnect it.

[Ozark Lee]

All the sensors aside, you need three things for an engine to run: Fuel, compression, and ignition.

Start with the easiest to test first, remove a spark plug, plug it back into the ignition wire, and have someone crank the car while you look at the spark plug - you should see spark.

Having spark rules out a bunch of things like the coil and the Camshaft / Crankshaft position sensors. If the spark plugs are really soaked they will not spark but that is something you should report back on.

While you have the spark plug cover off check the compression. Most of the chain auto parts stores will "rent" you a compression tester. You can even buy one real cheap at a place like Harbor Freight for around $30.00. Flooding a white block Volvo engine can lead to a zero compression situation - it is easily corrected though.

Fuel, from the sounds of things you are getting fuel but you really need a fuel pressure gauge to test it. This should also be available for rent at the auto parts store but it is also in the $30.00 range to buy. The schrader valve is somewhat poorly located and you really need to remove the throttle cam to get the gauge in place without a 90 degree adapter. Normal fuel pressure is around 43 PSI.

...Lee