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1994 850 Turbo wagon check engine light won't work

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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atchleym
Posts: 3
Joined: 28 September 2014
Year and Model: 850 turbo 1994
Location: sacramento, ca

1994 850 Turbo wagon check engine light won't work

Post by atchleym »

I have a 1994 850 Turbo Wagon with an intermittent no start problem. The problem was occurring about once a week after a drive of a few miles. It then switched to happening almost daily after short trips of a mile or less. Now it will start, sputter, and die. When I tried to read codes, I got nothing from ports 2 or 6. I then noticed that the check engine light does not come on when turning on the key. The ECU fuse is okay. I would appreciate any ideas to address this problem.

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abscate
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Post by abscate »

Welcome atchleym!

First thing to look at is the CEL bulb of course. If it doesn't light with the rest of the dash lights with the key in the On position, engine not started, it's likely the bulb that has given out.

Your stalling problems sounds like a weak fuel pump relay..lots of threads on diagnosing and repairing searching ' fuel pump relay'
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Ozark Lee
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Post by Ozark Lee »

As far as the OBD-I ports go, chances are the contacts under the button are corroded and not making good contact when the button is depressed. Although your car is a '94 the turbos actually had OBD-II as well and most of them do have an OBD-II port under the coin tray on the shifter console.

...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

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rspi
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Post by rspi »



'95 855 T-5R M, Panther - 22/28 mpg, 546,000 miles
'95 955 T-5R Yellow Wagon, Lemonade, 180,000 miles
--------------------
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atchleym
Posts: 3
Joined: 28 September 2014
Year and Model: 850 turbo 1994
Location: sacramento, ca

Post by atchleym »

Thanks for the information. I connected the code reader and found no stored codes, so I will check the bulb. The car started and I ran it until it stalled. I bypassed the fuel pump relay connections 15 to 87 and it would not restart. If the fuel pump relay is not the cause of the car stalling, are there any other common solutions?

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Post by Ozark Lee »

Try to unplug the MAF sensor and see if it will start.

Is the temp gauge acting normally?

...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

atchleym
Posts: 3
Joined: 28 September 2014
Year and Model: 850 turbo 1994
Location: sacramento, ca

Post by atchleym »

I unplugged the MAF sensor and there was no change. It still will not start. The temperature gauge is working normally. There is a smell of gasoline which makes me think the car is getting gas but not spark.

Ozark Lee
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Post by Ozark Lee »

If the injectors are pulsing then it would mean that the cam position sensor is working. You need to pull a spark plug and lay it on the head while you crank it to verify that you have no spark. If you have no spark work your way back from the distributor cap to the coil and make sure the cap is in OK shape and the coil wire connections look good.

If everything looks good there then you may have a bad coil. The factory manual has some resistance checks for the coil.

...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

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