'99 S70 turns over but won't start

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 04 Dec 2005, 10:36

The car has been sitting for a week while I was on vacation; I thought it was a bad battery so I just replaced it. Still makes the same noise like it's turning over, but won't start. It acts like it may not be getting any/enough fuel (I checked, there is gas in the tank)

Any suggestions before I have it towed into the dealer???

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 04 Dec 2005, 11:03

I just tried it again; engine not turning over and I smelled something burning. Is this a bad starter since I don't hear the engine turning over?

marko · Post by **marko** » 08 Jan 2006, 16:17

I am having the exact same problem. Away on vacation for 10 days. Upon return, the car started up with no problem. Couple of hours later, went to start it again, engine turned over but would not start, also smell a burning odor. Battery is fine, plenty of fuel. It seems to be an ignition type problem. Any ideas?

cY2k · Post by **cY2k** » 20 Feb 2007, 20:04

I'm having the same issue... any ideas? I'm guessing it's got to be one of three things: either no fuel, no spark, or no air... Just have to think of some way to test those 3...

drew525 · Post by **drew525** » 20 Feb 2007, 21:55

Had a similar problem awhile ago which turned into a fuel pump fiasco hopefully that not the case for you guys.

-First I would say check the schrader valve at the end of the fuel line on top of the engine, with the key turned to on, if there is fuel squirting out when you depress the valve fuel is not likely not your issue.
-I would then move on to spark, pull a plug and check to see if a spark jump from a plug to the engine block when the key is turned.

If you have both spark and fuel pressure you could be looking at a compression issue.

I have also read post about MAF sensors causing starting issues, but would assume they would throw a code?

tca217 · Post by **tca217** » 21 Feb 2007, 00:24

I think you should pull the codes and see if there is any before replacing stuff and spending money or possibly burning something up or out. Most auto parts stores can pull the codes for free and tell you what they mean. If they can't, go to a different parts store. Also some tranny shops will do it also.

cY2k · Post by **cY2k** » 21 Feb 2007, 07:47

Ok, so get this:
After waiting maybe 3 hours, I went back out and tried starting it up, still no dice. Engine turns over but won't start. But, while the starter's running, I would hear it stumble every once and a while, like it was almost starting. But it wasn't quite there. So, I kept trying to start it, and I pressed the throttle a bunch while I was trying turning the key... I figured it wouldn't do anything since it's all electronic these days, its not like it's my old carbeurated (sp?) Buick that you could flood with fuel (or at least so I thought).

BUT, I kept giving it gas, and it finally sputtered to life! It ran like crap, and almost stalled a bunch of times, but I kept revving it up, and after maybe 30 seconds, it evened out, idled fine, and I drove it around. Everything seemed totally normal...

So... frozen fuel line maybe? I'm betting it has something to do with temperature, because it's been in the single digits for a while lately, then all of a sudden today, it was just above freezing... 35-ish. Could that temperature change have done something to the fuel line? Or maybe to some Fuel Pump wiring? Expanding and contracting with the weather?

man.. who knows. But it's running fine now. No Check Engine light... seems fine.

thoughts? oh, and this problem is with the 99 V70 in my sig... just FYI

bobsnow100 · Post by **bobsnow100** » 21 Feb 2007, 09:04

Yes, I'd bet on a frozen fuel line. Those are the symtoms of a no start condition in freezing weather. Throw some dry gas in the tank to help. You only need a little water in the line to freeze and cause a no start condition.

cY2k · Post by **cY2k** » 21 Feb 2007, 13:32

thanks for the tip bob!

Now hopefully I can convince my wife that it's not going to leave her stranded somewhere... the 99 V70's hers, and I've got the 97 850 with 180k miles...

Even though the 850's older, and has 100k more miles on it, let's guess which one is proving to be more reliable???

bingo, the 850. hip hip horray for simplicity.

bobsnow100 · Post by **bobsnow100** » 22 Feb 2007, 08:07

My 1995 850 wagon has over 252,000 miles on it and runs perfect,car still looks great also.Your wife should get tons more miles out of it.