1996 Volvo 850 T5 no crank situation...

[rspi]

I recently picked up a 1996 Volvo 850 T5 to save it from it's grave. I have an issue that I have not been able to sort out yet. It will NOT crank.

The strange thing is, I have power to the small green wire at the starter with the wire disconnected from the starter and the key in the RUN position. If I shit to R, D3 or L, the power drops away, but when P or N the power is there, but the starter is NOT turning. No click or anything.

I did turn the crank bolt around and the motor turn smoothly with the tool on the crank. I replaced the ignition switch and still no crank. I'm about to replace the starter with a good tested one, but that still does NOT explain why the green wire has power. I also rolled the shifter through the gears 20 times with no change.

[Herb Goltz]

Check for a broken ground pigtail between the starter motor and the solenoid. I had this happen with my 2000 V70 last month.

[kahl]

Hi Richard,
This past weekend I had a similar problem with the 94 850 NA. I found on the 94 that there is no power to the solenoid wire with the key in the run position. When the key is to the start position the wire is energized with 12 volts. So I knew that power was going to the starter solenoid. I then ran a jumper wire to the solenoid from the positive side of the battery. The starter engaged. I cleaned the wire side of the solenoid wire and the solenoid prong where the wire attaches with ACF 50. Reconnected wire and car magically started. My speculation is that there was some corrosion on the solenoid wire connection.

I would try to find out if the problem is on the car side or the starter end.

[rspi]

I understand. The green solenoid wire should NOT have power when the key is in the run position.

[kahl]

Answer your phone!!!!!

[northernlights]

I recently picked up a 1996 Volvo 850 T5 to save it from it's grave. I have an issue that I have not been able to sort out yet. It will NOT crank.

The strange thing is, I have power to the small green wire at the starter with the wire disconnected from the starter and the key in the RUN position. If I shit to R, D3 or L, the power drops away, but when P or N the power is there, but the starter is NOT turning. No click or anything.

I did turn the crank bolt around and the motor turn smoothly with the tool on the crank. I replaced the ignition switch and still no crank. I'm about to replace the starter with a good tested one, but that still does NOT explain why the green wire has power. I also rolled the shifter through the gears 20 times with no change.

Is the small green wire the one with the battery cable bundle - not the solenoid line with the slip-on connector, right?

Here's why I'm asking. I had a weird starting problem that I though was my starter dying. It would occasionally crank funny like the starter/battery was weak. I thought it might be the starter on its way out, but I found the wires were just a little loose where the battery connects. After I cleaned them up and retightened, the problem went away.

But, what is interesting is that the security system started working better! I noticed that after I cleaned the wires, a magic little flashing red light started to show up on the dash. I swear it wasn't there before. Does the little green wire that you are describing power that light and/or the security system? That might explain the weirdness.

[JimBee]

Re the recent posts i the no-start db: could a faulty crankshaft ps or camshaft ps have anything to do with it?

[rspi]

No, the green wire plugs into the starter solenoid.

No, the cam and crank sensors will not prevent cranking.

[rspi]

Well, replaced the starter and the car cranked fine. Still had power to the green wire, not sure what is going on with that. Changed the fuel pump (the pump in it had a broken wire in the unit) and it fired right up.