1997 850 GLT fuel supply issue?

Post by **m491** » 08 Apr 2015, 16:10

My son calls me at work today and says he is blocking traffic in his 850 GLT. The car was bucking and running badly. He got off to the side of the road and the car wouldn't restart. He then got it to turn over one more time for about a minute. I got the car towed back to the house and figured it was something electrical but the battery holds a charge. I can't check the alternator because It can't restart it. The battery was pretty well drained so I put a charger on it and it came back to the right volts pretty quickly.
By the way, no codes were found on the reader and when I went to the schrader value on the fuel rail there was no pressure (with the key on or off.) Salvage cars even have some pressure in them in the junk yard.

So I take out the fuel relay thinking it or the fuel pump are my problem. I pray that jumping the relay will get the pump to prime but no luck.

Before I drop $150 to $300 on a rebuild or replacement pump is there any special way to jump the relay? I used the 15 and 87 pin with a paper clip but it was hard to see after work. Do you have to simply touch the pins or wedge the paper clip into the spades like the relay is seated?

I'm really trying to avoid buying an unnecessary fuel pump so any advice on how to properly jump the relay is greatly appreciated.

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 08 Apr 2015, 16:52

You shove the paper clip, or a piece of wire, into the socket. At that point the pump should come on with the key. You can usually hear it if you listen behind the right hand side rear seat.

...Lee

Post by **misha** » 08 Apr 2015, 17:15

Replacement fuel pumps can be found for around 80$.Walbro is good U.S brand.Also...you can buy Bosch fuel pump from Australia for 80-90$ shipped.Member precopster can give you a link since he is using those fuel pumps in his Volvos.
Found it...here is the link:
http://m.ebay.com/itm/121140627472?_mwBanner=1

Post by **m491** » 08 Apr 2015, 17:44

I was thinking I'd check the really with the multimeter and see if I can get the relay tested before spending anything on a pump. I saw a post by cn90 that walks through some of the testing. I couldn't find that earlier this evening. I need to give the jumper another shot. I don't think I had it done properly. (the link for that post is https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... hp?t=52252 in case anyone is interested. A great post as usual by cn90.)

I want to beat the dead horse one more time and hopefully its the relay and not the pump. Otherwise I'll be online ordering a kit to rebuild the pump.

Post by **cn90** » 08 Apr 2015, 17:49

Even under perfect condition (no running the gas tank dry), the lifespan of the Bosch fuel pumps in most cars is about 150K-200K miles.

So spending money on a fuel pump is not a waste of money. It is a necessity.
You can get Bosch 69693 for about $130 or so.
Search for the posts by "stephansvolvo" on removing the black casing before installation.

Post by **misha** » 08 Apr 2015, 18:05

Did you check the fuse for fuel pump?Check the fuse list,as far as i remember,it should be #2.If fuse is ok and if fuel pump relay jumping doesn't make it run....you will need a new one.

Post by **m491** » 08 Apr 2015, 18:15

Misha, I did check the fuse and that was OK. I almost forgot that since I was working with a relay but I caught that earlier. Thanks for the sanity check.

CN90, the car has about 110k on it but some younger family members have been driving it for three years and if the tank is above 1/3 that is a lucky day. That could have contributed to the pump not making 150k miles. Your point is a good one, if the pump is not bad it will soon be at this mileage. My youngest has to get 3 years from this car so it's most likely worth the investment. I was looking at the Bosch 69745 so I don't have to deal with possible broken parts when taking the pump apart. plus I need this act back in service yesterday so I'll pay the extra for the drop in Bosch unit. If Tascaparts would get this shipped ASAP they have OEM for $328 vs FCP $393 for the Bosch.

Thanks for all the great advice folks. I really appreciate it. I'll let you know when the kid's car get back on the road.

Post by **m491** » 09 Apr 2015, 14:30

I wanted to thank everyone for the tips yesterday.

I didn't want to wait for a new part for 2-3 days (nor did I want to pay over $300 for a new pump) so I went to the Pick N Pull and got a pump and two fuel relays for $30. I must have opened up 5 850/70's until I found one with what looked like it had been replaced and had Volvo part number on a tag on the wire. So I got to practice on the Pick N Pull cars and it was about a 45 minute job back at home. The worst part is removing the connector off the wire. The car fired up immediately after I primed the system.

I will rebuild the bad pump but I think this was done once before. All the other pumps I saw had oetiker clamps on the rubber hose inside the pump. My Pick N Pull part had them as well. My son's car had a clamp with a screw holding it in place. is this a sign it was rebuilt? The new to me pump is much quitter than the old one so I'm thinking it was done oncer before.

Thanks again for the great advice folks.

Post by **misha** » 09 Apr 2015, 14:55

m491 wrote:...I will rebuild the bad pump but I think this was done once before.

There is no such a thing like fuel pump rebuilt.

Please,don't mix that with "rebuilt" kit which have BRAND NEW fuel pump with coresponding clamps and hoses.
I don't even know WHY it's advertising like a "rebuilt kit"?

I'm glad that you solved your problem and got away for cheap.

Post by **cn90** » 09 Apr 2015, 15:12

In theory you can rebuild a fuel pump but it is very tricky because of the eccentric rollers etc.

What you did was perfect, a relatively new fuel pump from a junk yard. Tell family drivers to keep fuel above 1/4 at all time. Chances are you will never replace the fuel pump again.