1996 850 Turbo automatic - Won't start.

bugs11 · Post by **bugs11** » 16 Aug 2016, 13:06

Car runs and drives great. Started fine this morning in the garage. Pulled it out on to my sloped driveway and shut it off. Took the recycle bins out to the curb. Recycle truck came by a little bit ago, so I pushed the recycle bins back into the garage and went to pull the 850 back into the garage. Car turns over a time or two and then nothing. The parking brake wasn't set as it doesn't do much or anything at all. I can shift it out of P if I push in the button on the shifter.
Will getting it on level ground allow it to start or is the lock out thingy under the battery/air box the issue? I replaced the ignition switch a few months ago, so I don't thinks it's that.

Post by **Clemens** » 16 Aug 2016, 13:28

Dead battery? Mine died 2 months ago spontaneously. It was weak one day, I charged it up, started, drove fine. Parked at the dealer to get soemthing small - and then an new battery as well because it wouldn´t restart.

I park my Volvos on sloped streets alot and never had a problem.

bugs11 · Post by **bugs11** » 16 Aug 2016, 14:29

Not the battery. Turns over fine 1 or turns then nothing. Dead battery, the starter solenoid would click or I would get nothing, no lights, etc. I suspect it's something with the shift shut-off switch or something like that. I can't think of what it's called at the moment.

Post by **misha** » 16 Aug 2016, 14:55

Put the battery on charger for a few hours and try again.

bugs11 · Post by **bugs11** » 16 Aug 2016, 15:06

Also, if I push the car forward a bit or just jostle it, it turns over 4-5 times.

Post by **misha** » 16 Aug 2016, 15:21

It's either battery or starter.
Cheapest things first.

Charge the battery and try it.

Maybe it caught some "lawnmower syndrome" too in addition with drained battery.

bugs11 · Post by **bugs11** » 16 Aug 2016, 15:26

Ok, battery is charging on the 2 amp trickle setting. Tried starting it with the 50 amp booster setting and when I hold the key on it turns over once every 2-3 seconds. The timing is very rhythmic, like a timer is getting reset to let it try to start. I checked the fuses under the hood and they are all good. Maybe a relay went bad?

bugs11 · Post by **bugs11** » 16 Aug 2016, 15:29

I doubt it's the starter, I replaced that late last winter. The OEM starter died a slow death.

Post by **tryingbe** » 16 Aug 2016, 15:57

Sounds like battery is dead or alternator not charging the battery.

bugs11 · Post by **bugs11** » 16 Aug 2016, 22:25

Got it started. Wasn't the battery. I pulled the battery, a NAPA Legend, and took it to local auto store to get it checked. Test said battery is good. Went home, hooked battery back up, didn't tighten the connections though. Tried starting the car, same result - 1 or 2 turns then nothing. Got out, went to the back and pushed it up hill a bit, basically jostled it some. Got in, tried starting it again, it turned over 5-6 times and started. Tightened the battery connections and secured the battery, drove it into the garage and parked it.

I need to get the parking break working. I suspect parking it on the incline had something to do with why it would not start.