1995 855 NA ntermittant Hard Start Issue, no crank

[lcc014]

In last several month, once in a while, when I start the car (1995 855 NA), it hesitates to crank and sounds like "no juice". I have to keep the key in start position until it starts. Then car runs fine. This only happens once in a while. However, this evening, after I stopped supermarket for errand, I started the car. I just crank a few times then refused to crank. I tried few more times and each time kept the key in starting position. Final it started and drove fine all the way back home.

What could be the issue here, fuel pump, starter or CMP sensor ? Car current mileage is about 389xxx miles.

Starter was last replaced back in 2013 (284xxx miles) with Bosch.
Fuel pump, fuel relay and fuel filter were last replaced back in 2013 (283xxx miles) by Volvo garage
CMP sensor was last replaced in 2008 (187xxx miles)
Battery was last replaced in 2019 (376xxx miles).

Any suggestion is appreciated.

Thanks,

Ching-Ho Cheng

[abscate]

376k miles, well done

A break in cranking is probably due to the ignition switch getting old. The electrical part costs about $50

You can try jumping it under the hood, Imthinkthe 1995 has the remote wire on the strut tower

[lcc014]

Thank you for the prompt response and suggestion. Ignition switch was replaced back in 2010 September (about 234xxx miles). The replacement of ignition switch was due to no headlight when my daughter turned on headlight at the evening in highway. Once I replaced the switch, no more headlight issue.

Where is the remote wire on the strut tower, any pictures ?

Thanks,

Ching-Ho Cheng

[abscate]

Look for a white plastic terminal on the fuse box with a red green stripe wire attached.

I’ll try to find the link to the thread

[lcc014]

Thank you so much !!

Ching-Ho Cheng

[RickHaleParker]

Possible sources:

• Alarm/Start inhibitor relay. Internal contacts worn.
  Range sensor on transmission (PnP switch) worn contacts.
  Starter solenoid sticking, poor connection.
  Poor connection anywhere in the starting system. When was the last time you cleaned the battery terminals?

Lower left hand corner is the "remote wire" Abscate is referring to.
Apply 12V to it: If it cranks over with no problem. The defect is in the Central Electrical Unit, Ignition switch or associated wiring. Still has problems, Range sensor, Starter solenoid or associated wiring.


You can test the Range sensor by connecting the two Green/Red wires for the manual transmission. This bypasses the Range sensor. I think this connector is under the fuses and relays.
Be aware: If you do this the car can start in any gear. You are bypassing a safety feature.

[lcc014]

Possible sources:

• Alarm/Start inhibitor relay. Internal contacts worn.
  Range sensor on transmission (PnP switch) worn contacts.
  Starter solenoid sticking, poor connection.
  Poor connection anywhere in the starting system. When was the last time you cleaned the battery terminals?

Lower left hand corner is the "remote wire" Abscate is referring to.
Apply 12V to it: If it cranks over with no problem. The defect is in the Central Electrical Unit, Ignition switch or associated wiring. Still has problems, Range sensor, Starter solenoid or associated wiring.


You can test the Range sensor by connecting the two Green/Red wires for the manual transmission. This bypasses the Range sensor. I think this connector is under the fuses and relays.
Be aware: If you do this the car can start in any gear. You are bypassing a safety feature.

1995850Starting.png

Thank you for the circuit diagram, it is very help to troubleshoot. For the Range Sensor (PNP), before trying bypass this sensor, for testing purpose, can we try to start the car in N position as indicated in the diagram ?

Thanks,

Ching-Ho Cheng

[abscate]

Park or Neutral with an Automatic, correct. I didn't know the bypass does NOT bypass the PNP switch, so I learned something here.

It DOES bypass the clutch safety switch on Manual transmissions.


I would put it in Park, handbrake on, chock wheels.

[lcc014]

Possible sources:

• Alarm/Start inhibitor relay. Internal contacts worn. <--- not sure about this one, my car equips with Volvo 1st gen. alarm
  Range sensor on transmission (PnP switch) worn contacts. <--- PNP was installed along with tranny back in 2009 at 218xxx miles
  Starter solenoid sticking, poor connection. <--- need to check
  Poor connection anywhere in the starting system. When was the last time you cleaned the battery terminals? <--- haven't done this yet as battery was installed back in Jan. 2019

Lower left hand corner is the "remote wire" Abscate is referring to.
Apply 12V to it: If it cranks over with no problem. The defect is in the Central Electrical Unit, Ignition switch or associated wiring. Still has problems, Range sensor, Starter solenoid or associated wiring.


You can test the Range sensor by connecting the two Green/Red wires for the manual transmission. This bypasses the Range sensor. I think this connector is under the fuses and relays.
Be aware: If you do this the car can start in any gear. You are bypassing a safety feature.

1995850Starting.png

[lcc014]

Park or Neutral with an Automatic, correct. I didn't know the bypass does NOT bypass the PNP switch, so I learned something here.

It DOES bypass the clutch safety switch on Manual transmissions.


I would put it in Park, handbrake on, chock wheels.

Thank you for the confirmation.

Ching-Ho Cheng