96 Volvo 850GLT: Crank No Start

LanceBoyerVLVO · Post by **LanceBoyerVLVO** » 28 Sep 2021, 15:13

Ok so this one has me stumped. Drove my car home, pulling into the driveway the car shook and stalled. Tried to restart and nothing. Took out and replaced sparkplugs, nothing. Confirmed fuel pressure at the rail, fuel injectors are firing; timing belt is good, all belts are good for that matter, all replaced recently. I get spark, I get fuel, and nothing. Car just cranks. Ran a compression test and I don't believe compression is the issue. Attached is a video of the problem. Any ideas? I'm desperate at this point. Car is a 96 Volvo 850GLT. This was my first car and I really want to keep it alive, I'm not sure what to try from here. Won't fire with starter fluid either.

Post by **abscate** » 28 Sep 2021, 16:32

Open up the cap and rotor and take pictures and post.

Is the spark fiery blue/white at the plugs??

Post by **misha** » 28 Sep 2021, 17:15

If it will not start with starter fluid....you have no spark.
Like abscate mentioned....it could be cap & rotor or coil.

Post by **scot850** » 28 Sep 2021, 20:01

You may get fuel, but are you getting around 40psi at the fuel rail Schraeder valve?

Neil.

Post by **bmdubya1198** » 28 Sep 2021, 22:41

Definitely pull that distributor and check for damage or corrosion. If you’re sure you have fuel and spark, the only other issues could be compression or timing. For compression, the numbers themselves don’t mean all that much unless they’re really low (under 120-130), but you want it to be even across all 5.
Do you have any codes?

LanceBoyerVLVO · Post by **LanceBoyerVLVO** » 29 Sep 2021, 11:14

bmdubya1198 wrote: ↑28 Sep 2021, 22:41 Definitely pull that distributor and check for damage or corrosion. If you’re sure you have fuel and spark, the only other issues could be compression or timing. For compression, the numbers themselves don’t mean all that much unless they’re really low (under 120-130), but you want it to be even across all 5.
Do you have any codes?

No codes, I know I have spark, when I get home I'll check whether it's strong or not.. would weak spark cause it to not start? Will upload photos of the distributor when I take it all apart. Compression is good. Definitely have fuel.

Post by **bmdubya1198** » 29 Sep 2021, 11:38

It could be a weak spark is the cap and rotor are not making good electrical contact with each other. Or even if the ignition coil is on its way out, but they rarely fail on these cars. Not to say that it can't happen though.

LanceBoyerVLVO · Post by **LanceBoyerVLVO** » 29 Sep 2021, 17:10

Here's the cap and rotor:

abscate wrote: ↑28 Sep 2021, 16:32 Open up the cap and rotor and take pictures and post.

Is the spark fiery blue/white at the plugs??

Post by **Sveedy** » 29 Sep 2021, 18:11

Well frankly that looks like crap. I can't see if there is tracking on the contacts, but based on all of the metal particles I'm guessing there is some.
To those who know, would a bad crank sensor cause the no start problem ?

LanceBoyerVLVO · Post by **LanceBoyerVLVO** » 29 Sep 2021, 18:33

Yeah I'll likely buy a new cap and rotor, the contacts inside are good/smooth but the amount of crud in there makes me want to get a new one anyways. Not sure where the metal shards are from, I noticed that as well when I removed it. Don't seem to be from the rotor and with smooth contacts I can't figure out what its from. Did a spark test after cleaning the rotor and I get a mix of red and white sparks in each plug... not sure what that means but I know red is weak; so now the question is whether its the crank sensor or maybe an ignition coil?
I read that a bad crank sensor would cause no spark thus a no start but I get spark. I can test that in the morning though...

Sveedy wrote: ↑29 Sep 2021, 18:11 Well frankly that looks like crap. I can't see if there is tracking on the contacts, but based on all of the metal particles I'm guessing there is some.
To those who know, would a bad crank sensor cause the no start problem ?