Hey people out there in virtualland
I'm feeling a little blue after working all day on my 84 diesel volvo wagon and thinking I was going to get it running --but none such luck.
Here in Detroit we had a real cold spell in January/ February and this wagon that I had recently purchased from an elderly gentleman did not have a working fuel gauge so I went by how many miles I had gone divided by MPG...ya' know? Anyhow, I did not take in to consideration the warm up time deleting fuel without showing added miles...
So one super cold day I went to start to go to work and would not start.
I thought "shoot, may be needs fuel" so I added fuel.
I changed fuel filter and opened the bottom to let any moisture that may have built up escape...
Now, today, I've replaced the glow plug relay, changed the oil and filter
had the battery charger hooked up for assured juice and when I cranked it over it sounded better than ever but would not kick in...
Then my darling companion assisted me by turning it over while I looked under the hood and I gave her the signal to cut the cranking
and she signalled that she had... to my diamay,of course, the starter was staying engaged now...but I "solved" that by undoing the ground on the battery
I have been studying what there is in my Chiltons book on my diesel and wonder if it's clogged injector lines, fuel pump problems, some sort of fuse that has blown , or some other unknown variable...
This car is originally from AZ and did not come with a plug to heat the block package--but this car has very little rust or damage and I would really like to get it going and any insight into this situation would be greatly appreciated
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME IN ADVANCE
Oak in Detroit
1984 Volvo (diesel) 245GL
Well, I do not have a diesel Volvo but my Dad has a diesel Ford and most diesels are simular. I have two things for you to check.
First are the glow plugs, it is very hard to get a diesel to start with out these working. You can check to see if they are working by turning the ignition to on ( one click before the starter engauges) and let it sit for 30 to 60 seconds, and turn the ignition off. Pull out one of the glow plugs, it should be hot, use a tool to pick it up, on a Ford they get up to 800 degrees so be careful. An easier method to test the plugs would be to get a can of ether and spray it in the air intake before the filter, a quick shot will do, not more than 3-5 seconds worth, too much will damage the engine. When the ether and diesel mix it lowers the combustion temperature of the diesel to 20-30 degrees so it should start if it is that temp or warmer outside even with dead plugs.
Second is fuel. Pull the power from the glow plug relay ( just so nothing bad happens). Pull the injectors one at a time and have an assistant turn the engine over, you should be able to see diesel squirt out in bursts. Let us know how it goes.
First are the glow plugs, it is very hard to get a diesel to start with out these working. You can check to see if they are working by turning the ignition to on ( one click before the starter engauges) and let it sit for 30 to 60 seconds, and turn the ignition off. Pull out one of the glow plugs, it should be hot, use a tool to pick it up, on a Ford they get up to 800 degrees so be careful. An easier method to test the plugs would be to get a can of ether and spray it in the air intake before the filter, a quick shot will do, not more than 3-5 seconds worth, too much will damage the engine. When the ether and diesel mix it lowers the combustion temperature of the diesel to 20-30 degrees so it should start if it is that temp or warmer outside even with dead plugs.
Second is fuel. Pull the power from the glow plug relay ( just so nothing bad happens). Pull the injectors one at a time and have an assistant turn the engine over, you should be able to see diesel squirt out in bursts. Let us know how it goes.
Your description of the problem is great, the problem will be finding someone on any of the Volvo forums with any diesel experience. I frequent most of the forums and have only seen a handfull of this type of question.
To assist you may have better luck asking on a VW forum. Volvo uses the VW diesel and you may have more luck there.
Good luck, sorry I cannot help more.
To assist you may have better luck asking on a VW forum. Volvo uses the VW diesel and you may have more luck there.
Good luck, sorry I cannot help more.
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Oak in Detroit
Yeah!
I am very glad to announce that my '84 volvo diesel is running right now as I type I can hear it outside purring like a wildcat.
Thank you to those who responded
I was having a real dog of a time trying to find out any info on the diesel. The suggestion about VW forum was great but I didn't have any luck or with calling VWparts place in Michigan where I talked with "ol' Jack" who was as helpful as a hernia and just about as courteous...but I didn't give up. I kept on a-callin' until it seemed bleak and hopeless like in a movie. One fella recommended these 2 places to call that weren't in the phone book and I didn't want to pay information for the call, so my fingers kept on a walking until I came across "Steves European Auto" and it actually said --diesel experts-- in the ad. Ended up talking with a great guy named Fidel who was very patient and helpful.
What I ended up doing was taking off the (what's it called...?) umm, where the air intake meets the engine(proper terms unknown) and gave just a very quick tap of starter fluid inside. Turned it over the first time and it almost started and then died...turned over again and the starter stayed on again (not sure what's up with that? Anybody?...) pulled ground off the battery... OK one more spray...and VRRRROOOMMM!!!!!
As sweet of a sound to do with cars as I've the pleasure to hear!
I'm letting 'er warm up real good and get out all that idle sitting
Thanks again for the help everyone and until the next breakdown...
Keep on truckin... Oak in Detroit(for now>>>)
I am very glad to announce that my '84 volvo diesel is running right now as I type I can hear it outside purring like a wildcat.
Thank you to those who responded
I was having a real dog of a time trying to find out any info on the diesel. The suggestion about VW forum was great but I didn't have any luck or with calling VWparts place in Michigan where I talked with "ol' Jack" who was as helpful as a hernia and just about as courteous...but I didn't give up. I kept on a-callin' until it seemed bleak and hopeless like in a movie. One fella recommended these 2 places to call that weren't in the phone book and I didn't want to pay information for the call, so my fingers kept on a walking until I came across "Steves European Auto" and it actually said --diesel experts-- in the ad. Ended up talking with a great guy named Fidel who was very patient and helpful.
What I ended up doing was taking off the (what's it called...?) umm, where the air intake meets the engine(proper terms unknown) and gave just a very quick tap of starter fluid inside. Turned it over the first time and it almost started and then died...turned over again and the starter stayed on again (not sure what's up with that? Anybody?...) pulled ground off the battery... OK one more spray...and VRRRROOOMMM!!!!!
As sweet of a sound to do with cars as I've the pleasure to hear!
I'm letting 'er warm up real good and get out all that idle sitting
Thanks again for the help everyone and until the next breakdown...
Keep on truckin... Oak in Detroit(for now>>>)
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Dryansnyder
- Posts: 6
- Joined: 20 May 2014
- Year and Model: 245 diesel 1984
- Location: United States
Hello!
I am hoping to get some help for my 1984 Volvo 245 diesel. I need the wiring for the glow plug controller relay. I was going to replace mine with a new unit, but I didn’t take note of which color wire goes where. There are four wires going into the controller. Please help if you can
I am hoping to get some help for my 1984 Volvo 245 diesel. I need the wiring for the glow plug controller relay. I was going to replace mine with a new unit, but I didn’t take note of which color wire goes where. There are four wires going into the controller. Please help if you can
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