1994 850 - New Volvo Owner no start condition

Alexjordan22 · Post by **Alexjordan22** » 04 Oct 2023, 18:47

Been scouring these threads for a few hours now from people with similar problems. I'm new to Volvo so I've been trying to follow along and learn but I thought I'd make my own post. Seems like the problem I have is fairly common with many solutions.

I just bought the car this week and am beyond excited. It's a 1994 Non turbo automatic wagon with 157K. I bought it non-running but it last ran 3 months ago. I have no spark and my fuel pressure seems low. When I press the Schrader valve I get a tiny squirt and a dribble of fuel but have not hooked a gauge to it yet. Fuel pump primes with key is position 2.

Things I have done:

Swapped fuel pump relay with a new one the seller gave me they didn't use. I figured since I had it it was worth a try and easy enough to swap out. It didn't change anything.

Battery voltage is currently ~12.25 (little low from testing different things but on a trickle charger)

Tested cam sensor plug - middle wire showed 4.6V, 3rd wire showed 11.4V and first wire showed good ground.

Both posts on coil show constant battery voltage. No pulse is showing with a test light on the blue wire. I did unhook the blue wire and use a jumper wire from the blue wire post and to ground which resulted in the coil wire throwing spark.

Can't check codes as the car sat for 4 months without a battery and hasn't run since. I checked the codes and got a 1-1-1 (no faults) code.

Not sure where to go next. Seems like the cam sensor is getting voltage but is it working? I have not checked the crank sensor yet.

Any help is appreciated, I'm excited to get this car cleaned up and waxed and ready to go!

Post by **scot850** » 04 Oct 2023, 20:31

Check the basics first. Are you getting fuel?

Sounds like yes, but maybe not enough? You should see ideally around 43 psi at the rail Schrader valve. It is also worth seeing how quickly it leaks down again if you have access to a fuel pressure gauge. Should hold if for at least 20 minutes after switching off. If it starts to bleed off immediately, the fuel pressure regulator may be bad. When was the fuel filter last changed?
Is fuel getting into the cylinders?

Electrics.

If you are getting no spark at the plugs, then you may have a bad coil. I would check the following:

1) Distributor cap and rotor - look for corrosion on the contacts and burned tip on the rotor. Check inside the distributor for leaked oil from a cam seal
2) Check spark plugs. - Check the color and condition of the tips and make sure the plug gap is 0.028". This is harder to do if the plugs are the multi=prong Volvo type on NA motors.
3) Check the leads for damage.

Air

Check for condition and mice in the air filter if it has been sitting!

Next stage is checking compression in the cylinders, but that is after checking the basics first.

Neil.

duke1 · Post by **duke1** » 05 Oct 2023, 08:17

what neil said and id add if the car has been sat very long some fresh fuel often helps,my advice change fuel and fully charge battery,probs needs ignition system overhaul,great engines and once you have done a good service im sure you will love the car,i hope its less trouble than mine!good luck

Alexjordan22 · Post by **Alexjordan22** » 05 Oct 2023, 10:06

I will rent a fuel pressure tester and compression tester and do some more tests and post here with the results. I hope I can get it going and give it some TLC and get it back to a good reliable car.

Alexjordan22 · Post by **Alexjordan22** » 05 Oct 2023, 18:13

Tested fuel pressure today and it's low. It got up to about 25psi and that's after letting the pump prime 4 times. It immediately dropped back down too.

Would this be a regulator problem since it doesn't hold pressure or a weak fuel pump?

Alexjordan22 · Post by **Alexjordan22** » 05 Oct 2023, 18:24

Also - battery voltage is 12.25. Red coil wire has 11.9 and blue coil wire has exact same voltage. When cranking the blue wire goes down to 10.6V but no lower than that.

Post by **scot850** » 05 Oct 2023, 19:34

When the engine is turning over, does it sound slow/labored? 12.2V is a bit low on a charged battery. Having said that the -98 cars were more tolerant of lower charged batteries. I would suggest while possibly not the starting issue cause, to have the battery tested. It may have a weak cell.

We eagerly await your fuel system check results!

Neil.

Alexjordan22 · Post by **Alexjordan22** » 05 Oct 2023, 19:42

nope - it turns over great actually. The battery is newer and pulled from my other car to use to get this one going, so it's a known good battery.

I posted my fuel pressure results above. Got ~25psi.and that was only after letting the pump prime 4 times. Afterwards it immediately lost pressure.

So low fuel pressure and no spark. I'm assuming two different issues going on here?

Post by **abscate** » 06 Oct 2023, 02:38

Yes, but you need a new fuel pump or good used one first

Leave that battery on trickle and get it up to 12.5V at least. Cranking isn’t a good test for a good battery on electronic cars

Post by **volvolugnut** » 06 Oct 2023, 18:05

Have you attempted to start on starter fluid or other combustible gas shot into the intake? A couple seconds of starter fluid should get a few seconds of ignition if all else is good.
volvolugnut