a bit frustated no start 1994 850 turbo wagon

freddyray · Post by **freddyray** » 11 Dec 2008, 07:30

I have an 1994 130,000 miles 850 turbo wagon that has an intermittent no start problem. It cranks just fine, but does not start like either it's a fuel problem or spark problem. We took it to a reputable foreign car repair shop in our area. They diagnosed it as a bad fuel pump relay and replace it. When my wife went to pick it up from them it would not start for her to leave. This was verified by them at the time. 15 minutes later they went out to push it back into the shop and it started for them. After talking to a couple of other shops they replaced the "main" relay and we did not have any problem with it for about a month. Night before last it would not start for my wife to go home, cranking fine, but would not start. She got a ride home and to work the next morning. She tried to start it when she got there and it started. Went out at lunch and no start. Tow truck showed up and it started. It is now at the repair facility again. Any ideas?

chuckcintron · Post by **chuckcintron** » 11 Dec 2008, 07:57

It would be nice to know for sure if it's a spark problem -- connecting a timing light to a plug wire and see if you get a strobe when cranking. Things to think about:

- Coil (and/or wiring to/from coil)
- ECU (maybe try the contact cleaning procedure recently discussed?)
- cam position sensor
- mechanical problem @ throttle body (i.e. broken linkage someplace)
- small animal nest inside air cleaner (don't laugh...)

-Chuck

freddyray · Post by **freddyray** » 11 Dec 2008, 07:59

I never had the opportunity to check it for spark when it would not start. The repair shop I hope did.

chuckcintron · Post by **chuckcintron** » 11 Dec 2008, 08:15

Uh, same guys that told you it was fixed but then it wouldn't even start when you went to pick it up, eh?

I'd check into this a bit more.

-Chuck

freddyray · Post by **freddyray** » 11 Dec 2008, 09:01

right now it is starting so cannot check that. I passed along the ecu clean to them. I really don't blame them for it not starting when we picked it up. As we all are aware these are the hardest problems to find. If they changed a relay and it started then that would seem to be the problem. Apparently not.

bobsnow100 · Post by **bobsnow100** » 15 Dec 2008, 14:10

I had that identical problem
It ended up being my cam position sensor.
Did you try to pull up any codes?
That is how I diagnosed mine.

calbrit01 · Post by **calbrit01** » 16 Dec 2008, 10:08

I also had that same problem, it was also the CPS - check out my post: https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... =1&t=17423

Post by **Wagonizer** » 17 Dec 2008, 00:33

same here CPS