1989 740 GL stalling problem

[Anbolyn]

From reading this forum, and others, stalling seems to be a recurring theme in Volvos. However, I thought I would see if anyone has any advice for me. My 1989 740 GL runs so well and I really love it. BUT, it stalls without warning, just completely shuts down, when I am slowing down at lights or to turn. It will start 10-15 minutes later. When I am trying to restart it, I do not hear the fuel injection(?) come on, you know that buzzing noise that precedes the start-up. After 10-15 min. it comes on and I know the car will start. Also, I sometimes do not hear it come on in the mornings and I know it won't start then. I had the fuel relay changed in August and drove the car 1200 miles, from Texas to Arizona, without trouble. The problem started again and my dad replaced the fuel pump. That worked for 3-4 weeks and now it is doing it again. Does anyone have any suggestions for what I should look at next? I plan to take it to a mechanic, but I am not sure what to tell him. Thank you for your help!

[Volvord 784VC]

Try the ignition amplifier located just above the battery on the left or drivers side inner fender, also could be your FI relay. I recently had the same stalling problem and replacing the ignition amplifer seems to have cured it (fingers crossed and touvhing wood)

Volvord 784VC
http://www.telusplanet.net/public/gilesij/Volvord/

[bpeckm]

My 89 740 wagon just started the same thing... suddenly it wont idle, cannot give it gas. Wait ten minutes, starts up again. Runs perfectly when it is not "doing its thing." My mechanic thought possibly a cracked dip tube in the fuel tank was allowing air to be sucked into the line? At first we thought possibly water in fuel, added dry gas, ran perfectly for a six hour drive, but then went to slow down to pass somebody, and could not get going again.... very furstrating...

[Volvord]

There are several areas to look when a car stalls, unfortunatly there is not a magic formula that can locate the problem consistently.

Fuel: look for the obvious, 1) replace the fuel filter, 2) the in tank low pressure pump often fail, there is a test procedure in the manual but usually you can hear it "whirring" when the car is running and you listen at the gas filler. 3) clean the throttle body, a dirty one will cause stalling.

Vacuum, check all your vacuum hoses for cracks and make sure they are connected firmly.

Electrical, several items to check here, 1) remove and clean the idle air control motor, 2) check spark plugs and replace if worn, 3) check distributor cap & rotor for wear and aching, 4) on the Distributor where the pick-up wires come out just below the cap the termonal will come loose and hange down, this can short the wires out and cause stalling

I hope this helps

Volvord 784VC
http://www.telusplanet.net/public/gilesij/Volvord/