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1996 850 Has spark, compression, fuel, won't start

Help, Advice and DIY Tutorials on Volvo's P80 platform cars -- Volvo's 1990s "bread and butter" cars -- powered by the ubiquitous and durable Volvo inline 5-cylinder engine.

1992 - 1997 850, including 850 R, 850 T-5R, 850 T-5, 850 GLT
1997 - 2000 S70, S70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70, V70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70-XC
1997 - 2004 C70

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Ozark Lee
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Re: 1996 850 Has spark, compression, fuel, won't start

Post by Ozark Lee »

The fuel pressure regulator has a vacuum line that goes back to the vacuum tree. If you remove the vacuum line from the regulator it should be dry. If the line is wet then the diaphragm in the regulator has ruptured.

Book spec on fuel pressure is 43 PSI but that will vary a fair amount based on the quality of the fuel pressure gauge. I have a $35.00 gauge so I look for +/- 10% and if it is even close I call it good.

...Lee
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phils94850
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Post by phils94850 »

the car needs to be running for the cam sensor to throw a code. I had a no start issue with mine, replaced the cam and crank sensors and what fixed it was the coil. Have you tried it yet ? Having spark doesn't mean its enough, what color is the spark ?
1996 Platinum Edition

beigg
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Post by beigg »

Fuel relay could have took a dump or the ignition wire going to the starter broke off. You have an alarm on the car?
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vmcrcr
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Post by vmcrcr »

Getting about 40psi fuel pressure, have not calibrated the gage with a known pressure, so I'm saying it's ok.
Spark is yellow/blue. Hard to tell in bright daylight.
No alarm in the car that I can find.
This is what I brought home from the salvage yard yesterday, where do I start?
Sorry, forgot to turn the sarcasm font on and insert a :)
Image
Last edited by vmcrcr on 07 Jul 2014, 11:19, edited 1 time in total.

beigg
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Post by beigg »

I'd verify that the #1 piston is at stroke for ignition spark. If that is occurring properly I'd check to make sure the injector for ignition and stroke timing is sequenced correctly. Should all that check out, make sure you dont have an obstruction in the intake system. Rags go unnoticed and can make the best of the best left scratching there head.
ugh smh 850 Turbo fridge

vmcrcr
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Post by vmcrcr »

So here's the current status: I let the car sit for a week with the plugs out of while I was working on my wife's car. Put the plugs back in and it started right up, smoking like crazy from all the oil I put in the cylinders (lawnmower starting syndrome). Took it for a ride down the street to clear the blue fog out. 7-8 miles down the road it the engine just shut off. No warning, no sputtering, just quit. Now I'm by the side of the road waiting for AAA to come get it because it won't restart......
Sigh. I'm beginning to rethink my decision to purchase this vehicle.

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Post by abscate »

You've got something electrical wrong with this car. Did you check for spark after the no-start ?

Have you replaced crank and cam sensor?
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vmcrcr
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Post by vmcrcr »

I have not checked for no spark yet, had to get the car home first. Tomorrow after work. I have not replaced any sensors yet, having spark was an indication all the sensors were functioning. Hoping that when it died it threw a code that will give me a direction to go in.

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abscate
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Post by abscate »

Take the distributor cap off and inspect for cracks and grunge. I understand it was running fine before, but it's time to go back to the basement and work your way up from the bottom without assuming anything.
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rspi
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Post by rspi »

If you have spark, decent fuel pressure, I will come purchase the car from you.

Once I get it I would replace the fuel injector relay and go from there.
'95 855 T-5R M, Panther - 22/28 mpg, 546,000 miles
'95 955 T-5R Yellow Wagon, Lemonade, 180,000 miles
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