95 850T pluged fuel line from tank to filter

kenhallberg · Post by **kenhallberg** » 26 Sep 2009, 14:32

my daughter ran it out of fuel. put in 2 gal and it eventually started, took 20 min trying and waiting. drove it home and next day it would not start again. has 217,000 miles so i replaced the fuel filter. the old one was pretty pluged. still won't start. Checked the fuel rail and no gas. Went to the fuel filter and checked install. Everything seemes fine, no leaks. Took off the line to the tank and no fuel came out not even a drip. There is an air pressure fitting between the connection and the tank????
Question: is there any way to clean the line without taking the tank off?

you help is appreciated

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 26 Sep 2009, 16:37

There is a rollover valve meant to shut off fuel flow in the case of a rollover accident but no other items are there between the fuel pump and the filter. It is obvious that the fuel pump is not working.

You can access the fuel pump and the fuel lines from a hatch located just behind the rear passenger's seat but I would be inclined to jumper the fuel pump relay first. On the bottom of the fuel pump relay (103) there are numbers molded into the plastic next to each terminal. They are 31, 31b, 15, and 87. Use a paper clip to jumper between the socket positions associated with pins 15 and 87.

If the car starts and runs then you either need to repair or replace the relay. Details on how to repair it are here:

https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... php?t=9681

Let us know how it goes,

...Lee

kenhallberg · Post by **kenhallberg** » 26 Sep 2009, 18:24

I can hear the fuel pump in the engine working and attempting to suck fuel. The line from the tank to the fuel filter is pluged. Is there a fuel pump in the tank itself also. The fuel lines are exposed in a removeable channel under the car. This is accessed from underneath. What would most likely cause no fuel to drain from the line from the tank. When I replaced the filter some fuel did drain from the line. It is almos like something shut off or for some reason plugged???

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 26 Sep 2009, 18:38

There is a filter sock on the fuel pump pickup. It is possible that the pickup got clogged with crud but the only way you will know for sure is to remove the fuel pump.

Luketrash had a good writeup in the database for removing the pump.

https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... 6515#56515

...Lee

Post by **misha** » 26 Sep 2009, 19:21

I think that fuel pump just can't pick up the fuel from the tank.You said that you putted only 2 galons of fuel into the tank after the car ran out of gas.You also confirmed that fuel pump is working(you can hear it).

Put another 5-10 gallons into the tank and i'm pretty sure that your problem will dissapear.Just make sure that car sits in flat level when you're trying to start it.

Something similiar happened to me first time i bought the car.Low fuel light was on and i couldn't start the car.Trip computer said that i have about 40km(25miles) to empty.Anyway...i couldn't start the car untill i dropped another 10liters(3 gallons) of gas into the tank.When i did that i primed fuel pump a few times with key in ignition on & off to allow fuel pump to grab a fuel.After that car started like nothing happened.From that time i always fill up the gas when it drops at about a quarter of a tank.

Let us know if this worked for you.

kenhallberg · Post by **kenhallberg** » 29 Sep 2009, 09:47

I put 5 more gallons of fuel in the tank. I left the key on for 5 min and no go. I came back the next morning and it started right away. I let it run for 2 or 3 min and then restarted it several times. Each time it took longer to start. Towards the end as it was running when I depressed the gas it sputtered like it was not getting fuel. After about 10 or 15 trys it would not start at all. It acted just like before when it was not getting fuel. My guess is the fuel pump is plugged with something and as it pulls fuel is just cant keep up...or the pump is not working properly and and needs to be replaced.
Thanks to the reply from Serbia. Half way round to world to get my car fixed.
Any help would be appreciated.

volvomileage · Post by **volvomileage** » 29 Sep 2009, 11:16

i would have a tendency to verify fuel pressure at end of rail (shraeder valve)
pressure should be above 40 psi and constant a defective fuel pump and or fuel pump relay w ont give a consistent pressure...its going to give you a good hint about the fuel delivery ...also try the tip from Lee about jumpering the pins...

hope it helps

kenhallberg · Post by **kenhallberg** » 29 Sep 2009, 11:23

I did try the paperclip and it had no effect. It never started with it in the jumper mode. When it started yesterday it was as it was new, no bypass or jumper. Could the fuel pump be pluged before the filter?

Also another question. there is a small round solinoid, sorry spelling, at the end of the accellerater cable on the engine block that seems to hum everytime the key is on. Could this be an issue?

volvomileage · Post by **volvomileage** » 29 Sep 2009, 11:35

the round silver solenoid with two tubes (one on top and the other underneath) with a connector plugged in is the idle control valve its normal that it hums...

Post by **misha** » 29 Sep 2009, 12:33

kenhallberg wrote:I put 5 more gallons of fuel in the tank. I left the key on for 5 min and no go.

You don't have to leave the key for 5 min it will not solve nothing.You need to prime it...turn the key in positionII(the pump will work for about a second or two and then stop),then turn it back to position I or off and then again to position II(repeat that procedure 4-5 times and immediatelly after the pump stops)in order to built up pressure in the fuel rail and to help your fuel pump to pick up the fuel from the tank and to fill the filter with the fuel.

Do exactly like i explained and if it's not helping,then you'll need to pull out your fuel pump for inspecting in-tank fuel filter,or maybe to change fuel pump relay or the pump itself.

Let us know if there is any improvement or not.

P.S Also check the fuse #2 for the fuel pump,it could be bad even if it looks ok.