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No Spark -- 1994 850 Turbo Sedan

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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lovevolvosalot
Posts: 9
Joined: 17 January 2012
Year and Model: 1994 850 5-Speed
Location: 10 Minutes outside of Reading, PA

No Spark -- 1994 850 Turbo Sedan

Post by lovevolvosalot »

Short story: I bought this car from a lady who said it started fine a year and a half ago, it has been sitting ever since..

I recently did an extended life tune up on my car:

Air Filter
Fuel Filter
Oil Change
New power belt
Spark Plugs
Coil wires
Distributor Cap and Rotor
Fuel Injector Seal Kit
All new vacuum lines
Upper and lower radiator hoses
Also replaced the camshaft positioning sensor

I go to try starting the car for the first time. It just cranks.. and cranks.. and cranks again.. I looked over all connections and everything is hooked up.. I check fuel delivery and that was a go. I checked the spark, and there was none. I traced the problem back to the Ignition Coil. I used a Volt Meter to check the power from the connector off of the engine wiring harness and it read about 12.4 volts.. but for some reason, there is no spark coming out of the ignition coil.. I think ok I'll just replace it, so I did.. different ignition coil, same problem.

IMPORTANT NOTE: This car is currently equipped with a very crappy Valet 551t Remote Start System. In the back of my head, I keep thinking that the car is in some kind of lock down mode, and its causing the ignition coil not to send spark.. is that even possible?? The wiring for the system is very sketchy. I tried removing the power to the system off of the positive battery terminal, but that didn't do anything..

I went to a local volvo specialist, $80 an hour.. The actual dealer was worse than that.. both the specialist and the dealer said, "sorry I wish I knew what to tell ya, you could bring it in and have us look at it?" ha.. that ain't happening, I'm 18 years old and I don't have a couple hundred bucks laying around!

I'm curious if anyone else has had a similar problem with either the Iginition Coil and no spark problem, or the Valet 551t issue?
Anything would help at this point, I'll try anything.. Its killing me have a beautiful conditioned 850 Turbo Sedan with 130k miles just begging to be driven, just sitting there..



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Last edited by lovevolvosalot on 21 Mar 2012, 21:36, edited 2 times in total.
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rspi
Posts: 7303
Joined: 5 November 2011
Year and Model: 850 T-5R Wagon
Location: Cincinnati OH
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Post by rspi »

Cam shaft sensor.

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Steps 17 through 19 here: http://atthetipwebs.com/technologyinstr ... s70glt.htm
'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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jblackburn
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Year and Model: 1998 S70 T5
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Post by jblackburn »

Camshaft sensor was replaced in the above list. It could also be a crankshaft sensor (yeah, it's different than the camshaft even though it sounds similar) causing no spark...or...SOMEHOW...that alarm system.

Volvos own security system disables the starter. No telling what some aftermarket thing may do.
'98 S70 T5
2016 Chevy Cruze Premier

A learning experience is one of those things that says, "You know that thing you just did? Don't do that."

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lovevolvosalot
Posts: 9
Joined: 17 January 2012
Year and Model: 1994 850 5-Speed
Location: 10 Minutes outside of Reading, PA

Post by lovevolvosalot »

Yeah I'm going to go ahead and doubt the camshaft positioning sensor as the problem, I've tried several ones, even off of my 94' 850 Wagon and still no luck.. The starter definitely still operates as it should, and the car cranks at a speed that sounds appropriate.. Its that alarm system I can't get out of the back of my head, how much wiring do you think had to be changed? Would it be too complicated removing the system? I feel like its a system that's designed to be put in and it would be a lot of work to rewire the old system back in.. I'm thinking that I could try to get a remote for the system and try starting it that way? I have no idea if that would help at all.. but thanks for the replies I really appreciate it!

EDIT:

This would be what under the driver side knee bolster looks like.. whoever wired this system should probably never touch a car again. I promise this is how I found it! Crazy I know..

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These are the cables that supply the power to the Remote Start System.. shot..

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These pictures summarize what I am currently dealing with!
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mwilkerso
Posts: 20
Joined: 31 March 2012
Year and Model: V70 xc 1999
Location: pacific northwest

Post by mwilkerso »

This is my problem exactly! Please help!
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