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Volvo 850 keeps dying

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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mc4457
Posts: 70
Joined: 17 March 2011
Year and Model: 1994 850
Location: San Diego, CA

Volvo 850 keeps dying

Post by mc4457 »

I hope you guys can help again. I was sitting in traffic and also my sweet sputtered and died. I started it up again, it started but when I tried to give it some gas to move it died again. Then it cranked over but wouldn't start. I pushed it over to the side waited a few seconds tried it again and it started. I was able to drive it a short 4-5 sec and it died again. Several times it would start after waiting a few secs but would die again when I tried to rev it up. What are the 1st 2 tests to try? Can I detach it from the fuel rail and crank it to see if it's getting fuel to the fuel rail? Then what? Fuel filter? Fuel pump? Please help I love this car.

jblackburn
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Post by jblackburn »

Unplug the mass airflow sensor and see if it will run.

Also, there is a fuel pump relay at the upper fuse compartment near the windshield. Remove the screws around the edges to remove the plastic cover and expose the relays. Remove 103 and jumper pins 15 and 87 with a paperclip or piece of wire.
'98 S70 T5
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rspi
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Year and Model: 850 T-5R Wagon
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Post by rspi »

My guess would also be the fuel pump relay. Sometimes you can unplug it and plug it back in and it work for a few weeks.

Do you have a CEL? If so you need to get those codes read. Has any work been done on the car lately? Maybe you have a major intake leak from a hose coming loose or something.

Worse case there is a chance that you have a burnt (chipped) valve. Compression test would show that.
'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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