1987 740 Turbo ran out of gas and now won't start

740 Turbo Lady · Post by **740 Turbo Lady** » 27 Jul 2014, 14:25

I ran out of gas in my 1987 740 Turbo (on the way to the gas station) and rolled to a stop. Had a friend bring me gas, the car would not start. Had the car towed home, put more gas in it...won't start. Tried starter fluid, it would start but would not idle, kept shutting off. Took out the fuel pump relay, and put it back in. Tried checking all the hoses, etc., still won't start. The fuel pump relay was put in new only four or five months ago, it has a brand new battery from same time-frame. My friend says it may be the fuel filter or the fuel pump. How can I tell?

Post by **abscate** » 27 Jul 2014, 15:14

Are you sure you ran out of gas? This is very symptomatic of fuel relay failure. Check fuse in the fuel pump too of course.

I don't know the 740 electrical well enough but basically you jump the relay with wire to see if the fuel pump starts working again.

My guess is

Fuel pump relay...likely
Fuel pump..less likely
Bad gas filter...no. People often tell bad gas stories and plugged fuel filter stories but they basically don't happen.

93Regina · Post by **93Regina** » 27 Jul 2014, 20:13

TESTING/JUMPING YOUR FUEL PUMP

More detailed info can be found at http://cleanflametrap.com/transferPump.htm.

740 Turbo Lady · Post by **740 Turbo Lady** » 30 Jul 2014, 13:11

The relay was new four months ago. Definitely ran out of gas. Now have almost a half tank of gas. Engine turns over and starts with starter fluid, but then goes off, won't idle or stay running.

93Regina · Post by **93Regina** » 30 Jul 2014, 15:11

740 Turbo Lady wrote:Definitely ran out of gas

There are two fuel pumps, and both need to be operational. Your Volvo Owner's Manual shows that fuses

1 Fuel pump, fuel injection system

and

11 Tank pump

send power to each pump. So, one needs to use a hot jumper wire and touch each one while listening for pump noise, in a quiet location. One might check the fuses before doing this.