Hi!
First of all, thanks to those who replied to my thread concerning the no spark issue. I called my mechanic next day & "suggested" that it may well be the cam position sensor. His response was that it was not likely the problem. He put in a new ignition coil today & the car fired once & quit. He called dealer & they told him that problem was 99.9% likely the cam sensor.
So now we`ve put in a $300 part that wasn`t necessary plus now we have to put the cam sensor & the part alone is over $200.
Frustrating!!!!
Thanks again!
Rich

I would look closely at the cam sensor and its wiring. This is just a piece of metal that flies by a coil without making contact. The timing info is sent either via Hall effect (magnetic) or by a change in the inductance of the coil (resonant). There isn't much to wear out on it. The coil could go bad but I bet that's unlikely. You can test that with an ohmmeter. How about bad connections to the sensor or other primary wiring gone bad?

Also there's a crankshaft position sensor too.

Hey Rancher:

I've got two brand new spare "Volvo" cam sensors! Got a deal on ebay awhile back - if you really need one, I could part with one for half of what Volvo wanted! I have three 850s and of course, since I have two new spares, the cam sensor has never failed on any of the cars - seems the 850s must know I have them in a box waiting.

Bob Weber
Hamilton, Ohio 45013

Bob,
Thanks for the offer re: cam position sensor. We had to bite the bullet & buy one from the dealer. Expensive but not much choice as we live in the country & wife works in the city. One vehicle situations just don`t work here. Picked up the 850 from the shop last nite, started right up & ran fine on the way home.
Thanks agin!
Rich