Ok, I think it is factual when I say this has never happened to me in the 18+ years I've owned my brick: the car just wouldn't start. Details below:

- 1996 850 wagon (5 spd., manual trans.), approx. 350,000 miles
- Car started OK on Monday morning, but idled a little rough for approx. 3 minutes
- Left car running in the driveway to let the dog in the house
- 1-2 minutes later when I came back I found that the car had stopped running
- Tried starting it again, and it cranked, but wouldn't even sputter
- Checked for spark on Tuesday evening, seemed to be OK, but noticed plugs were kind of wet (gas?)
- Sprayed some starter fluid into each cylinder, tried to start the car again without luck (again, it would crank OK, but no sign of combustion)

I'm thinking maybe I got some bad gas (or water) in the cylinders, or they are flooded, or both. Maybe I have a weak spark? Any other ideas on what I could check tonight (Wed.)?

Thanks,

Bernie

Have you ever replaced the cam postion sensor? In the 20 years I have owned my 94 only time it didsn't start was when the cam or MAF sensors were bad. I guess one time i had a bad wire to computer......

If you thingk the engine is flooded, do not add starting fluid. Push the gas pedal to the floor and crank. The position sensor for the pedal will tell the computer to turn off the injectors until you let up on the pedal.

Letting the car sit all day should let the plugs dry out.

Now, you need to find out what was causing the poor idling.
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My back feels better when I sit in a Volvo seat

Thanks Klaus. I tried again after letting the car sit all day - no luck. 'Went ahead and bought a new ignition coil (never been replaced), distributor cap and wire set (replaced 100+ K miles ago). Someone else mentioned MAF and crank position sensor - not sure I understand how either would affect start-up. Any info would be appreciated.

Bernie

I thought you said there was spark? A bad CPS will not allow spark.

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My back feels better when I sit in a Volvo seat

Thanks Klaus. Yes, there is a spark and plenty of fuel. That's why I did not understand the role of the CPS. The spark may not be the strongest I've seen.

Regards,

Bernie

P.S.: How about lack of air? Could that be a contributor?

When you crank the engine, does it turn over faster than normal? I am thinking of lawn mower syndrome where too much gasoline washed the oil from the rings and now the compression is too low to support combustion. If so, push the pedal to the floor to turn off the gas and crank the starter for 20-30 seconds, and see if the oil pressure light on the instrument cluster turns off. Let the starter cool down for a few mintutes and try again. This will take a toll on the battery, so it needs to be fully charged.

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My back feels better when I sit in a Volvo seat

Klaus,

What causes LMS? I have a '96 850 n/a with a 5 speed manual. At about 270K miles, without warning the car cranked but would not start. I had the car towed to my private garage. They checked the spark plugs and found them to wet with gasoline. They cleaned them up and the car ran fine. If I experienced LMS, it happened when I parked the car in the garage as usual and then the next morning it would not start. This incident happened about a year ago, and crossing my fingers, has not occurred since. This incident had never happened before either.

Hugh

Did you check for OBD codes?

That would help you find a faulty sensor or whatever.

Bill

Yes, it does turn over faster than normal. 'Will try to push gas pedal to the floor, as recommended (although last time I did that it was stuck there for a day !?!), and crank as suggested.

Thanks,

Bernd

I had lawnmower syndrome on my 94' 850 a while back and although it goes against what feels right hold the gas pedal to the floor and crank it until it fires. Mine spewed out a bunch of smoke and revved up to 3000 rpm where i held it for 10 seconds or so and has run fine ever since. Once it was running I held it at 2000rpm for a few minutes to warm up and burn everything out.

The key thing is not to start the car unless you plan to let it warm up. If not, the needle needs to at least move on the temp gauge before shutting it down.


Good Luck!

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Zack 94' 850 Turbo Wagon (220k)

Well - thanks for everyone's input. I got my ignition coil in the mail yesterday, installed it, and she cranked right up (with a lot of smoke and a lot of RPMs!). The stuck gas pedal is fixed now (a little WD40 on the shaft of the throttle pulley seems to have fixed that), and the oil that Klaus suggested I squirt in the cylinders is all gone up in smoke. 'Will also be replacing the distributor and wires when they come in later this week. Curiously, at the back of the plate that holds the coil to the frame, someone (presumably, the Volvo dealer) had written "cuts out" with a sharpie pen. Thanks again for all the help!

Bernie

You could do a search on 'lawn mower syndrome' (LMS) and check it out. The alternative is to add 1 tablespoon of engine oil to each cylinder, let it sit for 10 minutes and then try to start. The oil is supposed to coat the rings to bring the pressure back up.

A trick with adding oil: Use a drinking straw, dip into a bottle of oil so that there is about 2 inches of oil in the straw, cap with finger, and transfer the oil in the straw to the spark plug hole. No mess.

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My back feels better when I sit in a Volvo seat

Cam position sensor will stop spark if the cam shaft is in the wrong position. Since the 850 engine is a interference motor the idea is to not destroy things if there is a problem.

Thanks - as Klaus already alluded to, if there is a spark it can't be the CPS.

regards,

Bernie

"the Volvo dealer) had written "cuts out" with a sharpie"
What a pity he hadn't written it on the front!