I installed a cold start (thermister) switch on my 86 240. Tough job! Got everything back together and checked again. Got in to start: key in switch, instrument lights all come on, turn to start. All I got was one bump of the starter and all the lights went out. Tried again but when I turned the key on, no dash lights.

Checked the 25 fuse and the fuses inside and all are OK. Tried horn, not working. Hit headlights flasher and the relays work but no lights come on. Tried to start again but only got dim glow of a few dash lights. I also noticed the speedometer jumped to 65 and dropped and then did it again.

I disconnected the battery and came for help!

Maybe....problem solved.

Bentley says if get 12.4 volts on battery it is OK. Nope! Not so!

I got 12.49 volts so I thought it was good. But after trying all suggestions, with no luck, I took the battery and had it tested. Bad cell.

Can't get a replacement battery at the few open shops today. What battery model/size is correct for an 86 240?

Thank all of you for your suggestions. You were all correct about no/low power. I always appreciate your help.

Group 47 but 48 will fit and has more lead and power. The last group 48 I bought was about 1/4" narrower than the tray and I had to shim it with a 1/4" piece of spruce stick.

You could have found this with a volt meter on the battery when you try to start the engine. Voltage probably dropped to 8 - 10 volts and would have been a dead give away. Dan

Thanks Dan for the information on the battery.

I need to get a remote starter switch!

Dead Battery?

steve

Battery is charged.

Still get no starter click, lights or anything else. With the key in the run position a few of the dash lights glow dimly.

Disconnected Temperature Sensor that I installed and it made no difference. Of course, you were right, this replacement has nothing to do with this problem.

Is it a grounding problem?

Is the starter/solenoid grounded and pulling all the current?

Best guesses appreciated.

It could be a missing ground or a bad positive battery cable. If the wiring is set up like on an 89, there should be a smaller diameter wire coming off the positive terminal of the battery, that runs into a black distribution block on the DS inner fender well, pop the cover and make sure all connectors are plugged in.

Check the ground cable that runs from the battery to the passenger side of the engine block. There is also a small ground strap that runs from the cylinder to the firewall.

If the above doesn't identify the problem, you will need to trace the problem down with a volt meter or test light. NOTE: The above specifics are for an 89 and may not directly apply to your 86.

jorrell
--
92 245 250K miles, IPD'd to the hilt, 06 XC70, 00 Eclipse custom Turbo setup...currently taking names and kicking reputations!

Make sure you have good clean solid connections at the battery and starter. Tap the starter solenoid sharply with a broom stick to see if it is sticking. Dan

I don't think a stuck solenoid would cause the dashlights to barely come on. That trick has saved me once or twice in the past though? Battery terminal cleaning is a definite must....

jorrell
--
92 245 250K miles, IPD'd to the hilt, 06 XC70, 00 Eclipse custom Turbo setup...currently taking names and kicking reputations!

Looking in the Volvo Wiring Diagrams Service Manual, I found what I think is the thermister. The book calls it the thermal time switch, start injector. It seems to be an item not found on all models since the wires are shown as dashed lines.

The connections show a ground, and a blue-yellow and a white. Both wires go to the start injector.

But those items do not show up on the pictorial diagrams. So, what engine do you have?

Thanks,

Bob

:>)

...Why did you install it?

And in what circuit(s)?

I think the cold-start switch is bad. Rather than take it out and test it, I just replaced it--cheap part. No wiring involved, just replaced the switch in the block and reconnected the wiring clip.

Sound like you may have replaced your Engine Coolant Temp (ECT) sensor or something else by mistake.

Based on the Volvo diagrams in the Bentley manual, the LH 2.2 FI (85 through 88) doesn't have a "cold-start switch", cold start valve, or thermal time switch. For cold starts, the ECU lengthens the injector pulse time based on ECT input.

Even though this mistake might disappoint the ECU I don't see right now how it would cause the major failures you have.