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HELP!!
We purchsed a 1994 940 wagon. We've had it towed twice, 45 and 70 miles! After being told it wasn't the battery, or alternator, have been told its the Ins.cluster. If all lights on the dash don't come on when the key is turned...don't try to drive it.
My 16 year old with his permit wants to drive it, and fix it. He has never done ANY work on any car before. He's found this in the Chiltons book, and said its only 2 paragraphs...looks REALLY EASY. Hopes to do it this weekend.
Is it easy? Any advice, or problems he should watch for? Any chance of doing further damage?
Grateful for any help on how to do it, or what to look for. I'll hold him off until I (hopefully) hear from someone out there!THANKS!!
3 volvos for me
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These are the exact symptoms of a car, 93 940, I was trying to buy. PO was told by 'long time Volvo mech' AMM, then idle air, then something else, and I was sure it was none of those but I wasn't sure what it actually Was. But before I could see the car he found someone who suggested fuel pump relay.
Voila, and so he decided to keep it.
Moral, check/replace fuel pump relay, get someone to read the codes, and stay away from the instrument cluster IMO.
Oh, edit, this was just on the 740 group. Coinkidink, I think not!
http://www.brickboard.com/RWD/volvo/1356681/740/760/780/volvo_740_stalling_problem_fixed_replacing_fuel_pump_relay_everything_else.html
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Chilton books generally get bad reviews here as being too general and simplified to accurately guide you through most jobs. If your son has no experience and uses a Chilton's, it might end badly.
As Randy said, it's difficult to see how an intermittent instrument cluster can stop the engine. The alternator warning light does supply a small "jolt" at startup to the alternator to get it charging, but running the engine up to typical RPM's will usually kick off the alternator even without the warning light.
Again, with Randy, I would suspect an intermittent ignition switch.
--
Bob (son's 81-244GL B21F-M46, dtr's 94-940 B230FD, my 83-244DL B23F-M46, 89-745(LT1 V8), 98-S90, 77MGB and four old motorcycles)
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Hello again,
I'm just wanting to find out if we are on the right path still with our 940.
Was told to take all keys off the ring and try one alone...we did and all lights on the panel came on! YEA!! However the battery was dead. We tried it several times and each time the lights came on on the dash, so We jumped it and the car lights lit up again. My son drove it around the yard for 30-40 minutes with rpms at 2-3. Shut it off, and immediately tried to start. The lights came on, but battery didn't have enough to start it.
We bought a new battery and installed it. Now no lights on the dash again.
Should we still be checking into the ignition - replacing it?
Thanks so much for the advice,
Sheila
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try bypassing the ignition switch using a remote starter switch hooked to the starter motor . then you'll know if you battery is good and all other links except for the ignition switch.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=35448
it does sound like you have dead areas in it.
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We tried this and the car started. Unhooked it, and all the dash lights came on and the car started. We shut it off and repeatedly tried throughout the day and each time all lights came on and it started NO PROBLEMS?
so now what does this mean? Everything is good except for the ignition switch?
Now we should...?
Thanks, Sheila
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you might have had a bad spade connection from the switch to the solenoid and messing about made the connection stronger. with that said try these steps to know for sure
this will determine if you have a bad ignition switch or stater motor (i doubt) or starter solenoid (maybe).
.................
http://www.type2.com/bartnik/starter.htm
Here's the troubleshooting procedure for you.
Your first goal is to determine the state of charge of your battery. Turn your headlights on and see how bright they are. If they are of normal brightness then you are probably OK. If you have a voltmeter, put it across the terminals of the battery. A fully charged battery will read around 12.5 volts, a dead battery will be less than say 11.8 volts. If your battery is dead, charge it and then proceed to the next step.
Next you want to find out if your ignition switch is sending power to the solenoid. A preliminary check for this is if your idiot lights dim when you turn the key to start, that's a good indicator that the ignition switch is functioning properly. To check for sure, get under the car and disconnect from the solenoid the wire that comes from the ignition switch. It connects to a push-on spade connector on the solenoid. Fuel-injected cars have two spade connectors on the solenoid. In that case, the ignition switch wire will be the heavier of the two wires. Disconnect the wire, then use your voltmeter to check for 12v at that wire. Put the positive lead to the wire and ground the negative lead, then have your helper turn the key to start. When your helper does this, you should read 12v at the wire. If not, suspect a defective ignition switch or a break in the wiring (or disconnected) wire between the battery and ignition switch or ignition switch and starter. Repair and try again. If you do have power at that wire, move on to the next step.
Next you want to see if the problem lies in the starter motor itself. Looking at the back of the solenoid, you will see two big post electrical connectors. What you want to do here (TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL -- PARKING BRAKE ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!) is grab a big screwdriver or a pair of insulated pliers. Touch only the plastic or rubber handle. You want to take this tool and short across the two big post terminals. Be prepared for some sparks, but hold the tool up there until you make a good connection. What you are doing here is connecting the battery directly to the starter motor, WITHOUT engaging the solenoid. So what should happen is that the starter motor will spin but will not crank the engine. It should sound like a regular electric motor, no gravelly or strange noises. If it does not spin or sounds really bad, have it rebuilt. If it works like it's supposed to, the motor is good so move on to the next step.
OK, you're now starting to run out of possible problems! The next test is to see if the solenoid is working. Here's how this goes. First, TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL -- PARKING BRAKE ON!!!!!!!. Look at the back of the solenoid. There are the two big post terminals you just played with. Look at the one on the right. You will see that there is simply a short heavy braided wire attached to it that runs down into the starter motor. What you want to do here is spike the positive lead of your voltmeter into this braided wire and ground the negative lead. Then have your helper turn the key to start. When your helper does this, you should hear a clunk and measure 12v with your voltmeter (additionally, the engine should be cranking as this happens). If you do not measure 12v, your solenoid is not activating and is not sending power to the starter motor. I had a case on my van where the solenoid would clunk but I was only measuring 1.5 volts at that braided wire, and the starter motor was not turning. I had the solenoid rebuilt at a shop and that solved the problem.
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Thanks for the detailed help...will give it a try.
NOTE: after my last question, I haven't been able to get the lights on again! Very frustrating!!
Thanks again!!!!!!!!! Sheila
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I'm now thinking that you may have two issues, and one is the ign switch that kills the lights, or at least is not allowing current to go To the lights, which is the case when the key is turned to 'start'. The spring inside is supposed to turn it back to 'run',and then all other electrics should operate. Pretty clearly this is not happening on your car, with various things not operating at various times. And, it sounds like things are changing/getting worse with the lights not working at all now.
I continue to think that the fuel pump relay may be an issue also. If you change the switch and the lights work etc. but it still stalls this may be a direction to go in.
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We tried this and the car started. Unhooked it, and all the dash lights came on and the car started. We shut it off and repeatedly tried throughout the day and each time all lights came on and it started NO PROBLEMS?
so now what does this mean? Everything is good except for the ignition switch?
Now we should...?
Thanks, Sheila
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I would spend some time reading the FAQ's section pertaining to the Electric: Ignition System and the Engine tune and performance systems. I have never heard of a bad Instrument cluster causing such issues. Can you give us a better description of the Stalling? Only when warm? Hard starting ever? Check engine light on? How many miles on her? Are normal tune up items in order(plugs wires cap rotor)? Have you checked for codes(you can do it yourself with the info in the FAQ's without a scanner)? The peeps on here will walk you thru a proper diag with some additional info.
Matt
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Sorry,
Tune ups are up to date, less than 200,000. Was told it has set for about a year - dispute over who would get it...
Thanks,
Sheila
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Thanks for helping out!
We purchased this car a several months ago. Have had it to a mechanic for the check engine light. He did something minor, and that was it. About 2 months later after driving about 4 miles it died. Everything on the dash went out. I waited a few minutes and it started fine. Then drove all day...maybe some 150 miles with 5 stops one for 2 hours the others for 15-30 minutes. After the last stop I drove about 5 miles and it died. Jumped it and it drove about 1/2 mile and died. Jumped it and drove about a mile and died.... Had the battery, and alternator checked, both good. Towed it to a mechanic who said he couldn't really find anything other than a loose cable and had no trouble starting it. I picked it up and had no trouble for about a month. Started with no trouble one morning and drove maybe 2-4 miles each way and shut it off for an hour. Wouldn't start, jumped it. It seemed the windows opened very slow and I don't think the speedometer, gas gauge... registered. I drove about 4-6 miles and it didn't seem to have any power, then it just died. NO turning over when trying to start...DEAD. Towed again, he messed with it and said it started fine several times. If it does it again I should know that if all lights on the dash don't come on when I turn the key to the first stop, then DO NOT DRIVE. It wouldn't be sending info to the alternator...so it would only have the juice current in the battery to run then it would die again. We picked it up, no trouble starting. Drove home our 50 miles. The next morning it wouldn't start. We jumped it and it did, but I didnt drive because of the lack of lights. This is basically what happens. Whenever it sometimes starts, but never any lights (oil, battery, alternator...) so I shut it off We are at a lack...only one local (50 miles away) mechanic and this is all hes said.
ps I have my original 240 and never such problems! Guess this wasn't so good for my son??
Wordy, sorry,
Sheila
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if you get in a spot let me know. i have two working clusters for 93 or 94 940's non turbo.
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Odd that the car strands you with an instrument cluster problem. Are you sure the problem is not associated with a bad ignition switch?
In my hunt for turbo rebuild tutorials I ran across this at turbo bricks yesterday. It talks about the repair of the instrument cluster due to bad solder joints: http://turbobricks.com/maint.php?content=art0031
Good luck
Randy
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