I have five 240's. An '83 wagon, '86 wagon, '88, '89, and '91 wagon. Even with new spark plugs and wires, filters, intake cleanings, and the like. Even new pumps. They all tend to stall occasionally in hot, hot weather. Stalling at lights. Usually it is a 93 degrees and above and very humid. All have well over 200K miles. All run pretty strong otherwise. My '95 basic 850 wagon never stalls. Knock on wood (my head). Any ideas? I may be alone in this, but I don't think so.

I have been having 'hot stalls' for years now.
I have a 83, a 90 and a 91 that all have the 'hot stalls'.

The 83 does not have an Ignition Amplifer Module, but
I think the Halls Sensor serves the same purpose.

On all three I have replaced the in-tank pumps and this
did not seem to have helped.

On the 91 I have also replaced the heat sink on the
Ignition Amplifer Module and this did not help. I also
put in a new knock sensor in with no positive results.
I also replaced the two computers (with used ones)
near the passengers feet area and this did not help.

This is what I now think...
could it be time for me to buy new fuel pump relays and not
rely on junk yard parts here?
could it be the ignition coil?
could it be the in-tank pump fuel hose has pin holes in it?

Any advice is appreciated,
Joseph in New Mexico

Several things to make clear: 1) The very fact that I said I have five 240's should tell everyone that I am Volvo 240 believer and enthusiast and defender. 2) I have heard more than once by actual Volvo mechanics that after several years and very high miles they will tend to occasionally stall and it can be attributed to several different things:fuel pump relay, airbox thermostat, temp sensor, vapor lock, etc. None of mine have ever stalled on the same day. But over the last several years most of the stalling has been during high heat and high humidity. I am changing out the air box thermostats or taking that whole piping and flap out. I have also this week changed all the fuel pump relays as Dave Barton suggests. 3) My question of stalling being a characteristic was an oafish attempt to get some answers and I certainly did not mean to offend sensibilities. I appreciate the passion, but guys, really. I have been on Brickboard for years. My apologies. I just don't like my daughters or wife telling me they stalled in an intersection. I get a bit alarmed. Remember, I have five of these. I believe in them. I try to fix them and keep them running. I am not a restorer or a hobbyist. Just a shade tree mechanic of dubious abilities. I have other hobbies. 4) Of course no automaker intends for their models to stall even after 300,000 miles. Things do wear out and I need to know what things to stay on top of with this tendency. I have my answers now, so thanks to those who gave constructive help, again.

My 84 was a total hot weather problem car. The PO told me it would be, and it was- for years. I went through all the components you mentioned, and more, and what fixed it was replacing the ECU, (the unit by the window washer reservoir). My symptom was bogging way down after long driving in hot weather. It chugged and then wouldn't go more than 10-15 mph until I gave it a rest.

I just thought I should mention another option that didn't get brought up. All your 240's having this problem is beyond me.

Steve

Thanks for the input. That is an option I must keep in mind. Here is the latest on my 240's, at least the three biggest trouble makers. Two of them needed new fuel pressure regulators. Plain and simple. Replaced them and that did the trick. Running great. Pumps quieted down. No stalls or hesitations in 96 degree heat. Thanks Brickboard! The third car issue was not the FPR, but the hose from the FPR to the throttle body. It was split and sucking air badly. Changed that out with new hose and VOILA! Thanks Brickboard for that one too. I have also taken out the flap door assembly in the airbox of two, blocked off the old inlet from the exhaust manifold piping. The flaps were permanently closed to outside air and only hot hot exhaust manifold heat was going into my engines. I may eventually buy the little thermostats and put it all back together, but for now, there seems to be happiness under the hoods, and in the driver's seat. I do love these old cars, but without Brickboard, it would be ... different.

JGreenWood,

Thanks for the update....
that is how we all learn...

What Brand of Fuel Pressure Regulator did you install?
I was checking prices, and I found out there are many different brands.

Have a great weekend,
Joseph

I agree with jwalker, that was a good post. Your ties to the marque are explained well.

As a relative newcomer to Volvos, I've specialized in one model series -- the 200. I've heard many attempt to stereotype them in one way or another, and considered whether my experience supported the image. Of the various generalizations made, hot stalling wasn't one I'd heard until your question, and as serious as that can be, it would run counter to the most applicable stereotype I can agree with, and that is safety.

240's are (relatively) safe. They're durable. They rust when the rocker drains aren't clear. Their fuses need attention when their windshields leak. Their tail lights will get you tickets, not their awesome horsepower. They are uniquely suited to shade tree wrenching -- you don't need factory software downloads to change a module.

The hot stalling, I think, is an individual issue, and not stereotypical.
--
Art Benstein near Baltimore

Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.

Good post!

If you do take the preheat hose and the airbox flap out remember to cover the opening with something to keep the mice etc. out. I used a woman's nylon...:)

BTW - my 95 850 has never stalled or died on the road either. Knock on wood..

Several things to make clear: 1) The very fact that I said I have five 240's should tell everyone that I am Volvo 240 believer and enthusiast and defender. 2) I have heard more than once by actual Volvo mechanics that after several years and very high miles they will tend to occasionally stall and it can be attributed to several different things:fuel pump relay, airbox thermostat, temp sensor, vapor lock, etc. None of mine have ever stalled on the same day. But over the last several years most of the stalling has been during high heat and high humidity. I am changing out the air box thermostats or taking that whole piping and flap out. I have also this week changed all the fuel pump relays as Dave Barton suggests. 3) My question of stalling being a characteristic was an oafish attempt to get some answers and I certainly did not mean to offend sensibilities. I appreciate the passion, but guys, really. I have been on Brickboard for years. My apologies. I just don't like my daughters or wife telling me they stalled in an intersection. I get a bit alarmed. Remember, I have five of these. I believe in them. I try to fix them and keep them running. I am not a restorer or a hobbyist. Just a shade tree mechanic of dubious abilities. I have other hobbies. 4) Of course no automaker intends for their models to stall even after 300,000 miles. Things do wear out and I need to know what things to stay on top of with this tendency. I have my answers now, so thanks to those who gave constructive help, again.

My 84 was a total hot weather problem car. The PO told me it would be, and it was- for years. I went through all the components you mentioned, and more, and what fixed it was replacing the ECU, (the unit by the window washer reservoir). My symptom was bogging way down after long driving in hot weather. It chugged and then wouldn't go more than 10-15 mph until I gave it a rest.

I just thought I should mention another option that didn't get brought up. All your 240's having this problem is beyond me.

Steve

Thanks for the input. That is an option I must keep in mind. Here is the latest on my 240's, at least the three biggest trouble makers. Two of them needed new fuel pressure regulators. Plain and simple. Replaced them and that did the trick. Running great. Pumps quieted down. No stalls or hesitations in 96 degree heat. Thanks Brickboard! The third car issue was not the FPR, but the hose from the FPR to the throttle body. It was split and sucking air badly. Changed that out with new hose and VOILA! Thanks Brickboard for that one too. I have also taken out the flap door assembly in the airbox of two, blocked off the old inlet from the exhaust manifold piping. The flaps were permanently closed to outside air and only hot hot exhaust manifold heat was going into my engines. I may eventually buy the little thermostats and put it all back together, but for now, there seems to be happiness under the hoods, and in the driver's seat. I do love these old cars, but without Brickboard, it would be ... different.

JGreenWood,

Thanks for the update....
that is how we all learn...

What Brand of Fuel Pressure Regulator did you install?
I was checking prices, and I found out there are many different brands.

Have a great weekend,
Joseph

I agree with jwalker, that was a good post. Your ties to the marque are explained well.

As a relative newcomer to Volvos, I've specialized in one model series -- the 200. I've heard many attempt to stereotype them in one way or another, and considered whether my experience supported the image. Of the various generalizations made, hot stalling wasn't one I'd heard until your question, and as serious as that can be, it would run counter to the most applicable stereotype I can agree with, and that is safety.

240's are (relatively) safe. They're durable. They rust when the rocker drains aren't clear. Their fuses need attention when their windshields leak. Their tail lights will get you tickets, not their awesome horsepower. They are uniquely suited to shade tree wrenching -- you don't need factory software downloads to change a module.

The hot stalling, I think, is an individual issue, and not stereotypical.
--
Art Benstein near Baltimore

Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.

Good post!

If you do take the preheat hose and the airbox flap out remember to cover the opening with something to keep the mice etc. out. I used a woman's nylon...:)

BTW - my 95 850 has never stalled or died on the road either. Knock on wood..

Several things to make clear: 1) The very fact that I said I have five 240's should tell everyone that I am Volvo 240 believer and enthusiast and defender. 2) I have heard more than once by actual Volvo mechanics that after several years and very high miles they will tend to occasionally stall and it can be attributed to several different things:fuel pump relay, airbox thermostat, temp sensor, vapor lock, etc. None of mine have ever stalled on the same day. But over the last several years most of the stalling has been during high heat and high humidity. I am changing out the air box thermostats or taking that whole piping and flap out. I have also this week changed all the fuel pump relays as Dave Barton suggests. 3) My question of stalling being a characteristic was an oafish attempt to get some answers and I certainly did not mean to offend sensibilities. I appreciate the passion, but guys, really. I have been on Brickboard for years. My apologies. I just don't like my daughters or wife telling me they stalled in an intersection. I get a bit alarmed. Remember, I have five of these. I believe in them. I try to fix them and keep them running. I am not a restorer or a hobbyist. Just a shade tree mechanic of dubious abilities. I have other hobbies. 4) Of course no automaker intends for their models to stall even after 300,000 miles. Things do wear out and I need to know what things to stay on top of with this tendency. I have my answers now, so thanks to those who gave constructive help, again.

I've had Volvos since 1973, and have never had the stalling problems you mention even in bumper-to-bumper, summertime traffic jams on the NJ Garden State Parkway in 100+ deg heat. This, i.e., that it isn't characteristic of Volvos, is in agreement with the replies to your post of others as well.

And although many of the respondents have also offered suggestions (e.g., bad power stage amplifier, airbox thermostat, etc.), these things are unlikely to hit all five of your cars at the same time! So since you have five cars spanning 8 model years (and f.i. systems spanning LH2.0 to 2.4), all of which are suffering the same problem simultaneously, I think that it makes sense looking at what they could all have in common.

The only thing I can think of is your gasoline -- possibly you fill up all five cars at the same neighborhood gas station. I can't help thinking about vapor lock as one possibility, which shouldn't happen with these cars, of course, given the pre-pump in the tank, but bad gas could be the culprit common to all five of your cars.

So consider whether there might be something not-up-to-par with the quality of the fuel they sell. Is it a name-brand station (Exxon, Amoco, Shell, or Chevron), or a no-name, cut-rate station. Their tank may be contaminated, or they sell fuel without the usual additive packages. The fuel may not have the necessary volatility index for summer heat.

Good luck.

Ken,

It's called 10% Ethanol, I can hardly wait for the 15% mandated Ethanol!

jorrell
--
92 245 308K miles, IPD'd to the hilt, 06 XC70, 00 Eclipse custom Turbo setup...currently taking names and kicking reputations!

Jorrel,


Neither can I!!! I hope they allow E100 soon...


Goatman

Check the ignition power stage heat sink grease and/or the crankshaft position sensor on 19890-93 cars.

-Ryan
--

Athens, Ohio
1987 245 DL 324k, Dog-hauler
1990 245 DL 142k M47, E-codes, GT Sways/Braces, Dracos, A-cam
1990 744GLE 189K 16-valve
1991 745 GL 304k

Never had a Hot Weather related issue like that.
Two things that I would look at on all your cars. The thermostat in the Air Box.
If it's broken and it lets very hot air in through the MASS.. you could get a crappy running car.

As Herb said... The Amplifier, between the Drivers Head light and battery. It needs to have a good connection to the fender. It normally runs hot and needs to be Heat-Sunk to the Fender.

--
'75 Jeep CJ5 345Hp ChevyPwrd, two motorcycles, '85 Pickup: The '89 Volvo is the newest vehicle I own. it wasn't Volvos safety , it was Longevity that sold me http://home.lyse.net/brox/TonyPage4.html http://cleanflametrap.com/tony/

Absolutely not. I live in Florida. Volvo did not sell cars with running quirks like that.

Well, I went ahead and did a search at the top of Brickboard page and typed in "hot weather stalling" and got some leads. Thanks. I would imagine Toyotas and BMWs and VWs and others all have some issues some of the time with hot weather stalling too. When it hit 97 here the other day I noticed quite a few more cars (all kinds) on the side of the road. No telling why for sure, but my guess is heat had a lot to do with it.

Humidity or gas.
I've never had a problem ('57 444 thru '90 765; 13 Volvos: carbs, D-jet, K-jet, LH 2.2, 2.4)) @100F+.
It's a dry heat.
I've blown a couple of A/C hoses, though; kinda exciting.

Hi,


My 83 engine has never stalled.

BTW, how did it go with the tank pump? Did you see my post?


Goatman

Tank pump is fine. Saw your post. Thanks.

I have had hot weather stalling with a failing ignition amplifier (power stage).

Now I keep a junkyard spare in the glove box.

Good luck!