Volvo RWD 900 Forum

INDEX FOR 1/2026(CURRENT) INDEX FOR 4/2006 900 INDEX

[<<]  [>>]


 VIEW    REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

intermittent failure to engage the starter solenoid 900 1997

Yes. After a long highway drive through a lot of snow and slush in the S90 a few weeks ago, and a 15-minute shutdown there was no starter action at all. I tried it in P and in N and wiggling the shift lever while holding the key at KP III. Nothing. All the right lights lit up in the cluster, but no starter. Got a tow to a repair shop and of course it fired right up and has done so dozens of times since without fail.

I went through my factory wiring book (a great investment) and found a number of possible failure spots. Most likely; the Park/Neutral switch on the trans. (There's a fairly recent post in the S/V90 board about replacing this). Another possibility (low) is a failure of the starter relay in the underhood relay and fusebox behind the air filter housing. Then there is the usual suspect of a bad connection somewhere in the complex wiring path from the ignition switch to the starter solenoid.

I made up and carry in the glovebox a short length of 12-ga wire with two male spade connectors. I haven't needed it yet (probably because I have it handy) but with this I can remove the starter relay and jumper the slots where its terminals 30 and 87 go, with the key in the run (KP II) position. This forces the starter solenoid to operate and crank the engine. Tested and works fine. It bypasses the P/N safety switch so use with care. It's to get me out of a stranded situation and to my garage for more thorough problem solving.

There is a service socket in that fusebox for cranking the engine by jumpering 12V to its terminal, but it goes through the P/N switch. If it works, the P/N switch and starter relay are OK, and the problem is likely in the ignition switch or wiring.
--
Bob: Son's XC70, daughter's 940, my 81 and 83 240's, 89 745 (V8) and S90. Also '77 MGB and some old motorcycles






THREADED THREADED EXPANDED FLAT PRINT ALL
MESSAGES IN THIS THREAD

New intermittent failure to engage the starter solenoid [900][1997]
posted by  Big Harry  on Mon Feb 25 13:16 CST 2013 >


<< < > >>



©Jarrod Stenberg 1997-2022. All material except where indicated.


All participants agree to these terms.

Brickboard.com is not affiliated with nor sponsored by AB Volvo, Volvo Car Corporation, Volvo Cars of North America, Inc. or Ford Motor Company. Brickboard.com is a Volvo owner/enthusiast site, similar to a club, and does not intend to pose as an official Volvo site. The official Volvo site can be found here.