Volvo RWD ALL Forum

INDEX FOR 10/2025(CURRENT) INDEX FOR 8/2019 ALL INDEX

[<<] [>>]

THREADED

THREADED EXPANDED

FLAT

PRINT ALL

MESSAGES IN THIS THREAD

REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE

Replies to this message will be emailed.

SAVE

240 Dead Starter? Help..... ALL 1990

posted by someone claiming to be Luke J. Schneider on Thu Jul 5 16:45 CST 2001 [RELATED]

I've read the posts and a lot of the hot weather problems i've read about sound very familiar. I've fought through the erratic idling and hard starting for the last two summers but now she's dead. When the key is turned, clicking sound and faint revving is heard. All dash lights and radio comes on fine, but no firing. This happened on the hottest day of the year. Went back later at night to see if cooling off would help but alas, same symptoms. Have also had problems lately starting after a hard rain, it takes two or three times but starts (thought that was a fuel pump). Anyway, no symptoms immediately preceeded this problem, which is by far the worst situation i've been in. I'm an air-cooled VW guy, and I know next to nothing about my Volvo or air-cools for that matter. Sound like a starter, or bad ground somewhere? Bad connection? Any help in layman's terms would be appreciated. BTW, its an automatic, 165,000.

Thanks in Advance

Nashville TN

REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE

SAVE

Re: 240 Dead Starter? Help..... ALL 1990

posted by someone claiming to be L K Tucker on Fri Jul 6 18:08 CST 2001 [RELATED]

/// Luke, The Volvo starter won't run on less than 8 volts. It doesn't matter if the low voltage is because of the battery or battery cables. Try using your jumper cables to bypass the negative battery cable. Test the voltage drop from the battery to the starter solonoid bolt while trying to crank for the postitive cable. Electric motors do wear and it may be the starter but I too would bet on cables. As an emergency measure you could replace the battery cable end.

NAPA sells a heavy compression cable repair end that adds about six inches to the cable. I have posted the details several times. It is the best repair I have found for this problem

WET START PROBLEMS ... Check the plug and high voltage wiring by watching the wires in total darkness. If the plug wires arc replace them. (car running of course) It sounds like you have a plug wire problem when it is damp. Some Volvo plug wires have resistors in the ceramic end elements. There is a resistor in the rotor and a carbon contact in the Bosch distributor caps. These also cause trouble.

REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE

SAVE

Re: 240 Dead Starter? Help..... ALL 1990

posted by someone claiming to be BC on Thu Jul 5 16:56 CST 2001 [RELATED]

Luke -

With most starters there is a big strong solenoid that thrusts a gear into the flywheel teeth and then when the engine starts there's a system that retracts the gear. The part that does all this is, to my knowledge, still called the "Bendix", the name I learned on my 1947 Chevy back in 1952.

Your symptoms sound like the Bendix is not operating correctly. The whirring sound may be the starter - prove that by standing on the left side with the hood up while someone trys to start up. The sound should come from the bottom rear of the engine. If not, something else is going on. Check it and re-post.

Good Luck,

Bob

:>)

REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE

SAVE

Re: 240 Dead Starter? Help..... ALL 1990

posted by someone claiming to be Luke J. Schneider on Thu Jul 5 17:03 CST 2001 [RELATED]

Here's a follow up, guys: first, i'm about 95% sure that the battery is ok, but i'll check the terminal connections. About the revving, its kind of intermittent and is very faint. It happens when I hold the key over for a long time. It sounds like a belt to me. This happened while I was busy with the holiday so I haven't really looked under the hood much. But it definitely clicks 5 or 6 times (and then stops clicking) when i turn the key.

Thank you guys very much

Luke in Nashville

REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE

SAVE

Re: Next Starter Test ALL 1990

posted by someone claiming to be BC on Thu Jul 5 17:16 CST 2001 [RELATED]

OK Luke,

Try the starter with the dome light on - I usually just leave the door open. Watch the light, if it goes to way dim while key is in start position, even though the starter only clicks, the starter is drawing more current than is available.

The usual problem is a low battery. That comes from old age and/or worn out brushes. Check the brushes by removing the regulator/brush unit from the back of the alternator. It's not necessary to remove the alternator or any if the connections, unless you have a turbo. (Remember to unhook the negative battery terminal first.) If the brushes are less than 3mm long, replace them.

Before trying to install the regulator/brush unit, have a look into the hole they come out of using a mirror and flashlight. You'll see the slip rings - what the brushes ride on. When you put the unit in, it's possible to put it in where the brushes are not on the slip rings - disaster.

If all that is OK, the look at Paul's post and start checking the connections. My suggestions are based on likely failure points sequenced by what's easiest to check and what's cheapest to fix.

Good Luck

Bob

:>)

REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE

SAVE

Re: 240 Dead Starter? Help..... ALL 1990

posted by someone claiming to be Paul Seminara on Thu Jul 5 16:48 CST 2001 [RELATED]

Sounds more like a battery cable or terminal in combo with a borderline battery..........Volvo starters are pretty hardy.

<< < > >>

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.