Hi, I have a 90 780 turbo. I've made a few post about this, but the car is still not running.

Here's the situation: I bought it from an auction. Found it had a warped head (water in places it shoulnt be). Had head fixed - installed. It doesn't start. I've never seen the car run.

I know it's getting fuel (with plug removed testing spark could smell gas), and I know all the plugs are sparking. Cylinder #1 is in the front of the engine. With cyl #1 at TDC, the dist. points down and twards the driver side. I set the firing order on the dist. going from passenger to driver side is 4-3-1-2. - All sound correct?

I have a question about the camshaft timing. When I put the timing belt back on I alligned all the marks (without the belt covers or the crankshaft pully), and Then put eveything back together. I had trouble figuring out the firing order (and I though cyl #4 was #1) and couldn't get it started so I checked the allignment again - Found with the timing mark pointed at 0 the timing mark on the camshaft was a tooth off. I loosend the tensioner and alligned the marks. Do I have it correct now or before? - still won't start, but before it just cranked and now (with the firing order correct) it seams like it almost starts. Would one tooth of make a big diffence?

Anyways, it still doesn't start. Try moving the belt back to were it was and try it? or is there something else I need to try.

Thanks for any help,
Jeff Thompson

Hmm, kinda odd. Yesterday I tried to start it to show a friend what it was doing, and it starts!? Runs pretty bad for a few mins, but smoothed out and now runs pretty good. I need to resolve a few fluid leaks, but everything should be good. I tried to start it quite a few times at no avail, and I didn't change anything to start it this time. I think it was just very hard starting... Of course I'll be back with another post if there's something else wrong. Thanks for the help,

Jeff Thompson

go to the FAQ file and/or the 7xx/9xx file and look up belt change.
I'm assuming you have the distributor on the back of the camshaft...all that needs to be done there is the rotor is pointing at the #1 plug wire with the crank at TDC...the engine management system does the rest.

Your 90 780 should have an IDU...a little black box on the LHS strut tower brace that can tell you what's wrong.

One thing that often goes wrong on 90 7xx cars is the crankshaft rpm sensor...it's a cable behind the distributor on the trans bell housing.

Look at the FAQ and get the IDU test procedure for checking for a no signal from the rpm sensor during cranking.

Bare with me on this one brother, it gets silly but you answer may be here...

re:1987 745 w/ B230FT TURBO 3 day no start after overhaul
Sing along kids...(sung to the tune of Beverly hill billy's song)
ohhh,Let me tell you a story 'bout a man named dave, a poor volvo owner barley kept his bills paid....then one day he was working on his car, got 3 days in hell cuz of one lil wire ...Hall sensor lead ...intermittent short, hope it don't come back now ya hear!
...ok stop singing,
Really was a combo problem; a short with-in the 3 wire lead to the Hall Sensor, found the test for the sensor in FAQs, followed it and found improper voltage and ohms at the connector, my key was in the run postion and as i was handling the hall lead the fuel pump fired up..I was like oh my god!! gag me with a spoon!! so did the repair on that part of the lead and still no start!! I rechecked the connection right at the distributer and found that when you wiggle it the car would start; thank god!
So please gain from my pain kids!
1. Hall sensor is god of fire and fuel in the turbo engine, all other fuel leaks and timing and take a back seat to this; fact.and the connection to the distributor sucks; fact.
2. Tachometer needle does jump slighty as you crank engine over if Hall sensor is working, the needle lays dead if not working..fact.
3. Wire lead and connector to hall sensor deserve your full attention and wiggle and flex as you test it (the wires you silly).
4. Brick Board Rules!!! The answers to all Volvo questions are here just stay
focused and read read read!
5. Volvo owners who helped me thru this are great humans..Fact
Note: I am still not out of the woods, water vapor blowing from exhast is bad, have to let it cool and pull plugs to see if leaking into cylinder..but hey I can deal with any thing after this delema!!!!
THANKS AGAIN,
DAVE IN MICHIGAN