When I tried to start the car last night the starter gave a quick turn then quit after a second. It sounded strong. No response from the starter since. Tried to jump car from a pickup truck. No response. Checked all fuses. All fuses fine except blade type 25 amp engine fuse corroded. Tried to clean but broke instead. Replaced that fuse. Still no response. Checked battery voltage with digital meter. 11.9 volts. When the key is turned to start the battery voltage drops only 1/10th of a volt. Is this the sign of a dead starter? What else could this be? Am also currently working on fixing the dead wiper motor, probably unrelated issues.

Unless the battery cables are badly corroded, i'd say the starter quit. Sometimes cables can make just enough contact to do this- they get too corroded to pass a lot of current. If you jump the solenoid wire on the starter to the big battery lead with a screwdriver or something, see if it turns over. IF it does, then you've got some kind of wiring problem in the car. If it doesn't then it's new starter time. I'd recommend getting a used one or getting yours rebuilt- new ones are far too expensive.
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Rob Bareiss, New London CT ::: 86 244DL, 87 244DL, 88 744GLE: 625K total

I spent some hours today trying various diagnosis methods.
I tried jumping the power straight from the battery to the solenoid. Still nothing. I took off the wires connecting to the starter and cleaned and tested as many as I could. All seem fine. On the starter there are only two connections. The power from the battery/to the alt, and a yellow/green wire. What is this wire and where does it go. I traced it but it disappears in a maze of harnesses. The only response I received from the starter was after on of my "whacking" sessions. I took a crowbar and started tapping the solenoid to elicit a response. I was alone so I couldnt do it while someone else cranked but I did get the starter to click a few times when key turned to start. Looks like I am pulling the starter out soon. Is this a difficult process in the volvo? It looks to be very accessible from the underside. How many bolts? Any other concerns?

The starter in my 83 BMW would randomly leave me stranded until I had it rebuilt last summer. About $60 US. Rebuild included new brushes, contacts and solenoid. No problems since.

The Y-G wire will be the power from the ignition switch. Just inside the LF fender find a gray connector big enough to hold 8 wires, but with only 4 or 5. The Y-G wire should terminate there.

Jump from the battery hot side to the Y-G terminal on the starter and see what happens.

In order to for the starter motor to turn, the solenoid must work as it not only drives the little gear into the flywheel it also closes a big contactor to power the starter motor.

If the battery is way dead, there may not be enough to drive the solenoid.

Keep trying. I have never had a starter fail on any of the 10 240's I've owned, although I know from the BB that they can fail and they are a PITA to replace.

Good Luck,

Bob

:>)