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'no start' preceded by very misc. problems 200

Alternator belt broke. Put an old one on & it refused to stop squeeling.

[warning to all: I broke two fingers & lost the end of my middle finger in the fan trying to shut it up. I'm not joking.. I'm wearing finger splints & bandages & after a ride with the paramedics & numerous visits to the local hospital since last week, I have a still unhealed bloody & bitten-off hotdog for a finger --- it took a split second to permanently maim myself & I am usually a cautious person. Think of me & all those guys you've known with missing digits the next time you impulsively reach towards an engine while it's running. BTW we think my dog Petey ate the finger. End of sermon.]

A couple of days later, it cranked slow but started. I thought "belt slipping." Humbled & dismembered, I put some "belt dressing" on it with my good hand. Ran okay. Started & restarted throughout the day but the "as-seen-on-TV battery condition/charging system analyzer" plugged in the cigar lighter said "poor/fair" and the battery was dead by sundown. Got a jump start. Headlights were bright. Headed home & after about 20 minutes of driving it started losing power but would "limp." Then it "caught" and ran perfectly fine for a mile. Then it would only limp. Next morning, I put a fresh battery in but it won't start; even with the AMM disconnected. There is good spark at the plug I checked. No misfire or sputter.

I don't have a garage, I'm in pain & not used to working with one left-handed, so, I can't easily leap right in & start fixing things. I replaced the OD solenoid on another Volvo & it was frustrating & time consuming. I thought maybe I'd present the symptoms via my new 8-finger typing style & see if anybody has any clues. I'm going to ask someone to crank it while I look to see if the rocker-arms are moving.








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'no start' preceded by very misc. problems 200

Sorry to hear about the accident. I have some thoughts for your consideration, but no really good suggestions.

You may have at least two electrical problems that may not be related to each other, but it will be hard to diagnose them without a wiring diagram or the right tools, and this is a rough time of year to work outdoors.

Belt slipping - are you sure that the slip is at the alternator? With the car shut off, can you turn the alternator pulley inside the belts by pressing on an alternator fan blade with your thumb? If not, and it spun freely before you put it on, then the slipping problem is some other device on the belt (e.g. air conditioner, power steering) or the alternator was trying to put out a LOT of amperage (see discussion below).

Based on the fact that your battery went dead during the day, and the tester registered low voltage, it sounds like the alternator was not charging. Yet, you say that headlights were bright after the jump start, which suggests that it was producing voltage at that point (though the voltage might power the lights and ignition, even if it is not getting to the battery. Check wiring to alternator for corrosion or bad insulation that allows the bare wire to short to the engine block. As always, make sure the alternator is well grounded.

I don't have a wiring diagram, but if the thick wire that carries current from the alternator to the battery was shorted to ground, you might have an alternator trying to put out infinite amperage, which would pull really hard and make the belt slip, until either the wire or the alternator flame-broiled.

See if you have battery voltage at the heavy terminal on the alternator when the car is not running. If not, trace that wire to the battery and figure out where the connection is failing.

Another possiblity is one or more failed diodes in the alternator. If you get AC instead of DC from the alternator, you might power the headlights, but you won't charge the battery, and it will have bizzare effects on relays and computers.










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Warning to All 200

Thanks for the reminder. I think you should post that paragraph with a "Warning To All" title so everyone will read it. We all need a reminder once in a while. Sorry to hear about your accident.
--
Thanks to everyone for the help, Doug C. 81 242 Brick Off Blocks, stock; 86 240, 129K, once in Rolling, now smashed quarter panel thanks to driver of an F150. Daughter safe in her Volvo.








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'no start' preceded by very misc. problems 200

Ouch! sorry to hear about the unfortunate accident you had. But damn Only a true man would be out in a "couple" of days working on the volvo. props, i mean congrats on being in brave enough to get back too it , i'd be selling the damn thing lol. Good Luck following petey around......with a little scoop :)
--
Dan D. '85 245 DL , '83 244 Turbo Delanisdjd@aol.com







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