Hi all, I just got a 1980 240DL wagon, w/ a 4 cylinder and now it is broke. I was riding along at about 70mph down the highway and then i came to the exit ramp and it just cut off. It has yet to start back. I don't think it is getting spark to the engine. It will spark once when i try to start it from the coil. I took the coil off another volvo and it did the same thing so i don't think the coil is bad. I looked at the control unit and nothing looked out of the ordinary (cracked resistors, etc. no burning smell. All the wires are on the distibutor too. The balest resistor was really hot also. I am totally lost and i just got this thing. Please give me some ideas.
Thanks

easier than popping the distrib cap is to open the oil filler cap and see if the camshaft rotates when the engine is turned over.

Also check the fuel pump relay, these relays are notorious for failing, pull the relay apart and 're-flow' all the solder connections on the board....

Or replace the relay. There is a safetycircuit so that you only get spark if the fuel pump relay is engaged.

Matt


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'82 DL - 15k, '93 945 - 105k

I thought the safety circuit was that the fuel pump would not run, except for three seconds on cranking, if there were no ignition pulses - meaning the engine wasn't running?

Justin B.

"easier than popping the distrib cap is to open the oil filler cap and see if the camshaft rotates when the engine is turned over. "

The reason I prefer to watch the rotor is because, if you are by yourself, you can note the position of the rotor, turn the key to crank the engine over and go to see if the rotor has changed position. Or possibly watch the rotor through the crack between the open hood and the body.

Thanks for the tip!!, I'll remember that.
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'82 DL - 158k, '93 945 - 108k

I would second the possiblility of a timing belt (good news, no internal damage). I have never heard of a bad coil in a Volvo. Can you hear the fuel pump crank up when you crank up the engine, or, can you smell gas? The possibility of corrosionin the fuse bank is common, and is a wise one to check as well.


Good luck.

"I was riding along at about 70mph down the highway and then i came to the exit ramp and it just cut off"

An oily timing belt may sometimes give when downshifting. If the starter is spinning the engine fine, pop the distributor cap and watch the rotor for movement while turning the engine over. No rotation = timing belt prob.

Also check on the rotor butto0n to see if it is fried. Could just be as simple as a fried Rotor Button. Also Check the fuse panel for burnt and loose fuses. And clean the prongs of corrosion.

this may sound dumb, but what is a rotor button? I did check the fuses and some were blown, but i replaced them and it still wouldn't fire. I will have to pull the distributor cap. But it is only getting 1 spark out of the coil, before it even gets to the distributor, right when you hit the starter. Shouldn't it continue to spark as you cont. to try to crank it?

I think he means a rotor. Couldn't hurt to check the rotor and dist. cap for cracks, damage etc.

Don't know if a 1980 has it, but on my 1990 there is a 25 amp fuse in the engine compartment located on the drivers side fender next to the battery. At the moment, I forget what it is for - maybe the fuel pump relay???, I'm sure somebody else knows - but I do know that if it isn't working your car will die. These are prone to corrosion so definitey worthy checking out.... Clean up any corrosion.

As mentioned, check operation of fuel pumps and a biggie the famous FUEL PUMP RELAY!

I just went out and messed w/ it some more. The fuel pump relay had some corosion on it, but the guy at the dealer said it should still spark. He also told me to connect the - side of the coil to the + side of the battery and see if it sparks. It didn't, but i am still clueless as to what to do next. I am begining to dislike Volvo's. Please help

Oh yeah they wanted $80 for a fuel pump relay. Is there a better place?

fcpgroton.com sells relays for under $30 i think, contrary to what the dealer said, it WILL NOT spark if the fuel pump relay is not functioning. Grab a soldering iron and you can fix the fuel pump relay for cheap!!!!

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'82 DL - 158k, '93 945 - 108k

Well i will have to work on that fuel pump relay because it did have some corrosion on it. I just don't understand why it would just spark once when it starts though. Should it do that w/ a bad fuel pump relay?