My dad's 760 won't start and I've exhausted what I know to check. I've checked the ignition, its working. Checked the injectors They are clicking as the motor turns over, checked the fuel pump. when you turn the switch on and attempt to crank the engine the fuel pump comes on. I checked the timing belt and it appears to be in good working order. The air filter is clean as well.

It trys to start after sitting for a few days but then it acts like its flooded. so on that note I pulled the spark plugs and they were all gas soaked. I left the plugs out for about an half hour and after I reinstalled them it tried to start but quickly flooded again.

Any ideas? I'm also looking for a service manual for it but the local parts houses don't have a listing for a 89 760 wagon.

Jason

Hi Jason,

From your description, there's NO reason it shouldn't run. So let's backtrack. My first thought was "fuel", till I saw the wet plugs comment.

How about, "I've checked the ignition, its working." Could you expand on this? How you checked it, etc.

And, "I checked the timing belt and it appears to be in good working order" Did you look thru the oil filler hole to see if the camshaft actually turns as someone cranks it? (A recent post had a belt with stripped off cogs under the crank pulley. It was unbroken but wouldn't turn.)

I'm more at home with 240s, but will try this post to get the ball rolling for you.
--
Bruce Young,
'93 940-NA (current)
'80 GLE V8 (Now gone)
'83 Turbo 245
'73 142 (98K)
'71 144 (track modified--and still here)
New 144 from '67 to '78
Used '62 122 from '63 to '67

I checked the ingnition/spark by first numbering all 4 plug wires and then pulling them all off. I have a ignition spark tester that has a 1/4 gap between the jump points. Ground one end and put the plug wire on the other. Spin the motor while watching the spark tester. the spark was a nice blue color and jumped the 1/4 gap easily on all four cylinders.

I pulled the upper timing belt cover and had my father spin the motor over. The camshaft pulley span as the motor did. The cogs/teeth on the belt look good.

I didn't look through the oil filler hole though. Is it possible that the cam shaft pulley Key sheared? I'd think the belt would let go first, wouldn't you?


I'm thinking that its a fuel injection problem but I doubt that it would effect all 4 cylinders. I could be wrong however.

Jason

My '89 760 turbo acts the same. It always reliably started and ran fine before I had to replace the turbo and head and manifold gaskets. Now put back together it checks out the same but wont start. Did you get yours started yet?

I'm not sure about the 760 but my 89 740 has the ignition firing sensor (hall type) built into the distributor rather than on the flywheel like later models. The plug at the distributor can get boogered and not give a reliable signal. Under this condition of course the car will not start or even run just like you had pulled the wire off the coil. I would suggest that you check this plug out first. A new plastic holder can be purchased from Volvo or other sources for very little money and the old holder can be replaced. If this plug is intact you might look inside the distributor to see if the three wires going from the hall sensor to the plug are intact.