Do you have any experience on problems with the fuel pump wiring harness on '89 240's?

Mine wouldn't start and the mechanic said he "...spliced a wire in the fuel pump wiring harness to get the car started..." He said that the computer was most likely failed because now the fuel pump runs even after you turn off the ignition. (I noticed that when I brought the car home.)

Are there computer problems on the '89 240's??

Someone who knows what went down, please tell me the REAL story. I have a feeling that the mechanic bypassed the computer somehow ..in order to get the fuel pump to run. I'd like to look under the dash...but I don't know what to look for.

Do you have any knowledge on the fuel pump wiring arrangement or harness or computer for '89 240's....please share!!!

You DO NOT want the fuel pump to run all the time. If he is going to wire a jumper in it needs to be disconnected when the car is not running. If you have no other way of doing this you should disconnect the battery. Have your "mechanic" show you what he did so that you can undo it when the car is not running. This is only a temporary solution. If in fact it is the ECU it needs to be replaced.

Randy

Well yes ok the car has the 561 ECU which has its problems... so does mine and has always worked great (for now). Regardless I would not target a bad ECU until you have checked out all the simpler things first...
Has your fuel pump relay been resoldered or replaced lately? If not very lickely the problem... especially if the problem is intermittent.
Nextly, RPM sensor? Do you have spark? Not sure maybe he checked all these things and you know, maybe some more info if symptoms and checks would be useful.

Greg Mustang
Montreal - Ottawa
Canada

I checked the fuel relay....it looked perfect...I examined for hairline cracks or anything that could remotely be construed as a "solder need." I don't think it's the relay...also,
The problem with not cranking was continuous. It would never crank. After the mechanic "jumpered" the fuel pump...it works fine. I'm pretty sure it's the computer.

Sounds like the infamous bad "561" ECU. They're known for failure, and when they do, you have to jump the fuel pump to get the car to run. The solution should be a new ECU, preferably a "951" which is the updated unit.
--
1991 245, 61k miles, looking for a 5 speed 92-93 245 cheap.

Is the fuel pump problem the only problem with the 561 ECUs? If it
is, couldn't you connect the fuel pump relay such that the relay is
actuated whenever there is oil pressure or when the starter is
activated? This is a bit of a kludge, but it might be easier and
cheaper than replacing the ECU.
.
-b.

I think he jumpered the fuel pump such that it runs whenever there is oil pressure. The only thing was that I heard it run (briefly) after I had turned the ignition off. It ran maybe five seconds. Then it cut off. I don't think it will run continuously. I'm gonna look for another computer.

I personally wouldn't modify the ECU in my car that way, but I guess it could be done. There's even an account in the FAQ section of a Brickster repairing a bad 561.
--
1991 245, 61k miles, looking for a 5 speed 92-93 245 cheap.

I'd like to read the account...how to I get to it?

http://www.brickboard.com/FAQ/700-900/EngineFIComputer.htm#ECUFuelPumpControlCircuitRepair
--
1991 245, 61k miles, looking for a 5 speed 92-93 245 cheap.

I think you're right.....my mechanic called me back and said that he "jumped" the fuel pump....just like you said. He said that the computer was the problem.....you speak of this "951" unit......what years Volvo does it work with....where do I get one? How do I check for on ebay?

thanks

Run an ebay search for "Volvo ECU". If you see one that has "951" in the heading, check it out. I don't have the complete Bosch part number handy, those are the last 3 numbers. Look through any listings that don't have the number in the heading.

Another alternative would be a "white sticker" 561 ECU. They're supposedly a 561 revised with the circuitry of the 951.

You should be able to pick up a used ECU for somewhere in the $100- $125 range. I sold the last 2 I had for $125 each.
--
1991 245, 61k miles, looking for a 5 speed 92-93 245 cheap.

I'd be interested in buying one.

I wish I could help, but I don't currently have one. I pick up every one the local pick-n-pull gets in, but you never know when that will be.
--
1991 245, 61k miles, looking for a 5 speed 92-93 245 cheap.