Help Help Help
I own a 1989 Volvo 240 WAGON automatic.
I have a very frustrating intermitent problem.
I start up the car, no issue, drive to the store which is only a couple of blocks, shut the car off, pick up milk whatever, get back into the car,
turns over OK, but she will not start, try try again, no luck, wait 20 Minutes, it starts. It does this the odd time, sometimes once a week, or sometimes once in two or three weeks. The worst time and first time for me was last week I started the car after work, drove a half a block, engine just shut off, no warning, tried to start it up again, engine turned over but did not start, again I had to wait 20 minutes and she started up no problem.
Coil was changed, and yes I have spark, Spark plug wires and cap were changed, even all those expensive sensors were changed. This problem just started again in the past 2 weeks, 3 months ago when I had the sensors, coil, cap and wires replaced the problem stopped for 3 months, once again the problem is back,
as for the fuel pump? I don't know, it appears to be working, turn the key and you can hear the pump hummmmmm. Body is 100% rust free, I have 200KM, does not burn a drop of oil, but it's 15 years old and I do not want to keep sinking money into her, do I scrap the car??

Please please someone has to know what is wrong. Harness?
Thanks
Vic
vadelsohn@cogeco.ca

I know I keep saying the same thing but I had exactly the same problems with my 240 and by brickhead mechanis/buddy told me to change the fuel pump relay and I did not believe him. Well, I did and he was right, it cured it completely. There is much more to that relay operations than just pump contacts. It's in the kick panel on the inside passenger side. When you look at it you will see a date printed on the side of it that will let you know how old it is, and if it's 9+ years old change it no matter what else you find/do.

Good Luck "P"

I thought I had answered this but I don't see my message. So here goes again.

Very likely a minor electrical problem. In order of ease, try these:

Clean blade fuse under hood near battery.

Clean and tighten all fuses and fuse clips in fuse panel. Note that this has been the most common trouble spot in all the Volvo 240s I've owned.

Replace or resolder the fuel pump relay which is behind the under dash cover near passenger's feet.

Unplug the connector to the Hall sensor at the distributor and clean with spray contact cleaner. Plug and unplug a few times to wipe contacts clean and reconnect. Be gentle with this. NOTE did the shop replace this Hall sensor? I've had these go intermittant. The car would run awhile, then just stall, then start right up. If they replaced this sensor, the connector may still be touchy. The factory recommends cutting off the old connector and wiring in a new one.

Clean and tighten all electrical grounds at the intake manifold. Do the same with battery cables.

Do a search on this site for possible computer problems with the '89. I seem to recall some discussion of this but I could be wrong.

Good luck! Remember new car paymens go on forever, or seem to.

Listen to this on fuses, it is correct and 100% true!

Most common and easiest/cheapest to fix is the fuel pump relay.

Hi!

Have you checked the ignitionmodule? Or water in your fuel? Or changed fuelfilter?

try the faq for radio suppressor and fuel pump relays it sounds like one of the electrical components or fuses is overheating and when it cools down then it will make contact again. good luck!!!

You may not have a RSR on this Volvo.