hi everybody,

so my car has had this intermittent no-start problem that was most likely the result of a fuel pump relay failure. last time i wrote my car was stuck at a service plaza.

i went back, jumpered fuses 4 and 6, ran like a dream, drove it home. 40 miles, no problems. next day, I try to start, nothing happens. ok, battery drained. jumpstart it. oh, put brand new relay in. so jumpstart. runs for 5 secs then dies, just as it did with the old relay. try again, dies again. after the third time it didnt even start running.

so 1. what the hell can it be? there is spark when the engine was jumpstarted, so it is surely a fuel system problem. and jumpering the fuses worked, so I presume the problem is around the relay.

2. is it normal that the battery was flat after driving 40 miles with jumpered fuses?

3. Does anyone need a Volvo 240 DL with LOTS of recent service done? Its in MA, I wanted to sell it in September , but I am getting fed up with electric troubleshooting in which im not really good. The car runs fine and all otherwise.

Have you checked the battery and alternator? You should have about 13.5 volts at the battery when the alternator is charge (as when you first start the car after sitting overnight), and about 12 volts when no charging. There would have to be quite a draw on the electrical system to run down a good battery with a working alternator.

I assume you jumpered the fuses because they blew. Not recommended, since the wiring is the next thing to go and possibly cause a fire. If you are blowing fuses, then maybe the pump is overworking. I'm shooting in the dark, but is in tank fuel pump running (whinning noise heard at tank filler)? If not could be overworking main pump. The less gas you have in the tank the worse it will get.
Then off course has the fuel filter ever been changed (most likely not your cause)?

Wish I could help you more. Its the problem of not being there to see it.

If you're selling an '86 245, I'd like to learn more about it....

DL or GL?

Power windows?

A/T or manual?

Color, exterior and interior?

Condition of seats amd interior?

Rust?

Miles?

Roof rack?

Etc., etc....

--
Don Foster (near Cape Cod, MA)

OK, so the info:

1986 245DL 168k miles, no power windows, manual w/OD, exterior light blue, has some rust, and stone chips, grille broken, interior dark blue vinyl, driver's side seat a bit old and screetching a bit, it has roof rack. I am its second owner.

Recent service done (I mean since August 2003 when I bought it): 2 ball joints, AC compressor, windshield wiper motor, new brake pads, new seals, water pump, exhaust, tailpipe, distributor cap plus maybe a couple of other minor things I will check the records. Oil changed every 3-4000 miles, one of the taillight lenses is cracked but I have replacement.

Ran really fine up until now when it started to develop this no-start thingie. Oh, rear suspension prolly also needs work. But that and a tune-up would make it run real fine.

Make sure your "new" relay is in good shape.

Search the archives for Don Foster's method of resoldering relays.

Also, check the fuse for your fuel pump. Make sure the fuse and the connectors are in good order.

In my '80, the fuse for the fuel pump was screwy, and every once and a while the car would give me problems until I replaced the fuse, and cleaned the contacts.
--
If you listen to the radio in Portland, OR, you may know me as 'Portland's Favorite Soul Brother!'

I had similar problem with my 760 Turbo. Check wiring for burnt fuel pump wire behind fuse panel.

Hi There try starting your car with the air mass meter disconnected. The AMM is between your air intake and your throttle body. Common problem and an easy fix. I fit starts you'll need to replace it. If you need one I'm in Mass as well and I have a used one you can have. Don't know about the battery issue though. GL Sean

Did you disconnect the jumper to the fuses after turning the car off? If not the battery ran down because the fuelpumps ran all the time the jumper was in place (until the battery went dead). What year is the car? 1989 by chance?

Randy

yea, I did disconnect it. Like 2 seconds after i stopped the car. Its an 86 DL Wagon.

Your problem may be in the 'biodegradable' wiring harness, which didn't go away until the '88 model year. Search the archives for descriptions and repairs.