I loaned my '87 740 GLE (217k miles) to a friend last fall (approaching one year ago), and about a month after that, it stopped running. Now that I finally have time to work on it, I've taken a look at the problem, and here is what I know:

Strangely, the engine isn't getting enough fuel to sustain itself. It will initally cough to life, but will stall after about one second. A quick shot of ether/gasoline in the intake will let the car run as long as it is supplied, and it will run very well and smoothly. After the engine dies, I can hear BOTH pumps running briefly, and then stop. When I turn the key to the on position however, I don't hear either pump energize. If the problem is the fuel relay, would I still hear the pumps running after I got the car to start via ether/fuel in the intake? Are there fuses I can jump to bypass the fuel relay?

Both pumps have been replaced (not by me) since the problem surfaced.

Where would you guys check next? Could the gasoline have gone completely bad during this time, and the new gas/ether is the key?

What is the deal with my bad luck regarding Volvo fuel delivery?

Thanks for the assist.