Hello Brickerrs,

After being away from the Volvo fold for awhile (used to have a 745 V8, but have been driving diesel VWs for the last couple years), I just picked up a fairly nice '76 245 that has been sitting for a year. It was driven in one night, then wouldn't start the next morning. The owners had another 245 so they just started driving that car, and the '76 has sat in that same spot since then. B21, automatic, 241,000 miles. Has that weird vacuum pump atop the valve cover. K-Jet mechanical fuel injection. Pretty well maintained, clean oil with no water, new air filter, etc.

After getting a fresh battery into it, I tried to fire it. Here are the current symptoms: generally, cranks over but will not catch. On four occasions, it has fired very briefly, then shut back down in less than a second. Cam/crank and ignition timing are all within spec, and it appears to have spark. Plugs have been cleaned. Amount of gas in tank unknown, but gas can be smelled under the hood after cranking, and the plugs were wet when I took them out. I can hear the fuel pump running when cranking. When it has fired up, it has sounded pretty strong, but then it dies almost immediately and shows no interest in starting again.

My initial thought was that, since it ran one day then wouldn't start the next, it must be something electrical. Any tips for what to look for on this model 240? What are the "usual suspects" and common failures associated with a no-start condition? The owner did say that it had a pinhole coolant leak, and sure enough when I looked in the reservoir it was empty, which makes me suspect an overheat. However, since the oil is clean and water-free, and it has fired a few times, and it doesn't smell like it got hot, I doubt that is the problem. It has backfired a few times, too, when trying to start.

I think I've described the situation pretty comprehensively....any thoughts? Thanks in advance--looking forward to getting this old soldier back on the road!

George in Seattle