Thought I'd post this to see if it sounds familiar to others here.

Year/Model: 1990 240 DL Wagon 5sp, A/C, 248k miles

Symptom: Car wouldn't start, no spark from coil

Conditions: Temps in the mid-40s (F), VERY humid

The day prior to the no-spark condition, the car was becoming difficult to start, requiring extended cranking before lighting off. Once started it drove normally. I parked the car in the driveway, but when I came back the next day, it cranked but wouldn't start. I pulled the coil high tension lead at the distributor cap, held it close to a ground while my son cranked the engine. No spark was observed while cranking, but I did notice one weak orange spark when the ignition was turned on.

The past couple days I've been busy with the holidays so I didn't have much time to work on the car, but I did spend some time researching the Bently manual. It recommended a check using the On-Board Diagnostics to test the throttle switch and the bell housing-mounted speed sensor - I had enough time for that. I had a feeling that the problem may be with the speed sensor, since a Volvo-trained mechanic once told me that it was only a matter off time before it failed, since the insulation covering the harness of the sensor had degraded and was peeling off in an area close to the plug end. The Bently manual instructed to put the test lead of the OBD into socket #6, turn on the ignition, push the button twice, and look for a fast flash of the LED. Then observe the LED while cranking, looking for the fast flash to stop, give out a code, then resume the fast flashing. If there was no signal from the sensor, no code would be displayed; the LED would continuously flash fast while cranking, which is what I observed.

This morning I aproached the car with book & multimeter in hand, prepared to conduct electrical checks at the ignition modual located below the glove box. I thought I'd just give it a try prior to tearing into my dash. I stuck in and turned the key and it started right up. I let it warm up & took it for a spin around the neighborhood - all seems well. I shut it down & tried the starter again - came right to life without any extended cranking, just like it used to do before.

I still suspect there is a problem with the sensor, so I probably will go ahead and install a new one, hoping to prevent the same thing from happening during worse circumstances. But if any of this sounds familiar to an experience you may have had, I certainly would appreciate your input.

Thanks for your time,

Joe in St Louis