Dear Brickboard Community,

Your advice and assistance is needed.
I have 1991 740 Turbo Wagon that I have been unable to start for the last two weeks. Two Fridays ago, I was at a grocery store 3 miles from the house and was unable to start the car. When I put the key into the ignition, and turn the key to start the car, I get nothing. I do not hear the starter click. I do hear the fuel pump priming itself. Please note all the warning lights inside instrument cluster, interior dome lights, headlights, and back/stop lights are in full working order. Please also note that the above three things are always present everytime I try to start the car (no starter click, can hear the fuel pump, all lights in working order. Next, I got a big wrench and tapped the starter and starter soleniod and then tried to start the car and still got the same above results. I waited 15 minutes and tried to start the car and still got nothing. Tried tapping the starter and solenoid again and still got nothing. I called my friend for a jump and still nothing. I called the tow truck and towed the car home.

At first I suspected the starter, batttery, battery/starter wires, and various ground wires. So I took off the starter and and battery and had them both check out at O'Reily and then again at Autozone parts stores, both stores state the starter and battery were in good working order. I also took off,inspected, and cleaned all the battery/starte wires and ground wires. (Sprayed each item with electrical part cleaner and used emery cloth the polish all wire ends, I also cleaned the battery terminal post. Please note all the wires appeared to be in good shape prior to and after the cleaning job.) I resinstalled both items on the car and tried to start the car and still get the same results as noted above. I then remember the screwdriver procedures to engage the starter (use long screwdriver to connect positive and negative portion of the starter) and used it without putting the key in the ignition. The screwdriver did complete the starter circuit and the starter did engage the engine and tried to start the car. I then put the key into the ignition and turn the key to position 2 and conducted the screwdriver test again and the starter once again engage the starter and this time quickly started the car. I let the engine run for a few minute and then turn the car off. I tried starting the car with the key and get nothing as nothing as before.

Frustrated at my lack of a good result, I did not work or look at the car again until this week Friday. This is a slight exageration, because I did look at my maintenace book to see when was the last time I replace the Fuel Pump Relay, Noise Suppresion Relay, RPM Sensor, Throttle Position Sensor, and Ignition Module. I replace all five items six years ago. I also noted that I also replace the Fuel Injector Reistor Pack and the Idle Control Valve at the same time as these five items. I remeber and verified that I conducted a major tune up just three months ago, (oil, oil filter, spark plugs, wires, cap, rotor, air filter, transmission flush, and breather box cleaning). Since it had been six year since I replace the major know problems/areas with this car, I decided to order and replace all five items again. Please note in my 8 years of ownership of this car, it has never broke down or ever left me stranded like she did two Fridays ago. (One exception, and I don't count it because it was my fault, I did not replace the timing belt when I purchased the car 8 years ago from a person in Newburgh, NY. He did not know when it was last replaced, so I promised myself I would replace it within 3 months ownership. On the the 4th or 5th month of ownership, the timing belt broke in rush hour traffic in Houston, Texas. Entirely my fault.)

The above five items arrived on this past Thursday. That same night, I hook up my battery charger to recondition the battery so it would be ready for me on Friday night. On Friday night, after work, I intalled all five items on the car and hooked up the battery after verifying it was fully recondition and fully charged. The battery showed 12.60 volt on the battery meter. Went to start the car and .... still got a big giant nothing. Recheck and verified that all five items were correctly installed and they were. Went to start the car and still got nothing. I tried the screwdriver procedure on the starter with the key in the number 2 position of the ignition and she started right up. Went for a test drive with long screwdiver in hand. Drove for 20 minutes on the freeway and then exited it to go to gas station that was very bright just in cast something happen. It was now 1 am when I stopped and turn off the car at the gas station. Went to start the car and got a big nothing. Went to start the car with screwdriver and she starts right up. Drove home sad that my baby had left me down. By the time I got home, I went from being sad to pissed. I torn into brickboard archive and research no start until 4:30 am.

Research says beside the above 5 items, the only remaining culprit are the neutral safety switch and a microswitch (aka lock out switch). It also stated I should look at the ignition switch for no start problems, but my situation does not match the problems associated with a bad ignition switch such as not having electical (instrument cluster light, dome lights, headlight, radio, ect.) I have power to all of these items. Yesterday morning, I removed the automatic shifer assembly from the car and inspected it on the dining room table. The switch appeared to be in good condition with all the fasteners for it in place and tightly on the shifter assemply unlike those describe in FAQ and RWD research. However, I did not see or was able to locate the microswitch (lock out switch) anywhere on, below, or beside shifter assembly. Since the local parts store don't carry the neutral safety switch, and all the local Volvo dealership parts counter were already closed for the cay, I went to the local Pick and Pull and got the entire shifter assembly of a 1992 740 turbo wagon for $22. (Before going, I verified that I could use the neutral safety switch from any 1991-1991 740, 740T, 940, and 940T.) The 92 shifter assembly is exactly like mine and I still could not locate the microswitch (lock out switch) on the doner 1992 car. There was also a 1991, 1993, 740T and 940T and there shifter assembly also looked exactly like mine and also did not have a the microswitch. I went home an intalled the new to me shifter assembly and tried to start the car and got a ... lets all say together now. a big nothing. Went to start the car with the screwdriver and she started right up.

My question to you guys: Am I missing something here. Maybe my new to me neutral switch is bad like mine and I really need a new one. The car it came out of look and was newer than mine and had no body damage on her. The interior was in beautiful conditions as well. Maybe the previous owner gave up on her because of the not start situation I am looking at. I will order the neutral safety switch on Monday. I will also order and replace the ignition switch for my peace of mind as well. Peace of mind is a good thing, and I could use some right about now. I could also use some of your sage advice brickboard.com so please reply to this email and help me out. I thank you in advance for your help. PS. Do your 91-93 740/940 turbo or non-turbo have a microswitch on it. If you do can you desribe it to me in a much detail as possible. On the shifter assembly my car has and on three other cars I saw, the shifter is in the middle, the Neutral Safety Switch is on the left and atttached to the shifter. There is one white colored switch on the right side shifter that is located on near the bottom of shifter assembly but it does look like any microswitch that I have seen on the various online part store. Could this be the microswitch in question? Once again thanks in advance for your help and assistance and sorry for the posting being so long. It been a rough two weeks without my Volvo. My current ride does not have AC and I need to get the car up and running again.