Im in the process of signing in so posting annonomously
I did post whats below to another volvo forum but it didn't have much traffic.

i will try connecting a test lamp to the coil and see if i get spark consistently.


my 240 won't start
I'm trying to start my non turbo 89 240 with b230F auto trans.
I previously replaced the starter motor after someone froze on the key , she held it in crank position,gave it gas and that broke up the gear on the starter.

I might have done something during that process, I undid one motor mount a bit to get to the 19mm bolt on top. It's in a tight spot. wires along firewall may have gotten pulled on etc.

If I turn the key off then try to start it fires a few times, but won't start.
If i keep the key on then retry it does not fire at all.
If i return the key to off , then try,it fires a bit more.

I put the fuel line to fuel rail in a jar, it fills, so its pumping gas.
I tried quick start, in the throttle body, no difference.
When I start cranking the tachometer jumps for an instant so i think it is getting a pulse from the crankshaft position sensor. at least initially.

I tried swapping the fuel pump relay, under the drivers feet carpet, no difference.
If i put the key on and then connect battery it seems to charge the fuel rail for a moment

I'm trying to remember how to check the codes, it has the little box with LED and a jumper wire

Some fuses look choroded so I can clean fusebox and fuses
I have spare parts for most things, might swap ECU's.

any idea why it fires but only when I reset the key to off?

Any obvious things to check? I'm a bit stumped.


unrelated but i think i had an injector stuck on as it would start ok but ran as if one cylinder was flooded until i drove a mile, then ran perfectly until parked overnight so i put new plugs and swapped injector #2 out, plug seemed a bit loose and was wet. my theory is the stored fuel rail pressure was leaking into cylinder 2

compression is good i rebuilt it some years ago. new plugs.
Thanks, phil.