My 1990 740GL (72,000 miles) was stalling occasionally in hot weather. Starting after this was not easy, but it would always eventually start. Sometimes I'd have to slip into neutral at stops to keep the RPM up and get home. This hasn't gotten any better in the cool weather, and now the idling is occasionally terrible. The RPM will drop real low and then surge back up. Cold starts are now difficult and it takes many turns before it starts. Then sometimes it runs perfectly (though the hard starts continue).

So I took it into a well respected Volvo shop and they were at first quite perplexed. They gave it a total Volvo tune up and new battery as they said this might help and my rotor, dist. cap, plugs and wires were in terrible shape. This cleared one reading in their computer, but then the hard start and erratic idle was still there. Two remaining readings in the computer made them think electrical, but they are not sure exactly what. They are now looking at the wire harness and suggesting they replace it as one of the mechanics has a 740 and this cleared up his similar problems. As you know, the wire harness is big bucks and I've already spent a lot there in the tune up and battery. Does anyone have any suggestions for me? Do I have them replace the harness? Should they be looking somewhere else? Thanks