Hi,

I have a 1988 Volvo 240 DL with Manual Transmission and 143,000 miles.

The other day I was driving down the road and BOOM the engine oil light comes on, then all the other lights come on, and the next thing I know I'm pulling over to the side of the road with no more engine running...

I try to start it back up but nothing... The starter turns and turns and turns but nothing.

Towed it home and checked a few things out. The coil is not giving a single spark to the distributor. The fuel pump doesn't turn on for a few seconds when you turn the ignition key on either.

So........ I replaced:

New spark plugs & Wires
New Distributor Cap & Rotor
New Fuel Pump & Filter & Check Valve
New Oil Pressure Switch (as recommended by Fuel Pump Instructions)
(Most of these things were in need of attention anyways!)

The fuel pump relay which is located under the passenger side dash by the computer (white box) has a date on it from July 2000 - Volvo. All solder looks good and contacts look clean. When you turn the key to the ON position, the first "coil" inside the relay sticks but the second one doesn't. If I push it, the pump comes on.

For the spark side, I can't do anything else but replace the coil but I don't believe that is my problem.

I had a spare computer for this car (used, same brand/part number) which I didn't even know I had! So I got all happy and I replaced it and still the same sympton. By the way, I did disconnect my battery while replacing it.

I cleaned all fuses too.

I was told of an Impulse sender in the distributor. So off I go to the part store only to quickly turn around ($220!!!) to a salvage yard ($75).

I put the new distributor in lining it up with how the old one was. By the way, crow bars DO come in handy for mechanical work!! How do they expect people to get these things out? Anyways, when putting the used one in, I was getting ready to PUSH it in and it just slipped right in.

Anyways.... I am still getting the same problem now. I checked the wiring harness and I don't see anything unusual. I switched back to the old computer and same thing... Starter is going and going but no fuel or spark = no start.

Could it be that the distributor (or impulse sender inside) I got from the yard was also defective?? Is there some kind of Crankshaft Position Sensor or RPM sensor or something keeping me from starting?

Battery and terminals are fine. Starter is cranking the engine pretty fast. It's just that I'm not getting fuel or spark. If I hot wire the pump then fuel shoots out through the regulator (if I unplugged the hose from the side).

Any suggestions will be gladly accepted,

Dennis