Hello All:

I am not sure if this is the proper way to provide closure for yesterday's "Help! Engine Died" post so please correct my forum etiquette if need be.

First of all, thanks to everyone who posted. I learned a lot before I ever got under the hood, then I learned more once I did get under there. I started small and worked my way up: I removed the fuel filter, blew through that, and the gas that came out looked very clean indeed. I removed the top of the fuel pump and could not get any further but again, all looked to be clean and okay. I blew through the fuel pump out line into the carburetor - no obstruction. I then blew through the fuel filter in line towards the tank. It took a LOT of energy but I could hear and feel the bubbling in the tank. I figured there might be an obstruction there. Of course, as I found out later, if I had opened the gas tank filler cap it might have been easier. Like I said before, mechanically inclined but unknowledgable.

I had already violated my scientific instinct of trying one procedure, reassembling and seeing if the problem was fixed, having performed about four or five procedures straight so I decided to reassemble everything at this point before I did the "carburetor fuel-in line into the jar" test. Truth be told, I forgot to bring a jar from the house and was too lazy to go down there to get one. Started the car up, and it turned over. Not surprising, since the car would start even when I had the problem. The good news is, it never died. It idled for 10 minutes, no worries. I got on the throttle a bit: no worries. I drove it up and down the street in first, then second, then third, finally fourth, low RPM - no worries. Up the RPMs - no worries.

But I still was not satisfied, because I did not feel like I had found any evidence of the problem's cause, it just went away. Well, lo and behold, I spoke to the previous owner last night, a Volvo tech, conveniently. He and I had previously discussed a situation similar to mine happening to him once about four months ago but he was unable to replicate the problem. He was crushed that I was having any kind of problem at all with the car because he did such beautiful prep work prior to my purchase, but was thrilled that we were able to finally figure it out. (Plug here: Gary Moran in Huntsville, AL is about the most decent human being with whom I have entered into a transaction. Honest beyond a fault, and so knowlegable about these Amazons as well as all other Volvos. If you get a chance to buy a car from him, drop everything and do it.) Gary and I talked for half an hour and we decided there is something in the tank that must be getting sucked into the inlet hose. A small piece of weld, perhaps, or a tiny gift from one of the gas stations' storage tanks.

The award once again goes to George Downs who suggested I (carefully) open the fuel sender port and see what is rattling down there. Gary and I came to the same conclusion. I will let everyone know what I find after the weekend.

At any rate, thanks again. This forum has been invaluable to me already, and I cannot wait until I can contribute some knowledge to someone in need and make their experiences as satisfying as mine have been.

Cheers,

Jeff Pucillo