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So I've been driving my 1985 245DL for seventeen years (actually about 6000 hours) and 236K mi., and its not started a few (<10) times.
Last friday volvo started as usual, it never cranks (unlike my 90 245DL) - it just comes to life and purrs. I guess the fuel system just stays well primed. Anyway, I drove the 16 miles down the old pike to Towson and parked. Three hours later I slipped back into the crackedfrayed driver side seat, and turned the ignition switch. Volvo cranked, but only cranked with great energy.
Both fuel pumps were replaced about 7K mi (18 months) ago. I had maybe eight gallons in the tank. I have nice new fuses in clean holders for both pumps. The 25A fuse upfront is new and its replacement inline holder has clean contacts. I thought I heard the pump hum for a second after turning the key and certainly heard the pump relay click.
I waited and tried starting over the next hour. Nada. I came back 18 hours later turned the key - Volvo starts as if everything is normal.
This not-starting behavior (followed by an overnight wait, then starts OK) has occurred only once before - about three weeks ago. At the time I attributed it to a soaking two inch rain fall after a month of hot dry weather. Now I dunno - its been dry since then. Volvo has started normally 10-15 times in the past week and has been running fine.
I've read the posts to this foum and have seen a lot of non-start cases, but none quite like this one. I found your site a few days ago and have been amazed by the depth of knowledge and intuition here (no - really!) I would appreciate any ideas you care to type in. Thanks,
Ken
Actually the first non-start case I remember was in 1985. Cold weather - engine starts, whimpers, then dies. After about 4 or 5 visits to Village Volvo and replacement of various parts, most critically the air mass meter I think, the problem seemed to diminish, until next winter when the problem (with the engine and Village Volvo) reccurs.
Then there was the time in 1987 where volvo, after sitting for ten minutes while I grabbed a burger on York road, failed to start. After repeated coaxing within a mere 15 miunutes volvo fires up and I'm on my way.
Latter that year, there was that tank of bad gas (I think).
Then in 1989 at FSK, when the 25A fuse was blown - Something I didn't know about.
Then in 1990 on Mountain Rd in the snow, that same 25A fuse, but somehow I had forgotten about it.
Then nearly 10 years go by, volvo is in my driveway, fails to start and fuel pumps are replaced.
Then a year later, this past winter, volvo cranks - won't start, but if I wait 10 minutes everything is fine. Also, more dangerously, engine quits in traffic and won't restart. Remember that 25A fuse, once again its the culprit.
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