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Right now, there's too much resistance down the ignition path, and thus the #1 and #15 terminals on the coil are an easier path for the spark. You've probably got one of the following three situations:
1. Spark plug wire issue. One of your wires has higher than normal resistance to it (an internal core break, partial break, or bad connector).
2. One or all of your plugs has higher than normal resistance. Remove platinum plugs if you have them (and replace with conventional plugs), or a conventional plug may have a gap that is too large. The ignition system in your vehicle is designed for resistive plugs, but if one or more of them is creating too much resistance, -the spark will find an alternate (easier) path.
3. The contacts on the underside of your distributor cap have corrosion on them. As the spark is transfered from the rotor to the cap, some of the metal is burned off the points where the arc makes its jump. The small amount of carbon starts to grow over time and begins to form visible deposits. If the carbon deposits on the contacts get wet (from condensation or splashed water), the resistance can skyrocket and in many cases it's high enough to prevent any kind of spark transfer. Of note: in some cases, moisture in the distributor cap or spark plug boot will provide a short to ground, in other cases it increases the resistance. -it depends on what chemicals & minerals are disolved in the water.
I'm betting on problem/solution #3 as mentined above. Just last month, I was doing some emergency work on a 940 that had blown a thermostat. After I finished the repair (and had tested the engine), I hosed off the engine bay to remove the final traces of engine coolant. I was unable to restart the car, and on a hunch I pulled the distributor cap. There was a lot of corrosion on the contacts, and some condensation on them as well. A quick scrap of the screwdriver on all 4 terminals and the rotor solved the problem. The distributor was also missing the condensation trap/shield that prevents water from directly getting to the contact points. This is a black disc that mounts under the rotor on both 200 and 700/900 vehicles.
Also of note, here is a lengthy post on the OEM Volvo spark plugs and plug wires:
http://www.brickboard.com/RWD/index.htm?id=734042
God bless,
Fitz Fitzgerald.
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'87 Blue 245, NA 239K
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