Another One: Engine Wont Start!
Dirtymech
03-19-2006, 10:26 PM
Hey all. Mad props to Uncle Bob for helping me with the Explorer. This time it's a 1990 Volvo 240 DL (automatic tranny) that is giving me problems.
When the customer first contacted me, she said her car wouldn't start and that the fuel pump could be to blame. She said that during constant speeds, on highway or city streets, the engine would just die on her. Her boyfriend had replaced the fuel pump earlier in an attempt to fix the problem.
When I first came to the car the ignition switch would not turn the starter motor on. At first we thought it was the starter, but after not having any luck with a new starter, we put the old one back in. I tested the ignition switch wire for voltage while having the key turned, and NO POWER to the ignition switch wire. So I hooked up a jumper wire to the ignition switch terminal on the starter.
Touching the end of the jump cable to the ignition switch allowed us to operate the starter motor and turn the engine over. But the engine would still not start. Because of the previous problems with the fuel pumps (this car has two; an in-tank secondary and out-of-tank primary) I checked the line to the fuel rail and found NO gas was getting to the rail. I checked the fuses near the kick panel near the driver's side door, and all the fuses were good.
So I checked for voltage at the in-tank fuel pump and guess what? NO voltage to the pump. No voltage to the primary pump under the car either.
I suspected a bad wire in the electrical system, so I decided to install a new acessory wire circuit. I found an accessory wire (hot only with the key turned on) under the rear seat on the driver's side (a big red one). I hooked that up to both fuel pump and got them to run when the key was on. So now we had plenty of fuel going to the rail. Turned the motor over with a fresh battery. Damn thing STILL wouldn't start.
I highly suspect an electrical failure at this time. I think the engine computer is not allowing the EFI or some other essential electrical system to operate, which is making the engine not want to start. It could be related to the failure of the ignition switch, which is DEFINITELY not working at this time (hence the jumper wire to the starter motor).
Does anyone have any ideas? This poor woman who owns the Volvo lives in west oakland and really needs her car to run so that she can drop off/pick up her child from daycare, and I would really love to help her out and fix this thing! All ideas are up for consideration at this time, because I'm fresh out...
When the customer first contacted me, she said her car wouldn't start and that the fuel pump could be to blame. She said that during constant speeds, on highway or city streets, the engine would just die on her. Her boyfriend had replaced the fuel pump earlier in an attempt to fix the problem.
When I first came to the car the ignition switch would not turn the starter motor on. At first we thought it was the starter, but after not having any luck with a new starter, we put the old one back in. I tested the ignition switch wire for voltage while having the key turned, and NO POWER to the ignition switch wire. So I hooked up a jumper wire to the ignition switch terminal on the starter.
Touching the end of the jump cable to the ignition switch allowed us to operate the starter motor and turn the engine over. But the engine would still not start. Because of the previous problems with the fuel pumps (this car has two; an in-tank secondary and out-of-tank primary) I checked the line to the fuel rail and found NO gas was getting to the rail. I checked the fuses near the kick panel near the driver's side door, and all the fuses were good.
So I checked for voltage at the in-tank fuel pump and guess what? NO voltage to the pump. No voltage to the primary pump under the car either.
I suspected a bad wire in the electrical system, so I decided to install a new acessory wire circuit. I found an accessory wire (hot only with the key turned on) under the rear seat on the driver's side (a big red one). I hooked that up to both fuel pump and got them to run when the key was on. So now we had plenty of fuel going to the rail. Turned the motor over with a fresh battery. Damn thing STILL wouldn't start.
I highly suspect an electrical failure at this time. I think the engine computer is not allowing the EFI or some other essential electrical system to operate, which is making the engine not want to start. It could be related to the failure of the ignition switch, which is DEFINITELY not working at this time (hence the jumper wire to the starter motor).
Does anyone have any ideas? This poor woman who owns the Volvo lives in west oakland and really needs her car to run so that she can drop off/pick up her child from daycare, and I would really love to help her out and fix this thing! All ideas are up for consideration at this time, because I'm fresh out...
UncleBob
03-20-2006, 01:16 PM
this is the joy of electrical diagnostics. Unless a Volvo guru comes on that knows these cars like the back of his hand and can tell you exactly what is most likely the problem, you are stuck tracing power.
The problem being (as you probably know) wiring diagrams for volvo's are always horrible, its hard to get good data on them. You've definitely got a more global problem than just lack of power to the fuel pump, something upstream is fubar.
The problem being (as you probably know) wiring diagrams for volvo's are always horrible, its hard to get good data on them. You've definitely got a more global problem than just lack of power to the fuel pump, something upstream is fubar.
Dirtymech
03-20-2006, 10:18 PM
Awww well heck! I guess I'll have to see if the ignition switch is really working or something is preventing the power from getting to the ignition switch wire.
Also I'll test the spark plug wires to make sure it's providing spark, and take out a spark plug to see if gasoline buids up on the threads (which would show the injectors are working). Because if theres spark and gas, but no start, then its a timing issue I imagine.
Also I'll test the spark plug wires to make sure it's providing spark, and take out a spark plug to see if gasoline buids up on the threads (which would show the injectors are working). Because if theres spark and gas, but no start, then its a timing issue I imagine.
Dirtymech
03-23-2006, 10:55 PM
Hey I found out more! I'm totally committed to fixing this by the way, I don't care how long I gotta bang my head against the wall.
The Volvo 240 has sixteen fuses. I tested the fuses with the key off and the key on. It appears that fuse # 4, which is the primary fuel pump circuit, is DEAD as a doornail. The fuse is good, but no power to the circuit.
ALSO: VERY IMPORTANT! There is more than just the fuel pump running through that circuit. The heater core is also on it, not important. But the "Lambda SOND" is also on that circuit, and I'm not sure exactly what this is. Is it the oxygen sensor, or anything that could cause the engine not to start?
Anyone know what the hell the Lambda SOND on a Volvo is?
The Volvo 240 has sixteen fuses. I tested the fuses with the key off and the key on. It appears that fuse # 4, which is the primary fuel pump circuit, is DEAD as a doornail. The fuse is good, but no power to the circuit.
ALSO: VERY IMPORTANT! There is more than just the fuel pump running through that circuit. The heater core is also on it, not important. But the "Lambda SOND" is also on that circuit, and I'm not sure exactly what this is. Is it the oxygen sensor, or anything that could cause the engine not to start?
Anyone know what the hell the Lambda SOND on a Volvo is?
mazdatech177
03-24-2006, 12:47 PM
fix what you know is broke first and see what that takes care of. if the ign switch is faulty then that will certainly prevent power distribution to fuses and relays. check fuel pump relays as well
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