Volvo AWD 850 Forum

INDEX FOR 10/2025(CURRENT) INDEX FOR 6/2004 850 INDEX

[<<]  [>>]


THREADED THREADED EXPANDED FLAT PRINT ALL
MESSAGES IN THIS THREAD




  REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE Replies to this message will be emailed.    PRINT   SAVE 

1994 850 randomly stalls or won't start 850 1994

Well, the cam shaft sensor has been rplaced but the problems continue.

This happens in one of two situations: where the car has been soaking in the sun for several hours and/or I've been making lots of short city trips (runs of less than 10KM or 6MI)-- car will almost catch and then not start or fire; and where I've been driving with no problems and the engine dies and I coast to a stop.

Very unsafe to happen on the highway (only twice).

This seems to have been happening on hot humid days. The garage and other sources initially thought that the cam position sensor might have gone heat-mad and started giving false signals.

Well, a week ago, the sensor was replaced ($400CDN job) and I've had three dead engines in the last week (one non-start, two road-deaths).

Situation is the same: pop the hood, try about every minute or two until it fires up again (perfect start, no slow resurrection from the dead.)

My wife is not happy, I am not happy, and the problem still ahsn't been resolved.

I've had two suggestions that may work:
the fuel shutoff may be the culprit
resetting car's memory by pulling the battery cables

Anyone else have a possible solution?








  •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

    1994 850 randomly stalls or won't start 850 1994

    Same problem here a few months ago, first turn key halfway and see if you can hear fuel pump in back seat. If its fine then go ahead and ONLY replace fuel pump relay.

    1994 855 5-speed 155,000.








  •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

    1994 850 randomly stalls or won't start 850 1994

    Have experienced the same problems with my 94 850 over the past summer.
    The car typically would not restart after a short trip. Give it a couple of moments and it fires right up. Occasional stall while driving - again during short trips, after the car has heated up. Problem is most frequent during periods of high heat and humidity. (Does yours go into high rev's on start-up?)
    Cleaned the idle motor, mass air inlet, replaced fuel filter, ran injector cleaner through, changed gas stations, etc., etc. - nothing helped.
    Finally got so po'd that I bought an OBDII interface for the car and using Scantool software came up with following diagnostic,
    "closed fuel loop, O2 sensor fault". Last week my "Lambda Sond" warning indicator light came on (green triangle with a greek symbol inside), ran another diagnostic and came up with the same message. I did use the Scantool software to reset the chip and since have not had any stalling issues although I now have the "service engine" warning light come on for @ 1 minute every time I restart the car. Also it's been cooler...
    Given all that I've gone through so far my best guess is that it's time to replace one or both of the O2 sensors on the car.
    Good luck, and let me know if you find your solution.
    Armie
    --
    Imagine all the people...








    •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

      1994 850 randomly stalls or won't start 850 1994

      Same thing in our old '94 850. It was an O2 sensor...believe the front one.
      The Service light is just an oil-change reminder light...easily turned off from the "A" black box next to the washer fluid filler tank under the hood (can't turn it off with a scan tool).
      --
      1998 S70 T5 Emarald Green Metallic, 2004 V70 2.5T Ruby Red, Previous Owner of Black '94 850 Turbo Wagon








      •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

        1994 850 randomly stalls or won't start 850 1994

        Thanks,
        Wasn't sure about the check engine light - good thing to know, and easy to reset.
        Glad to hear confirmation of my suspicion regarding the front O2 sensor; Bay 13 has good instructions on replacing those.
        Forgot to mention in my original post that I also ran a test on the fuel pump relay and the pump, and ruled those out as a possible cause of the stalling problem in my case.
        Armie
        --
        Imagine all the people...








  •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

    1994 850 randomly stalls or won't start 850 1994

    Next time it stalls, turn the key to the accesory on position, don't try to start the car, see if you can hear the fuel pump pressurize. If the pump isn't pressurizing, it is your fuel pump relay. I know on the 93 models, and i believe still on the 94 models, the Fuel Pump Relay wears out. I had a stalling problem on my 93, where it would die and then take a few minutes before it would start again. Turned out the be the fuel pump relay, about a $60-70 part and less than 5 minutes of time to replace yourself.







<< < > >>



©Jarrod Stenberg 1997-2022. All material except where indicated.


All participants agree to these terms.

Brickboard.com is not affiliated with nor sponsored by AB Volvo, Volvo Car Corporation, Volvo Cars of North America, Inc. or Ford Motor Company. Brickboard.com is a Volvo owner/enthusiast site, similar to a club, and does not intend to pose as an official Volvo site. The official Volvo site can be found here.