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help wife stranded - won't start PNP switch? 850

posted by  Keith A on  Thu Jun 15 07:55 CST 2006
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last visit: Tue Dec 17 11:53 CST 2013
[RELATED]

Wife just called and car won't crank. Everything else works, no click or anything when she tries to crank it. It is a 96 850 wagon non turbo. New battery, 2 year old starter, 270,000 miles. PNP has never been replaced.

If that is what it is, can you jump it to get home or do I have to haul it?

Thanks,

Keith







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    help wife stranded - won't start PNP switch? 850

    posted by  Boobaka on  Thu Jun 15 08:36 CST 2006
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    Keith, A bad PNP shouldnt cause a no start issue. Has your alternator ever been replaced?








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      help wife stranded - won't start PNP switch? 850

      posted by  someone claiming to be ksg on  Thu Jun 15 12:13 CST 2006 [RELATED]

      Not true - the PNP acts as a "neutral safety switch" to ensure the car can't be started in gear. Contacts will erode over the years which can result in no starting. It has happened to me on 2 different cars. 2nd time I proved it by looking inside the old switch and finding the contact tracks had worn right through.

      That said, there can of course be many other causes for a no-start including bad charging system/battery as you suggest.








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        help wife stranded - won't start PNP switch? 850

        posted by  rancher rick on  Thu Jun 15 14:44 CST 2006
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        last visit: Thu Sep 25 21:22 CST 2014
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        Hi,
        Based on my experience with my wife`s 95 850 wagon it could well be the PNP switch. 3 yrs ago her car would not start so had it towed to an indie shop. They guessed at the problem(on our dime), put a new battery in, still no start. OK! lets try a fuel pump; hmm, that didn`t work. Finally I had it towed to a shop where the problem was diagnosed correctly; PNP switch
        This was pre Brickboard days for me so it was an expensive lesson.
        Good luck!
        Rich








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      help wife stranded - won't start PNP switch? 850

      posted by  Keith A on  Thu Jun 15 10:12 CST 2006
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      last visit: Tue Dec 17 11:53 CST 2013
      [RELATED]

      Battery is strong, everything was working. Starter would not do anything. No click or anything. Radio, fan, lights, horn ok.

      When I got there, I got in turned the key and it started perfectly. I started it 4 or 5 more times. Drove it home and started it again no problem.

      Thanks for all the good input!

      Keith








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        help wife stranded - won't start PNP switch? 850

        posted by  someone claiming to be whitewagon on  Thu Jun 15 18:49 CST 2006 [RELATED]

        Hi, this happens to my '94 wagon, too. Like the others, I think the PNP switch is going out. Some days mine will not crank until I do one of two things:
        1. turn ignition to accessories position, then row the shifter back & forth a few times. Usually will crank then.
        2. turn ignition to accessories position, release the parking brake, let car move car slightly. It'll usually crank in this new position.

        Try it. But sooner or later the pnp will need to be replaced. :-/

        Don
        '94 855T








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          help wife stranded - won't start PNP switch? 850

          posted by  mbsl98 on  Fri Jun 16 08:02 CST 2006
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          last visit: Sat Feb 2 12:35 CST 2008
          [RELATED]

          If this is caused by the neutral safety switch function in the PNP, shouldn't you be able to bypass the worn sections by shifting to Neutral, and possibly by moving the shifter around slightly while holding the key in start position? Either would be only a way to get going to get on home, etc, not a "fix"
          --
          Mike Sullivan ('95 855T (88k), '98 V70XC (92k), '95 855 NA (135k). Past Volvo's: '85 744 (256k), '86 245 (165k), '86 245 (195k), '88 745 (208k), '91 745 (196k), '93 965 (147k) .








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            help wife stranded - won't start PNP switch? 850

            posted by  cley on  Wed Jun 21 10:59 CST 2006
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            last visit: Fri Apr 27 06:33 CST 2012
            [RELATED]

            When it happens: with the key on, put the gear shifter back and forth through all the gears and it should start...might try pushing the PNP button too. It has been an intermittent problem on mine for a long while sometimes going sevral months in between occurrences.

            If you are having other odd electrical symptoms then clean the ground on the body in front of the battery.
            --
            '95 854T 135,000








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        Keith; it may still be the PNP 850

        posted by  rancher rick on  Thu Jun 15 14:48 CST 2006
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        last visit: Thu Sep 25 21:22 CST 2014
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        Keith,
        Just read your last thread. Back to my wife`s 850; it did that as well with seemingly random start problems & finally, left her stranded. I would seriously consider putting in a new PNP switch.
        Rich








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          Keith; it may still be the PNP 850

          posted by  MadeInJapan on  Sun Jun 18 04:17 CST 2006
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          last visit: Sat Oct 2 06:34 CST 2010
          [RELATED]

          Could just be the ignition ring...these tend to go bad. Did you use the same key as your wife? Could also make a difference.
          --
          1998 S70 T5 Emarald Green Metallic, 2004 V70 2.5T Ruby Red, Previous Owner of Black '94 850 Turbo Wagon. My cars have been running so well lately they've got me worried.







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