Hello everybody!

My volvo starst and runs for a few seconds and then sputters and dies. If I press the gas pedal it will continue to run although not very smoothly; as I let the gas go, the engine will die. I have checked the fuel pump relay, it seems to be working ok, replaced the crank position sensor, spark plugs and fuel pressure regulator, fuel pump is ok; still same problem. Do you think camshaft position sensor? Plugged fuel injectors? What else could be keeping the car from running? It began acting up a week before, it would die when coming to a stop some times, then suddenly refused to run. Can you give some insight on what could be wrong?

Thanks a lot!

I had this same exact problem with my 95 850 Turbo and so did my mom with her 94 850. We both went crazy for over 6 months dealing with stalling and not starting, letting off gas pedal and stalling and more crazy stuff. The cars were actually becoming unsafe to drive! My mom actually had tons of stuff replaced (over $1000) and, in the end, it was the fuel pump relay switch. Same thing on my car. I changed out the fuel pump relay switch and have never had another problem. My mom hasn't either. Our cars run smooth and quiet now and have not stalled once in 5 months. Hope this helps.

I'm in agreement with Mr. Norm....Mass air flow sensor sounds like your primary culprit...disconnect it...if the vehicle runs (idles)better...reconnect it...if the engine quits after recon...there you have it...very common issue...dont be afraid to buy a second hand replacement..good luck....MJ

Bad idle air control valve?

You need to decide if it is running rich or lean. Does it emit black smoke or gas smell. Most of the time this doesn't happen.

Lean is usually an air leak between the air mass meter and the engine. The bellows/duct tube is loose or cracked.

Next it the throttle body. The thing your foot controls. It is betwween the other things mentioned. It has a little guy that tell the engine controls what you want and where the throttle is. The throttle switch! Idle, off idle (driving) and wide open (full load). The computer has a mapped response to follow. If the things are out of step you guessed it!

Check switch ajustment and cleanest of the throttle body to start against the specs called out in a manual.

This switch is the most human use item in the system. Like wise the most likely starting point to probe around!

Try disconnecting the MAF and see if runs. If yes, time for a new MAF, unless you can clean the current one.

Good luck.

Maybe vacuum leak (?) There's a couple small elbows that are easy to miss.
Good Luck
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'97 855na, Mobil 1, K&N, various IPD's and eBay's

http://www.ipdusa.com/Volvo-850/Engine/Engine-Mechanical/Engine-Induction-&-Intake/Vacuum-Elbow-Kit/p-72-153-168-172-538/

"First, the ⏦ degree elbow] located on the pass side of the intake manifold behind the power steering pump [was the one I had to replace] & second on the intake tube right after the mass air flow sensor."

I got mine at a dealership for $8 or $10 rather than a whole set I wouldn't use. Since it was very hard to get to I had an independent tech do it.

Hope that's the problem
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'97 855na, Mobil 1, K&N, various IPD's and eBay's