Volvo AWD 850 Forum

INDEX FOR 10/2025(CURRENT) INDEX FOR 8/2005 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 

Strange starting problem...Hmmm 850 1995

posted by  paully_21 on  Tue Aug 30 01:54 CST 2005
Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS] [RELATED]

Okay this one has me stumped.

Yesterday, after driving for two hours with no signs of problems, I tried to restart my car (after a pit stop) and everything went dead. The clock and outside air temp reverted to 24 hr and celsius and nothing happened as far as cranking. The lcd for the clock and outside air temp was flickering and the interior lights were dimmed and flickering a bit.

I jumped the car and it started fine, ran totally fine but when I stopped it and tried to restart, nothing, all power instantly gone.

If (after running) I turn the key to the on position, I'll see all of the dash lights as normal. But, as soon as I try to start it, everthing is dead and remains dead. That is, unless I jump start it. Then it will start just fine. But, until then if I put the key in the on position, the flickering remains.

I get 12 volts from the battery while it is not running, but I haven't tested it while it was running to see if it is 14+.

My thought was bad (something in the) alternator or starter. It seems to me that a short is created when I try to start the car that is not handled by any fuse.








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

    Strange starting problem...Hmmm 850 1995

    posted by  jpryb on  Tue Aug 30 05:32 CST 2005
    Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS] [RELATED]

    Dead battery. Get it checked, and also get the altnernator checked to make sure it is supplying charge to the battery.

    I had the same symptoms. The battery was toast. New battery and all was well again.

    Good luck.








  •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

    Strange starting problem...Hmmm 850 1995

    posted by  someone claiming to be ksg on  Tue Aug 30 04:16 CST 2005 [RELATED]

    The battery may be intact but nearly at the end of its life with almost no reserve. The battery connections may be corroded (even if they look perfectly ok on the surface). Either of these problems may surface especially in hot weather when resistances of circuits increase. Not a short circuit, a partially open circuit. Monitor the voltage at the battery cables while actually starting. Suspect the above if the voltage falls below about 8.5 to 9 volts with the starter engaged, on a warm day.








  •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

    Strange starting problem...Hmmm 850 1995

    posted by  fixit2003 on  Tue Aug 30 03:08 CST 2005
    Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS] [RELATED]

    A fair number of ignition switches seem to go bad on 850's judging by what others have said. Could be it??








    •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

      Strange starting problem...Hmmm 850 1995

      posted by  rtparr on  Tue Aug 30 06:02 CST 2005
      Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS]
      last visit: Tue Apr 30 16:15 CST 2013
      [RELATED]

      Paully--I'm in agreement with the post that said to check your ignition switch. I own two 97 wagons and haven't had any ignition problems yet--ABS and gas cap lock, yes on both models--but along with the above two and the evaporator, the ignition switch seems to go out with regularity. I'm told it's a twenty minute job and a fifty dollar part. A weak battery would not generate the symptoms you have. You would hear the engine turn over slowly or a loud click from the solenoid. But if the key when you turn it does not complete the circuit to the starter solenoid, the starter won't engage. Why it would though if you jump start it is somewhat of a mystery. That would tend to weaken my argument in favor of the battery.

      Take a can or CRC electrical cleaner, disconnect the battery, stick the little tube into the key slot, and flush it. Wait a while for the cleaner to evaporate, and then reconnect the battery and try it. There are some people who clean the wax out of their ears with the end of the key, stick it in the ignition, and then wonder why their electrics went south after a while. Dick








      •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

        Strange starting problem...Hmmm 850 1995

        posted by  Larry P on  Tue Aug 30 07:06 CST 2005
        Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS] RSS Feed     [IGNORE ALL POSTS]
        last visit: Fri May 1 13:19 CST 2009
        [RELATED]

        Dick, did you know that the electrical part of the ignition switch is a seperate part, mounted on the back of the key part? So much said for spraying cleaner in the key slot and ear wax problem. The electrical part is available as a replacement item.







<< < > >>



©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.