Please review all suggestions here for electromechanical problems that may cause your symptoms.

If you reside in an area of salt and snow, where cars are known to rust, the entire wiring harness at all connections, and connection to ground, are suspect. The corrosion at all wire harness interconnects can yield gremlin-like behaviors. Though the same holds true for a 1987 Volvo 240, or any 240, operating anywhere, globally.

Age and miles, and your locale, like salt and snow Minneapolis or Chicago, or dry Arizona, can have an effect.

At 28 years' of age, inside the fuel tank, the section of fuel line between the in-tank pre-pump and the fuel sending unit plate, secured to the top of the fuel tank, to which the low pressure fuel prime to the main fuel pump, and the low pressure fuel line returns, may have failed. If not already, all low pressure fuel line, on a 1987 Volvo 240, or any such aged Volvo auto, should be replaced with new fuel line meant for gasoline and ethanol mix. I think 12.7 mm inside diameter, yet forget the proper fuel line spec by name.

If not already replaced, doubtful any Volvo 240 to date has a solid fuel hose section between the in-tank pre-pump and the fuel sending unit plate.

A failing in-tank fuel pump, or if the sock filter on the in-tank pre-pump is clogged, may not be able to produce a plume of liquid gasoline high enough, to reach the fuel tank ceiling (if you will), and the metal fuel line section inside the fuel tank where the fuel line section may be. On the fuel tank exterior top, there is a low pressure fuel line that connects between the in-tank pre-pump output and the main fuel pump input (intake?).

As you turn, or corner, your 1987 Volvo 240, the fuel plume, if indeed that in-tank fuel hose section has deteriorated away, will miss the fuel tank ceiling so the main fuel pump remains primed. Also, that hose, at essence, become a liquid powder of very fine particulates or even a black sludge in the gasoline / ethanol mixture, that can clog the in-tank pre-pump sock filter and the main fuel pump filter.

If you create and register a proper brickboard.com account, and list your locale, it may be possible another brickboard.com member could help you in person. No, I'm not volunteering anyone. Just a suggestion.

I've also read there may be problems with the Volvo 240 ignition switch, certainly if you have a large and heavy key chain connected to it. It is best that you use a single key, or the lightest key chain arrangement possible as the ignition switch can suffer damage over time as well as the key cylinder lock.

As for Volvo-able mechanics in your area, see (copy and paste the URN):
- https://www.brickboard.com/SHOPS/
- http://www.volvomechanics.com/
- http://www.mechanicsfiles.com (Click and Clack Car Talk, I think)
- http://www.cartalk.com/mechanics-files

You will want to check with the BBB and other consumer protection services in your municipality, county, state, and at the federal level as useful. You can check the so-called opinion or review sites on the web, but bring a few salt grains with you as you do.

If your diagnostic and problem-solving finds you dealing with the fuel tank, our Art Benstein has detailed servicing the fuel sending unit, and replacing the main and pre pumps, and a host of adjacent systems that can help you and your mechanic. Please see:
- http://cleanflametrap.com/
- http://cleanflametrap.com/transferPump.htm (specifically)

Art B. I believe has a page here on main fuel pump issues not specific to Regina on 700. I recall a main fuel pump tear down page there, yet am not sure.

You may want to explore the Volvo 700-900-90 FAQ, click FAQ above, and explore issues on systems used on both 240 and those on 700 series, and perhaps early 900.

You should have Bosch LH-Jetronic 2.0, think. Using a test light or a multimeter, you can test continuity of the wire harness, verify whether the ECU(s) have fault codes, to help with your diagnosis.

Yet please review diagnostic and repair suggestions of the other brickboard member responses to your question. I'm guessing here as it is not listed in the set of possible causes here, yet. There may be a combination of faults causing your symptoms.

I think that does it.

Questions?

Back to cleaning out a Volvo 240, packin', and relocatin', to a locale without evil, mediocrity, and corruption.

Thanks,

Relocatin' MacDuffed.
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The Volvo 164: The Mightiest of All Volvo Automobiles in Perpetuity