Volvo RWD 900 Forum

INDEX FOR 10/2025(CURRENT) INDEX FOR 1/2005 900 INDEX

[<<]  [>>]


THREADED THREADED EXPANDED FLAT PRINT ALL
MESSAGES IN THIS THREAD




  REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

96 960 hard start/won't stay running 900

This is a followup to a previous post. Short version ... Cranks fine, seems like no fire, fuel pressure good then it'll start nd idle perfect for about 30 seconds. 1st hint is a single miss,followed by a double miss approx 5 seconds later, then multiple miss within 3 seconds till it quits. Then lots of cranking before it'll restart if at all. Let it sit for a day and it will do it all over again. All without any codes or lights. Having checked all connections & grounds I bought the Volvo green Motronic 4.4 manual and the wiring diagram. Very informative. I checked every component in the system at least once. All check good individually, eventually. If I would get a bad voltage reading or out of range ohm reading I'd drop to the next step to isolate and it would always check good. Finally in desperation I began disconnecting individual components prior to starting, that, if the ECM doesn't see a signal from it will still operate from a default value. The IAC, AMM, TPS,accelerometer,and purge valve, all gave MIL lights & codes when disconnected. When I disconnected the cam position sensor it would not start at all (contrary to the manual). The ECM is supposed to fire twice per revolution in that condition as it doesn't know what point on the stroke the piston is at. When both O2 sensors were disconnected it ran the longest it has prior to starting the miss syndrome. When it finally died I still didn't have a code or a MIL light. I'm leaning towards a bad ECM. Anyone else with a guess,wisdom,experience?








  •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

    96 960 hard start/won't stay running 900

    How about the position sensor at the flywheel? As I remember my read of the manual the ECU can substitute for the cam sensor IF the position sensor on the flywheel is working OK. Maybe that is the best clue yet??????
    --
    '96 965 with 16' wheels at 118K. Had '85 745 Turbo Diesel for 200K.








    •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

      96 960 hard start/won't stay running 900

      That was the first part I replaced even though it tested good. New one tests good as well. Right by the book. That's what's so funny, it will start and idle perfectly for about a minute when it gets damn good and ready. Then it'll quit & might not start for 2 days worth of cranking. I get the flashing transmission mode selector lights as well during cranking sometimes, then I know it won't start. I'm thinking of disconnecting the trans control module prior to trying to start the next time to see if that will make it quit doing that. I don't have that part of the wiring diagram yet. I've been pulling my hair out on this one. When I find it, all y'all will know.








  •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

    96 960 hard start/won't stay running 900

    Try unplugging the ECM (after disonnecting the battery negative terminal and waiting a few minutes),spraying contact cleaner on the connector and reinstalling.If you can find freeze spray at an electronics store,use it to cool down the ECM (if cleaning the connector doesn't fix things)-if car runs longer,you have a bad ECM.Good luck! sredwine 98 V90,94 940T








  •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

    96 960 hard start/won't stay running 900

    Additional info. After repeated attemps to start finally succeded, at the 1st misfire I began applying percussive maintenance to the ECM. I immediately got multiple misfires & the engine died. I think I've confirmed my suspicions about a bad ECM. I'll repost as soon as I get another ECM to test.








    •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

      96 960 hard start/won't stay running 900

      Bad ECM's are rare, I would explore corroded/loose connections first. Sometimes just the simple act of unplugging and replugging is enough to get things working again.

      Just my 2 cents.

      DanR 94 964 261,000 miles (27,000 on the new engine)
      --
      DanR







<< < > >>



©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.