Hello All!

I'm going crazy and here is why!

My 1987 Volvo 240DL was having a problem starting and it would take many times cranking before it would fire up. The external Fuel pump was also loud and whining.

I replaced the external pump and the starting problem was solved, it fired up instantly every time. I went for a ride and the car goes just fine but I hear the new external pump whining even louder!

I figure I need a new in-tank pump so I go and install a new one.

Now the car will start every time but then stall out instantly, it's not driveable at all and stalls if idling and quickly stalls if i give it any gas. Heres the strange part and I hope someone can help! If I pull the fuse for the intank pump the car runs perfectly but the new external pump is VERY loud. If I put in the fuse for the In-tank pump the car just dies upon startup.

I hope someone can help me. I need this fixed as soon as possible because I take care of an elderly mother that had a stroke. This volvo is my lifeline and I am stressed beyond imagination.

Thanks to anyone that can help...you'll be saving my life!

If this is the case you may be getting to much fuel to engine. I would then suspect FPR.

Joe

It's gotta be that the wires are reversed. you are literally sucking fuel out of the line and into the tank. DC motors; you have to hook them up correctly or they will spin the wrong way.
The fact that if you pull the fuse for the Intank and the car will run leads me to believe that the wires are reversed.
It's been too long since I did mine. Can you just reverse the wires in the Trunk instead of pulling the whole Sending unit again?
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'75 Jeep CJ5 345Hp ChevyPwrd, two motorcycles, '85 Pickup: The '89 Volvo is the newest vehicle I own. it wasn't Volvos safety , it was Longevity that sold me

I tried to reverse the wires in the trunk. It seems to run but the main pump is VERY loud. If I unplug the connector for the intank...the main gets loud...I then plug the intank back in (the way I had it not reversed) and all seems OK until it stalls again and both pumps seem quiet. Then the main starts getting loud again so I unplug the intank for a second and plug it back in and all is ok until it stalls.

With it reversed the main pump is always VERY loud.

I need help and will try anything at this point. I rely heavily on this vehicle and can't let it fail me.

I greatly appreciate the suggestions and just want ot say THANK YOU!

Keep them coming!

If it isn't a reversed pump then it may be as jscott suggests ie. flooding from a bad FPR?
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1980 245 Canadian B21A with SU carb and M46 trans

I tried to reverse the wires in the trunk.

I don't think you can. There are 2 wires in the plug/conn, Black is +12 to the pump, Gray goes to the gauge sender.

The pump ground is internal, from pump to return pipe (i.e., the sender chassis). The ground circuit (also common to gauge sender) is then complete from the top of the sender unit to the car body by a Brown wire.
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Bruce Young
'93 940-NA (current) — 240s (one V8) — 140s — 122s — since '63.

Is it theoretically possible to hook up the wires wrong on an in-tank pump and have it run backwards? I have no idea what I'm talking about, I'm just wondering if this would work.
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Drive it like you hate it

I'm wondering that too. Ie. if it is a DC pump, can reversing leads cause it to run in reverse?
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1980 245 Canadian B21A with SU carb and M46 trans

There is probably a diode in there somewhere to prevent this "backflow" of electricity.

Not that I know for sure, but just speculating.

Might be the problem though.
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If you listen to the radio in Portland, OR, you may know me as "Portland's Favorite Soul Brother!"

Great suggestion! When I changed my in-tank pump I remeber dealing with polarity of the leads. Don´t remember the looks of it, but it was clearly an issue to get it right.
My other hunch is the fuel pressure regulator as suggested below

Gustaf

You can leave the intank fuse out for now. Is it possible that some hoses got hooked up wrong or reversed?

Try two things. First replace or at least check the fuel filter next if you installed the intank pump did you replace the little rubber hose attached to it? I have heard of all kinds of problems with the pickup end of the pump..Just my thoughts..
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Max..1989 244 DL 5 Spd., Bilstein HD, Turbo Swaybars, Poly Bushings all round, Turbo Wheels, Black leather interior, Electric mirrors, LED dash and gauge lights.

Have you checked the return line from the fuel rail for blockage? Check the fuel pressure regulator to make sure the diaphragm is not leaking.

Dan

I'm wondering if the in-tank pump is the right one. Call IPD. They sell 2 different pumps for your car. One is a higher volume pump for just this situation. The other possibility is you either have a bad new pump or something is not connected right? I don't know. Pull the fuse for now. As long as you have above a 1/2 tank it will run without the in-tank pump for now.
I've got a noisy pump on my 84 that only acts up when the tank is close to empty or the tempature is above 85 or 90 outside. I left it alone.
Ben