This just started this morning while I was driving on the freeway. The engine just shut down (stopped running- all idiot lights came on and rpm=0). This occurred with no precusor indicators (nor did the engine run funny afterwards). I was at high speed and the engine restated it self within a second. This continued to occur at random intervals for the next 40 miles (until I got home). It also occurred several times at idle when I was at a stop light. As before, the engine just shut down (like someone turned off the key). I was able to immediately restart engine with no subsequent run problems (idle was in its normal range, no hunting, rough idle. etc). The shut down would reappear just seconds, minutes, or >30 minutes apart. I checked the high tension lead to the distributor, and moved the wires to the coil - no effect. any ideas??

My 86 740 w/269K just did the same thing last week. I changed the ignition switch and thought I had it fixed. It failed on the way home. Then I changed the power stage (found alot of corrosion on the back of it) and it ran great for 1 day then died again and wouldn't start at all. I replaced the distributor, cap, rotor, & wires. It has been running for a week now w/o a failure. KOW

This used to happen to my 1990 740, turned out to be the Radio Supression Relay. Unsure if you have one (my 1995 940 doesn't seem to - at least not at the same place). I'd suggest that you replace your Fuel Pump Relay, regardless. They say it's not a matter of "if" it fails, but "when" it fails. So replacement is worth the $25.00 even if it turns out to be something different.

If you can get it to happen regularly, I recall that the RSR works on the ground side of the system, and the pump relay works on the positive side of the system.

Of course it could be something completely different.
Good Luck

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Six Volvos: all wagons.... 1972 145S, 1976 245 DL, 1983 245 GL, 1986 740 GLE, 1990 740 GL, now a 1995 940. Number 7 (a 1967 122S Wagon) is on the way.... Who needs a sedan, when you've got storage compartments in a wagon?

is it a regina volvo if so make sure that all the connections at the battery are solid esp. the positive terminal

the car is a 1995, 940 with the 4 cylindar - no turbo. It has very very few relays. the Fuel pump relay is just an electro-mechanical relay unit - no circut board or joints to solder.

The top two fixes for this are the fuel pump relay and the crank position sensor. A distant third is the fuel injection relay, aka radio suppression relay.

Pull any codes you may have but often these will be false or phantom codes.
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Tom F. Couple of Volvos Mods, RainX & cup holders.

It could also be the ignition switch. Try wiggling the switch when the engine is on, if it cuts off...

Klaus
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98 V70Rawd(101Kmi), 95 854T(85K mi), 75 164E(173K mi)

Sounds like one of your relays is getting ready to give up the ghost, check the faqs on this, you can resolder them and be ready to go again.
Hope this gets you going in the right direction
Poolman