Happy Easter!

Seems the only casualty of the mid-west US monsoons is that our 1987 245, 317K miles, isn't starting.

This car has been rock solid for us, all winter and in any weather. The wiring harness looks to have been upgraded by a previous owner. With the 740 still questionable at the time (fun story), my girlfriend drove it to work Monday night (about 80 miles), back Tuesday morning (another 80 miles). Car sat (tipped towards the passenger side) until middle of the day on Thursday (after 2-3" of rainfall) at which point it wouldn't start. On Friday, girlfriend gave it another try at which point the battery (brand new Volvo dealership battery - thanks PO!) was dead. I got the battery fully charged after getting a spiffy new charger. :)

Today I dug into it. Put as fresh 25 amp fuse (pulled the holder apart to clean), plopped the battery in (larger spark to the negative terminal than I'm used to seeing here, BTW). Turned her over, it made a "hopeful" sound for a split second, but no luck. Unplugged the AMM, still no go. Girlfriend came out to turn the key, and I pulled out a spark plug (surprisingly turned out to be a Bosch platinum, kinda yucky tip). Turn her over, good spark! OK... I pulled off the return line from the FPR, put a zip lock bag over it. Girlfriend turns the key, no real fuel comes out, but a dribble after she released the key. So I plugged the AMM back in, give the thumbs up, look close at the baggy on the FPR, girlfriend turns the key (remember the spark plug isn't back in), engine roars to life! Loud noises from the open plug hole, gas gushing out! STOP STOP STOP! We both laugh. OK, put the plug back in, wire on, reconnect the fuel return from the regulator, turn it over, no start. Fek. Pull a plug wire off.. it starts (running happy as a clam on three cylinders, too!). Run it a little bit... turn it off... try again... no start. OK, put the plug wire back on, and it starts right up. OK... engine off... Try again, and no go. Pull a plug wire, turn it over, and it comes to life, move the car up the driveway on three cylinders just to get it out of the way so I can get the 740 into the carport tomorrow. The 240's alternator belt squeals a little when it's revved. Once it's moved, we try a few more plug wire on/off iterations (#1 or #2 wires, BTW)... when it starts, alternator belt's still squealing a bit when the engine is revved.

Any idea's what the problem might be? Could Bosch platinum's cause this sort of funk? Could the coil not be sending the "I'm running" signal to the FI? Thoughts on where to look next? Coincidence between the larger spark at the negative terminal when hooking up the battery and the alt squeal? Could an alternator problem be partly to blame here?

This week I'm going to go crazy with a wire brush and dielectric grease, replace the 25amp fuse holder, all fuses, cap, rotor, wires, and evil platinum plugs. Anything else worth replacing preventatively?

Thanks so much!
-Ryan



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Athens, Ohio
1987 245 DL 314k, Dog-mobile
1990 245 DL 134k M47, E-codes, GT Sway Bars
1991 745 GL 300k, Regina, 23/21mm Turbo Sway Bars
Buckeye Volvo Club