Hi all,
My 740 gle has 193,000 miles on it. Eleven months ago I had a rebuilt starter put in my a small local independent Volvo garage. Starting a few months ago I started experiencing some starting problems. On one occasion when I tried to start it the starter wouldn't turn over with a normal chug but I got a fairly high pitched whine/hum that continued as I pulled out the key. It continued to do this for several minutes and then started to smoke for another minute or two. These symptoms then stopped.
I waited a few minutes and when I tried to start it again it started right up. Weeks later when I was trying to start it I got the same high pitched whine/hum/occasional clunking which continued after I pulled the key. I popped the hood and disconnected one of the battery terminals and the sound stopped.

I had the car towed to the garage and they could not diagnose the problem or get the problem to reoccur. I'm driving it again and again it has given me the whine/hum but I've turned off the key,waited a few minutes and it's started up. The starter starting up now is sounding rougher now. The garage thinks it may be electrical in the wiring harness but they are unsure.

Based on my lengthy post (sorry!) does any one have any ideas? I have a bother who thinks it could be electrical within the starter itself. I know tracking down mysterious electrical issues can prove evasive and expensive. I'm inclined to take it in and ask them to put in a OEM new starter. The last one they put in was a rebuilt Bosch I believe. Thanks for any thoughts.


Cheers,
Vance