I have been working on my 76’ 245dl Volvo, so my daughter can drive it to school.
everything is working well, except dependable starts.
‘I recently replaced the gas tank and sending unit.
‘still not getting a correct reading on the fuel gauge, sometimes it will move up, but for the most part it doesn’t move.
Yesterday my daughter drove it to school. When she got home, went to start it... nothing (trying to turn over, but wouldn’t fire).
I played with the fuse, check voltmeter on pump (only one, it’s external) and everything seemed ok. But wouldn’t start.
‘this morning went out (took kick panel off of fuses) and it fired right up.
I replaced the fuel relays about 2 years ago.
new distributor and plugs.
was going to pull the display and check connections on fuel gauge, but really need to be able to count on it to start.

Ideas appreciated.
Thanks

 

Are you saying that it reliably cranks, but doesn't always fire, or that it doesn't reliably crank?
Also, if it won't always crank what kind of sounds do you get when it's trying - clicking like solenoid, grinding like flywheel/flexplate, trying to turn but binding...?

 

It has no issue cranking.
It's like the fuel pump isn't responding (Trust me, you can hear it :-), Besides the fuel pump is only a few years old.
I know the electrical system on a car this old is a concern, I rewired the lights this fall.
It would crank and not fire when I first took ownership of the vehicle (my brother got it from our grandma, when our grandpa passed away).
Usually it was because the fuse had blown and wouldn't get power to the pump. Doesn't seem to be the case here.
I did try converting the European fuse panel for a bladed one (designed for Volvo), but it was too long to fit behind the kick panel.