My daughters 1987 Volvo 245 dl wouldn't start. We got it towed to a Volvo mechanic and he got it running, telling us the fuel pressure was not right. The car hasn't had the fuel gauge working since she bought it 3 years ago. The mechanic said the in take fuel pump didn't work as well as the fuel gauge and showed me the wires that went to the fuel sending unit/fuel pump were complete sheared off where they would go into the tank. He said the car would run fine without the in tank pump, as it had been for at least 3 years. I ordered a new fuel gauge sending unit and fuel pump from a place that specializes in Volvo's from Oregon. I had changed these on my VW's over the years so I thought I could do it. I got the car home and it did run fine on the non in tank fuel pump alone. Today I changed the in tank pump and fuel gauge sending unit. It went fine. I checked the new fuel pump. And the fuel gauge worked by hooking them up, it not actually installing them in the tank Then I put the components in and the car started and ran fine and the gauge worked. So i was happy. I went out a few hours later and now it won't start. I cranked and cranked and I can smell gas like it's flooded, but it doesn't fire up. A couple things I am thinking a out. I started the car and it ran a few minutes with no fuel lines hooked up during the period i was verifying the the new parts. The other is that the new pump that was sold to me was a higher capacity pump. The Volvo place recommended it, and maybe whatever the mechanic did to get the car running when he had it, that with the new pump the pressures aren't right or something now, does anyone have any ideas.

Thanks,

Dave

 

without the in-tank pump, the main pump has to work much harder. the gas tank is supposed to be sealed and develops a vacuum as it gets lower, making the main pump work even harder. this can cause the expensive main pump to wear out.

presumalby the higher capacity in-tank pump you intsalled was the one from the 16V and turbo versions, that pump is fine to use on a non-turbo car, it won't hurt anything. now, if you installed a pump meant for a Regina/Rex car, thats a whole different animal, and those in-tank pumps ARE the primary fuel pumps, so shouldn't be used with a main pump. they are also expensive.

my bet is, something ELSE entirely different is wrong. maybe your fuel pressure regulator is failing or something.

 

When you replaced your sending unit, did you use a Volvo branded unit or an aftermarket? I recently replaced my sending unit using an aftermarket brand and found the wiring to be reversed. The in-tank pump would run backwards given the wiring as it came. Fortunately I had read somewhere in the forums that this is a common issue and double checked all the wiring against my old sending unit before I installed the replacement.

 

I went out to the car the next day and it started right up. I don't understand what happened. The car did smell like it was flooded when I was trying to start it that day. It was an aftermarket sending unit though and the Volvo place new the car was not turbo, but recommended the new pump saying it was better then the OEM and the price was essentially the same so I went with it.