I had her running pretty good for a few months. got her to pass Ca smog and everything and was getting about 24 mpg. Not too bad. I've noticed that she starts to surge a little if I let her sit in the drive thru too long, or stop anywhere for any extended period of time. I planned to check for vacuum leaks. I went and bought all new tires for her and purchased new shocks. I went to autozone to pick up the shocks as they had to order them. I put the boxes in the trunk and went to start the Brick and..... nothing. The dash lights all came on but no attempt for the motor to turn over. I did notice when I started the car today that I thought I smelled something electrical burning. I even pulled back into the drive way to see if I could find anything. I didn't and the smell went away so proceeded to autozone. I had to get her towed home and if it doesn't rain tomorrow I'll put her on Jacks and check out the starter. I checked the battery and banged on the starter while I was at the parts shop, put it in gear and rolled it a little, put it in park and rocked it back and forth. Tried a bunch of little things to make sure the started wasn't stuck. I'm thinking maybe the ignition shorted and that was the electrical smell.
One thing I was noticing, if I remember correctly, aren't you supposed to hear a clicking sound when you apply the breaks and put the car in gear? I'm thinking I might need to check for the neutral safety switch? Any suggestions??


**** 1988 240 DL*******

 

Your 88 has a test connector under the hood immediatly behind the cylinder head against the firewall. It's a 14 or 12 gauge red wire with a single black connector on it. Just sits there forlornly with no visible purpose. You can jumper from there to the top connection of the starter solenoid, replacing the wire currently there. This bypasses the NS switch. Now it will start in any gear...but it WILL start...assuming it is indeed the switch. Otherwise, it's time to drag out the DVM and start testing.

 

try starting it in neutral instead of park, too.

 

I found the red connector against the firewall under the hood. Nice to know what that's for thanks! I was sitting in the drivers seat brainstorming this morning and decided to fiddle around with the shifter. I know I smelt electrical burning yesterday so I wa convinced it had to be something on the inside of the car. I started sniffing around to see if I could smell where it was coming from. IT smelt strongest at the base of the shifter (Automatic). So I figured something in there had to have shorted out. I turned the key on and turned it to engage the ignition with my left hand and wiggled things around in the shifter and I got a spark and a quarter engine turn.... Found my problem! That little plastic thing that makes contact with that circuit board type plastic thing is shorted. So to start the car, I move that plastic thing around slowly with the key turned all the way to ignition. Temporary fix that will get me back and forth to class this week. But I need to find that part name so I can order a new one. Any ideas what it's called, is that the neutral safety switch?

 

Yup...neutral safety switch.
Volvo Neutral Safety Switch (240 260) Scan Tech 9130035 | FCP Euro

 

I ordered the part last night.