Hello all,
this is my first thread.
I have a 1988 Volvo 740 GLE. Yesterday, I woke up, started the car and drove it to breakfast. After sitting for 2 hours (in the hot summer sun), it would not start. The engine would try to turn over, but would not start. I had it towed it to my usual mechanic and they are claiming that the problem is a "box" that is connected to the distributor called the Ignition Control Unit. They are having problems finding the part. Looking on line under "1988 Volvo 740 Ignition Control Unit", i find several different parts that all look very different, but none that are a "box." The only one that looks like a box is the most expensive, and around 700 bucks, and its for a 1989-1992 model.
I'm confused.
Any ideas?

 

Is it a Volvo shop? With the symptoms you describe, first thing I'd look at is the Fuel Injection Relay... Sounds like they are looking for what is commonly referred to as the "computer". An '88 may have the OBD (On Board Diagnostics)1, on the left side under the hood, near the strut tower-you may pull some diagnostic codes from there... I certainly would not invest into the ICU they are looking at, nor in this shop... not at this point

 

The ignition control unit is located under the passenger side kick board by the main computer or ECU...it controls the spark..it is not the main computer or ECU. If you have no spark or weak spark could be a crank angle sensor, bad coil, bad ignition control unit. Pull codes first see if you have any stored codes..if it is a bad ICU..try Ebay or the junk yard...you can get them cheap they are a dime a dozen and WAY cheaper and easier to get than an ECU...