My 1987 Volvo 740 GLE was driving along fine and it just died on me. Now it will not start. We don’t appear to have any fire. The distributor was checked, the coil, the fuel computer. I am now looking at the ignition control box. I need all the help that I can get!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Don't rush to judgment. Just replacing parts you think might be bad can get spendy. Spend more time on the troubleshooting and less on parts.
Check for spark at the plugs then start to work your way back to the coil.
If the coil is putting out and the plugs don't have spark the distributer is at fault. If the coil is not sparking check the pos side and see if their is elect going into the coil . If yes then the coil may have failed.
It would be a good idea to have a manual handy for those times you don't have access to a computer .
These forums are great but a workshop manual is also very useful, and might be faster.
Check all connectors and clean them of all corrosion.( seems corrosion is a big problem with these cars) Check and clean all the fuses behind the ash tray.
My 740 is siting in the yard dead also. But on mine their is no power to the entire cab. I will watch and see how you make out.
Good luck

 

my 86 740 did the same thing it turned out to be the timing belt broke. Witch is a very comon thing. And my symptoms sounded the same as yours. Good luck

 

It was the distributor!

 

It was the distributor!

 

I have the same problem. Filled up the tank. The car (87, 740 Turbo) was "gracious" enough to bring me home, before it ceased to start again. I found that the Ignition Distributor decided it had enough (the car has only 125K original miles).
The biggest problem is, the repair (Part & labor) will cost almost as much a 35% of the car itself. Not worth repairing it. unless you can find a refurbished unit and do it yourself.
Any referral to sources of refurbish units would be appreciated.

 

The same here. It also was the Distributor.