my girlfriend was driving my 88 740GLE when it died while slowing at a redlight, she pulled it off to the side of the road and now it won't start. Any ideas on what it could be? I was thinking probably the fuel pump (which was $493 at autozone). I checked the fuses and relays for the fuel pump all appeared to be good.

 

You need to make sure you can hear the pump come on when you turn the key on.
They relay might be bad.

Do you have spark?

 

I have an 88 gl that did the same thing. it has been sitting for a while, so i started up. it ran fine for about 15 sec and died suddenly. hasnt started since. i dont think i hear a buzz from the pump when i turn the key on. all the fuses look good.

 

tap the fuel pump relay (white relay 2nd row near drivers knee behind ashtray) If it starts you need a fuel pump relay. If this does not work unplug airmass sensor (depress wire clip and unplug) this puts computer into limp home mode if car now starts and will not start when you plug back in then you need an air mass sensor (about $25 used from www.car-part.com) if this doesn't work either then it might be in tank pre pump or main pump. Let us know what you find.

 

i tryed unpluging the maf sensor. still wouldnt start. i cannot find the fuel relay. i found a black 3-pin relay, which clicks very fast when i crank the engine, and black a 4-pin relay. ive got half the dash apart tryin to find it, ill keep looking

 

also i was curious if there is a code scanner that will work with this car?

 

You pull the codes manually
http://www.troublecodes.net/Volvo/

Also make sure your timing belt didn't break.
Take off the oil cap and watch in the hole while someone cranks the engine over. Make sure you cam moving.

 

checked the cam shaft, it turns normaly. i looked up the link too. its for 89-93, i have an 88..bust. thats nice to know though. i still havent found the fuel relay. is there a way i can bypass some wires to see if the inline fuel pump at least works or is there no luck until i find the relay? ive bypassed the num. 5 fuse and the intank pump works. i have seriously torn up the whole dash lookin for the relay :P

 

ps. i know every detail counts when it comes to these things so, if i remember right, when it happened there was a battery charger hooked up to the car at 10amps and it slipped my mind. i started the car without diconnecting it and it sudenly died. may be worth somethin to include this. like i said though all the fuses are good.

 

The relay is behind the Ashtray. It is a white rectangle relay.

 

i have looked in that area and still cant find it. what direction does that bundle of wires come from or maybe some kind of discription so i can trace it? ive had the car for a few months so i dont know what work has been done to it (maybe someone place it somewhere else). the two i have found in that area are two black relays, one 3-pin and one 4-pin. the 3-pin clicks very rapidly when i crank the engine, out of curiosity what is this one?

 

I check out my fuel pump relay, it sound like it switches on when I turn the key, I cannot hear the fuel pump when I turn the key though. Autozone wanted $493 for a fuel pump, found a master brand fuel pump for $100 and the in tank one for $40. Even though I don't hear the pump turn on, could it still work if I unplug that sensor?

 

do you mean unplug the relay? if so, it probaly wouldnt work because the relay is whats completing the electrical circuit. i still havent found my relay. thats great that you found a cheaper pump. i almost decided to scrap the car because of that. next i think im going to manually hook a power source to the pump to rule out whether the pump itself is bad.

 

If your car is a 740 it is in the back of the fuse box where the other relays are. It is a white wide relay with I think 6 pins in it. It should be in the L/R side of the relay box.

brandoncordell
Hook a test light to the power wire for the main pump and cycle the key and see if it lights.
Have someone watch the light while you turn the key on.
The relay should click twice. Once when you turn the key on and again when you crank it.
You could also open the relay and inspect for Burnt/Melted solder.

 

i found my relay (under the carpet and a metal plate left of the brake). i put a new relay in and it doesnt click when i turn the key and the car still wont start. there is only one wire (red) connected ti the num. 7 fuse, is this correct?


88 244 gl

 

Are you saying it is only a one wire plug?

Have you checked for power at the main pump when you turn the key on yet?

 

there are two male posts coming from the fuse but there is only one wire connected to only one of the posts. the next thing im goin to check is if theres power at the main pump, i hvae to get an new fuse for the my tester though. i will try tomorow and let you guys know how it goes.