My 740GL 4dr automatic (non turbo) won't restart after it gets hot. If I drive it for 20 minutes or more and then shut it off and leave it, when I come back it will not start. It doesn't crank/turn over. All electrics work. However, after about 2 hours it will start right up. It seems that having the hood open lessens the downtime needed. It has happened 3 times so far. A mechanic suspects the starter or starter relay but can't reproduce the problem so hasn't tried to fix it. Any ideas???

 

Welcome to the forum DPWirth.

Disconnectand brighten your battery terminals.
If this doesn't do the trick, do the same to the starter terminals and make sure the bolts holding it on are tight.
If the problem isn't solved,rap the starter with a hammer next time it acts up. If that works, it is time to replace it.

 

I somehow neglected to mwntion that it is a 1989.

 

check the functionality of a component called a "power stage". or tell your general mechanic about it. this tends to be the first thing to check in a hot no-start condidtion with these vehicles. if you have a diagnostic box under the bonnet, check for MIL codes as well.

 

I finally got it to the garage at a time when it would malfunction and the mechanic was there. He tested it and a starter has been ordered. Tapping the starter when it wasn't starting yielded nothing. Hopefully this will fix it.

 

Check www.stepbystepvolvo.com. It provides diagnostic procedures for no-starts (but not sometimes no-starts) for 740/940s.