Hi All.

A friend of mine passed away a couple of months ago and we are just getting around to moving his car, a 1994 940 Turbo wagon. He'd been having some problems with starting it but it was running when he died.

I talked with the local garage that had been working on it and learned that the last time it wouldn't start they installed a new computer. They actually admitted they couldn't get it to run and sent it out to a Volvo dealer and they got it going!

So far I've checked to see that there was gas in the tank and that I can hear the fuel pump whirring when the key is turned on. I checked to see if it had spark (kinda orange but it did spark) found the plugs very sooty but dry and replaced them. The aftermarket ignition wires were falling apart so I replaced them with OEM Volvo wires I had left over from my 240 days.

All of that and not a single hint of trying to start. Even tried a squirt of starter fluid in the air intake hose with no results.

I'm wondering if someone can offer suggestions as to what I should check next or direct me to an online troubleshooting guide?

TIA, Dennis in Maine.

 

If the starter fluid didn't work you might not have Good enough spark.

Maybe the Cap and rotor are bad.

 

I'm really stumped.

I took the distributor cap and rotor off today and they are almost brand new. Also reconfirmed that the ignition cables are in the correct order. The coil is putting out good spark. After one attempt to start today I pulled a plug and found some gas on it so I know some fuel is getting through but still no go.

any other thoughts?

 

It may sound weird, but you should check your timing on the belt. My 940 jumped timming and it would start.
I beleive this might be wrong with yours since you have spark and fuel, but maybe what you are lacking is compression and the loss of that will be due to the valves opening at a wrong time. If you need any help on doing this just ask, im sure many of the guys here will also be willin to help.