I have a 1988 740 GLE that just died on the freeway the other night. I had the car towed home and have found that I am not getting any spark out of the coil. I am getting power to the coil from the igintion switch but nothing comes out of the coil. Two years ago, I had the same problem and I tried replacing the coil but this didn't solve it. The electrical schematic showed something called a Power Stage but I couldn't locate it. Finally I towed the car to a local Volvo specialist where they found that it indeed was the Power Stage or Power Amplifier as they called it. It is located on the left fender wall behind the air filter housing (in case anyone else is looking for it). Anyway, the car seems to have the same symptoms so I suspect the Power Stage again but the darn thing costs $143. I hate to buy a new one and find out I was wrong because they usually don't allow returns on electrical parts. Does anyone know how to check a Power Stage to see it it is good? Can you measure resistance across certain cables?

Help.

Thanks,
Frodo

[:@]

 

Also check the engine speed sensor if your car has one. If it doesn't look at the electrical plug on the Dist.