I got a 1989 240 DL a few weeks ago. Caught up on all the deferred maintenance and fixed any known defects. It runs great.......but it doesn't start like I think it should. It always starts but it has to go rah-rah-rah-rah before it catches. Cold, hot, doesn't matter. The fuel pumps don't come on when the key is turned to "on" like all other EFI cars I have had. Is this normal? Is there a relay or timer hidden somewhere? Is the ECU supposed to do it? I have the Bentley book but there is nothing on this. Thanks.

 

There are two fuel pumps in your 89. One internally Inside your fuel tank and another under the hood. Both is recommended to change if your thinking about changing one. 240's are tanks and need the right "voltage" to smoothly run everything. I may start with a yellow cap battery or interstate. These battery's have cranking power which shocks the life out the vehicle waking them up instantly. Understand anything to do with fuel, it's best to see everything possible ( dirty injectors, clogged fuel rail, filthy fuel filters etc.). Money is hard these days so I would suggest running your tank just under 1/4 tank and adding a can of C-Foam. Lmk how it works out and if you have any troubles later down the line. - MR. Contreras

 

its possible you have one of the funky 'pink label' ECU's from early LH2.4, those have been known to have all sorts of odd problems like this.

here's a table of ECUs'...
Engine ECU

you probably have the -561, and pink label -561's are known trouble-makers. best to replace it with a white label -561, or a -933, -935, -951 from a later B230F car (940 mostly). these can often be found in junkyards.

 

Thanks. I bought a 951 ECU on Ebay because there are none in the local wrecking yards. I'll stick it in next week and let you know what happens.

 

I doubt an ECU is your problem... Volvos start kind of like you describe, not just with one turn of the starter... And the fuel pumps must be coming on if the car starts.

 

lev, FWIW, *my* volvos generally start on the first half crank, as long as I switch them to II, and wait a second before twisting the starter, it doesn't even need 1/2 second of starter before its idling. my daughter's 87 240 is currently hard starting when cold, we suspect the in-tank fuel pump but thats another (long) story.

 

Update. I got a 951 ECU and replaced the 561 Pink Label unit. Now the fuel pumps come on when the key is in the on position and the car starts up much faster in a normal amount of time. I'll put the 561 in the trunk as a spare.

 

yay! :thumb: