So, yet another thing has broken on my volvo 240. My car won't start. Initially I thought it was the neutral safety switch, but I looked in the Bentley manual and there's a starter inhibitor switch. So, I assume its at fault. I looked up the part on both FCPEuro and iPd and its no where to be found. If its possible, is there a way to bypass the inhibitor switch if its a hard to come by part?
FYI: its not the starter, basically it's like the car thinks it isn't in park, and I just had a new starter put in.
Thanks!
Evan

 

you got a picture of the inhibitor switch......I can't think of how it looks or what? I don't recollect knowing a starter inhibitor switch...

 

Alright! So I tore into the inhibitor switch (good god was it a b**ch to get into, I broke it in the process) it was indeed the problem. I kinda have it Jerry rigged to where I can get my car started. Also, I now realize the neutral safety and starter inhibitor are the same thing. So yay! It's a fairly cheap part and I can replace it. And my car still *somewhat* is drivable!

 

Volvo Neutral Safety Switch (240 260) - MTC 9130035 | FCP Euro
This is the thing....

 

ya can just jump across the connector, if you wanna always remember not to try and start it in gear.

 

This is what I'm having to do until I get my part. And basically it's impossible to forget to put it in park. I have to park on hills and I have no parking brake. Haha

 

ouch. Do you know how to curb your tires? This is a skill I learned in San Francisco, where its legally mandatory (park on a hill without properly curbing your tire, you get a ticket).

 

the safety neutral switch....ok...I thought it was something I had not seen before...the "inhibitor" word freaked me out...

I was in Laguna Beach, CA and had to park on a very steep hill facing towards the top of the hill and turned the steering wheel full right....back of tire touching the curb...correct right?

 

Wouldn't that be a full left? If facing uphill.. and back of tire was touching curb? lol. And Pierce, it's our driveway. Its on a gentle slope, and my car will slowly roll down it.

 

well, if you were on the left side of a 1 way street facing uphill, then you would turn to the right

my rule parking in SF was the car should not roll with the brake off in neutral (or with the clutch in, at the time I had a stick shift), THEN you set the parking brake and put it in gear.

extra scary, there's some hills in SF so steep your tires can hop the curb.

 

Haha how about that one street famous in San Fransicso that's super curvy?

 

there's no parking on the curvy block of Lombard, except a couple pads part way down intended for residents guest parking.

 

Alright! So I've received my new part in the mail. Now, the only question is, where do I unplug the old one and plug the new one in? The wires disappear under the carpet.

 

you'll have to follow those wires to see where the plug is. the diagrams for the older models were remarkably vague as to connector locations... my guess is, somewhere between the carpet and the console hump.

 

I found one of the connectors, but the other one is still hidden. The carpet will have to come up, which means taking out the driver seat.

 

the park/neutral switch should just have one 2-pin connector on it.

or are we talking about something else?

 

Nope.. It has two two pin connectors.
http://assets4.fcpstores.com/public/...jpg?1295023075

 

under the turn signal relay....if you are in the driver seat....around your right leg calf area...remove the panel next to your right leg and pull the carpet AND NOT THE SEAT...

 

Woo! Got it replaced. Thanks analogies, I didn't think to look under the relay. Sure enough, it was tucked under there.

 

oh, hmmm, is the other connector for the reverse light or something?