Sometimes when starting my 89 740 auto wagon the car will sputter and not start. Then it will just crank and crank, but not start. If i wait about 10 minutes, it starts right up and is fine. This happened 2X today, and now it doesn't start or so says my son that has the car. It is about 95 out with 90% humidity. Could it be vapor lock or a flooding problem sometimes? I never have problems otherwise like stalling, bucking, power loss or anything.

Any ideas?? Thanks

 

Problem could be Fuel Relay (behind ashtray) or Radio Suppression Relay (do not know why - but controls start too, under hood near PS fluid). both are about $40. each. Good luck.

 

radio suppression relay powers the injectors. be sure to tell your son no gas, foot off acclerator when starting. fuel injection cars like to figure it out for themselves. The volvo fuel injection is very tolerant but it is possible to flood engine if you use gas when starting. This is absolute starting death with my mazda miata. NEVER BUY A MAZDA! After two engines with thrust bearing problems, clutch shudder, failed coil pack, precat failure, etc and no help from mazda I hate them! I hate them! This on a car with 25,000 miles. I bought my volvo back (it has 250,000 miles) and have been happy about it ever since! Sometime I will tell you how I really feel (I hate them!)

 

Thanks Wojeepster - I am a novice so bear with me. Granted my radio antenna no longer goes all the way up, but on AM, i can barely hear anything do to severe static that mimics the engine revs. Could that be a sign of a bad radio supression relay, or am I way off??? Thanks

 

http://www.swedishbricks.net/700900F...pression_Relay

Interesting....

 

Thanks cbevis, I actually understood some of that. At least enough to not be BS'ed if i have to take it somewhere to get fixed.

 

You can get a antenna mast so your antenna will go all the way up once again. Static on radio is likely caused by failing plug wires.


http://fcpgroton.com/volvo240other.htm

 

Try cleaning the throttle body and idle motor as well.

 

Agreed. This is a common problem with older cars. It stems from bad plug wires like wojeepster says or poorly insulated wires (radio wires that is) in the engine compantment. Volvo uses biodegtradable wireing (their only downfall) so if you have a hole somewhere....it's only going to get worse. If you have a failing element in your radio wireing system anywhere it'll pick up feed back from the alternator via the battery. Especially AM radio stations, because of their larger band width and becaue the car itself is the antenna for AM waves. (the things you learn from Physics class! lol)