Volvo 245 help
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 3

Hi,
So I have a 1981 volvo 245 & I’ve run into a bit of a problem..
The car was idling rough upon start up and wanted to stall sometimes, the temperature gauge was only moving about a cm up(always in the cool), and I was getting really poor gas mileage.
I went ahead and changed the coolant thermostat, started the car up, idle evened out & was running great.. the temperature gauge climbed right where it was supposed to. After a few minutes of idling the car misfired and stalled out. Now it will not start at all, just keeps turning over..
side note: when removing the radiator hose i disconnected one of the spark plug wires to access the bolt, coolant had spilled around this area but i wiped everything up.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
So I have a 1981 volvo 245 & I’ve run into a bit of a problem..
The car was idling rough upon start up and wanted to stall sometimes, the temperature gauge was only moving about a cm up(always in the cool), and I was getting really poor gas mileage.
I went ahead and changed the coolant thermostat, started the car up, idle evened out & was running great.. the temperature gauge climbed right where it was supposed to. After a few minutes of idling the car misfired and stalled out. Now it will not start at all, just keeps turning over..
side note: when removing the radiator hose i disconnected one of the spark plug wires to access the bolt, coolant had spilled around this area but i wiped everything up.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
#2
Former Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: 37 North on the left coast
Posts: 9,791

it takes spark, fuel, and compression to run.... so you need to verify you have all 3.
pull a spark plug right after trying to start, if its wet you have fuel. now hook that spark plug back up to the wire, hold the plug body against an engine ground, have someone crank, and see if you have spark.
pull a spark plug right after trying to start, if its wet you have fuel. now hook that spark plug back up to the wire, hold the plug body against an engine ground, have someone crank, and see if you have spark.
#3
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 3

Pierce,
Just now I turned the key and it started up, idled for a minute, then stalled out. I'm assuming there's moisture around cylinder 1's ignition wire(the one I removed to replace thermostat). If so, would the moisture just need time to dry out?
Another question, are you familiar with the location of the coolant temp sensor on this model? Looks to be under cylinder 2 but not sure
Just now I turned the key and it started up, idled for a minute, then stalled out. I'm assuming there's moisture around cylinder 1's ignition wire(the one I removed to replace thermostat). If so, would the moisture just need time to dry out?
Another question, are you familiar with the location of the coolant temp sensor on this model? Looks to be under cylinder 2 but not sure
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: New York
Posts: 971

Pierce,
Just now I turned the key and it started up, idled for a minute, then stalled out. I'm assuming there's moisture around cylinder 1's ignition wire(the one I removed to replace thermostat). If so, would the moisture just need time to dry out?
Another question, are you familiar with the location of the coolant temp sensor on this model? Looks to be under cylinder 2 but not sure
Just now I turned the key and it started up, idled for a minute, then stalled out. I'm assuming there's moisture around cylinder 1's ignition wire(the one I removed to replace thermostat). If so, would the moisture just need time to dry out?
Another question, are you familiar with the location of the coolant temp sensor on this model? Looks to be under cylinder 2 but not sure
#5
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 3

Ended up being a bad ignition coil. Replaced, running solid now. Though still, there’s a slight rumble in the idle.. could it be if the car was running with poor spark for so long that there’s unburned fuel in the catalytic that’s distrusting the idle?
Thanks for your input
Thanks for your input
#6
Former Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: 37 North on the left coast
Posts: 9,791

one quick high rpm acceleration should clear any unburned fuel in the cat.
an extended 'italian tuneup' should clear any fouled spark plugs.
an extended 'italian tuneup' should clear any fouled spark plugs.
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