I just got into my '96 960, turned the ignition, and it won't start. All I get is a clicking sound. Never had this problem before.

I'm thinking that the starter is bad. Is there an easy way to determine for sure that the starter is the problem without removing it?

Also, if the starter is bad how difficult is it to replace?

I appreciate any advice or tips.

 

I think the starter is on the drivers side near the transmission. I have similar issues and have been holding off on replacing it.

 

Clicking, like the clicking of the relay when the cars battery is dead?

get the battery tested at autozone or another car shop before doing all that with the starter

Anyway the starter is at the bottom on the drivers side, between the alternator and the AC compressor, you need to remove the alternator to replace it.

 

Thanks for your reply. I figured out that it was the battery a couple nights ago and it was confirmed by the AAA service man when he came to give me a jump start.

I did go to Autozone and asked them to test the system and the guy there said the battery seemed Okay, but his machine showed the alternator was bad. I then went to Advance Auto to have the system tested and they also found the battery was bad so that's where I bought a new one.

 

Hmm I thought it was a fluke, but maybe its an AutoZone thing.

They did the same thing to be the first time I had battery issues with a Volvo. The batteries generally last 4 years, and even if they are still working on year 6 they are not stable and are likely about to leave you stranded. Of course this depends on where you live, how you drive, how often you check the water level in the battery if it is in fact that sort of battery.

One last thought, these cars are pretty good at detecting alternator issues. Typically it will throw a code at the slightest hiccup. So it is a good idea to check to see if you have any codes before doing any work on the car even if there are no check engine lights.