Hi everyone,

I'm a first time volvo owner and new to this site. I just picked up my 1988 760 turbo with 111,000 original kms for 400 bucks! Some old lady bought it new just to go to the market and back what a steal!

It is a great car and I really like it however, tonight on my way home it just died on me while driving. I pulled over and put it in park and tried to start it up and fired up no problem. Does anyone have any ideas about what may be going on here?

Thanks

Luger

 

Luger...there's any number of things that could cause this...high on the list is the fuel pump relay located behind the ashtray. Remove the ashtray and the cover immediately above it. You'll see the fuse tray and right behind it are the relays. Here's a picture of the relay tray if the console was removed. The fuel relay is the white rectangular one on the left middle, right below the round bulb failure relay. These relays often develop cracks in the solder that expand when hot and produce intermittent failure. Eventually they will crap out totally and leave you stranded. Many veteran Volvo driver's keep an extra in the glove box! This may not be the cure, but it is a great place to start.

 

Great thanks for the tip, seems the 400 dollar car may not be the steal I thought it was... I now have a coolant/ rad problem. It keeps overheating once I get home and park in the garage which seems weird to me that it doesnt happen when I am driving but whatever... as this is my first Volvo I am not too familliar with the style of cooling system they have for instance I have never seen a rad without a rad cap on the actual rad itself, I am going to buy a repair manual tomorrow as a result. Anyway it seems that on the passenger side of the rad there is some kind of sensor first from the top that has a rubber gromet around it. This is where all the coolant comes out of because I think the pressure builds up and blows it out... any idea what sensor that is? Any idea if the gromet is carried at a volvo dealer?

Any help is appreciated...
Here are some pics of the rad and sensor...

 

Luger, that sensor is what kicks on the auxiliary fan in front of the a/c condenser. It is a rubber bushing into which the sensor is pressed. When they leak, the busing must be replaced. A common issue, any dealer will have them. This is what you need...
http://www.ipdusa.com/version.asp?st...261&V_ID=12793

 

Thanks again Swiftcurrent,

I got one of these sensors and rubber grommets today. Do you have any info on how to drain and refill the coolant system do I need to bleed the the system somehow?

-Luger

 

Sorry just Noticed I flubbed you name SwiftJustice... swift current is a town in Saskatchewan Canada that my Wife and I were talking about shortly before I replied to you post...lol

 

No worry...I've been called much, much worse! As to draining the system, I'm thinking to do the sensor right? As opposed to say, flushing the system? With the engine cold, remove the overflow bottle cap. If you're low on coolant, the bottle will be empty. Pull the hose from base of bottle and hold it down...coolant should syphon out. Put the bushing in the rad hole making sure the edges overlap the sides of the hole. Lube the inside w/ a little liquid dish detergent and cram it in there w/ a twisting motion. I've never like press in sensors but they fail far less than one would think. If you ever replace the radiator, stand your ground and get one that takes a screw in fitting.

 

UPDATE...I think I've got her beaten SwiftJustice no more overheating and boiling over, and no more stalling while driving! Thanks again!

 

not overheating and not stalling is a good thing...glad to hear it.