I'm in LA, I left the car sitting a week and the battery died. I tried to jump it 3 times but it won't start! It turns over but does not click. I've had trans problems but these aren't related are they? Any help or advice is MUCH appreciated.

 

When a car won't start, it's customary, if the engine is turning, to figure out if you've got fuel and whether you've got sparks. If the engine is not turning then that is a different line of reasoning, of course. My dad would say always consider if you're out of gas (cause sometimes you are)

If you don't have fuel, it'll still run on ether. That is a useful diagnostic.

The shop manual they have here https://www.volvoclub.org.uk/volvo_w...techdocs.shtml is pretty good on a no start, but it usually takes me about 10 tries to get the right one. Also, we learn things from the aging cars that they didn't know about when they wrote the manual.

 

I got fuel... I refilled the tank less than a week ago. But I'll do some research and see if I can make sure there's fuel getting to the engine and whether there's spark getting to the engine.. Anything else I should do?

 

PS the transmission only comes into it that there is a neutral start switch. The switch has to think it's in park or neutral for the starter motor to operate.

 

That's helpful, thank you. I don't think that's the cause, the problem with the transmission is that the reverse gear is no longer working.

 

Got it started, took 20 minutes to let the charge get through enough to crank it. I'm going to apply for the California BAR program, next get it smogged.

 

New to this forum. Well at least in asking questions.I nave a 94 850 turbo. It wouldn't start,I guessed at coil being the problem,put in coil from my 93 Volvo and it solved the problem. that was about 4 mths ago. several days ago it happened again. put in new coil and car started,however after only 2 short trips it wouldn't start again. I put in new coil and it started. Well 3rd coil also only lasted 2-3 trips and now it won't start again. Could there be something that is making coil quit?. they cost 100.00$ and auto store is refunding my $...so far....

 

Its actually kind of rare to have a coil fail - did you try replacing the wire set (I've seen the coil wire fail due to corrosion inside the end cap)? - also check the other wire connectors - it could have been you moved them during your R+R enough to give it a better (albeit temporary) connection. If you are really suspect - try putting a voltage meter to make sure the voltage regulator is not over charging.

 

It was a poor wire from coil to distributor.Got quite a shock when testing,lol. Thanks for your response. Hopefully car parts store will refund $ for a second time.