Hi all (and a very happy new year as well!)
I have a '95 Volvo 850 T wagon that is in good condition (120k mls) and has been serviced regularly (last time 6 mos ago).

Recently I've had a weird issue where every now and then the car won't start. Sometimes if I wait 5 mins or so it will start….!

In detail..
I insert the key, all dash lights come on immediately, very bright, turn key further…..nothing happens…..OR sometimes after about 2 sec's VRRrrmmm, and the engine starts up. This has been in Chicago where it's been really cold recently, but as I say, it seems to be a random problem. About two weeks ago I left the car at an outdoor parking lot at the airport in freezing weather for two days and it started after about 2 - 3 seconds.
I'm assuming it's not the battery (less than a year old) because all the lights come on and seems to have plenty of power BUT today when I couldn't get it started, as a last resort I decided to give the battery a jump anyway from my other car…..and the thing started right up!
I'd love to be able to diagnose and fix this myself at the moment because I'm tight on cash, so I was wondering if there is any component I should look to replace, or if anyone can offer me any suggestions as to where to start?
Thanks so much!

 

Does "does not start" mean

1. "the starter does not crank (spin) the engine" or
2. "cranks over the engine at normal starter cranking speed, but engine will not start"?

 

 

gdog,
I mean the starter does not crank the engine (It's silent when I do the final turn of the key….or I may hear a "click" from the engine, I can't really tell).

Thanks.

 

rspi,
Thanks for the video, I'm going to start by checking the battery connector and do a clean up there. You seem to have had the exact same issue I had (delayed start, or no start).

 

Just to follow up ….
I did a massive cleanup, scrubbed the contacts on the battery with a wire brush and sandpaper, cleaned the two wires coming off the battery as well same way, and and two weeks later (and this is in the winter with a really cold snap) I have been able to start without any problems…except for once when I had the dreaded two second delay (silence when I turned the key) but then it suddenly roared to life.
I may look into replacing the battery cable as was suggested here in the video, at a later date, but so far, so good.

Thanks,

Alan.

 

When I got my wagon about 2-1/2 years ago, my battery had a bad cell or two and it did the second or two delay all the time. Someone told be it was because of the short fat ground wire on the starter (from the solenoid to the starter body) is corroded. When I replaced the starter FOR NOTHING I installed one that didn't have the corroded ground.

 

I had similar no start issue on my 1997 850 Wagon. Pulled ignition switch stupidly before simply looking at the ground wire on the firewall side of the motor. Its in plain sight. Mine was in two pieces! put my jumper cables across the bad ground and whammy…all back to normal.

SO…if you have lights on the dash EVEN after pulling the keys…I can tell you from experience that it may be as simple as the main ground wire.

Hope that helps someone. Now I gotta get back to putting my steering column and dash board together - *****.