I am now on my 4th shop (with 4 tows paid for.) I have an '95 850 which 2 years ago, I had the timing belt replaced (just in case) and transmission service and a few other minor things. At that time, we didn't realize the service guy left the plug loose on the transmission fluid bay and so when I drove it home, and then the next day, the fluid drained out and left me stranded with a damaged trans. (It was already problematic.) I was able to put the trans fix stuff in and drive it 2 more months before it locked up. So the car sat for 2 years, with us occasionally starting it to keep it running. About 3 months ago, we noticed it wouldn't spark. We just had the trans replaced and a new starter put in. Still wouldn't start. Towed it to another shop, this guy was an idiot...enough said, waste of money and time. Towed it to Volvo. They diagnosed that it had jumped timing, told us it would be $400.00 to fix it. That didn't sound right considering we just had it replaced and it hadn't been driving. We towed it to the 4th shop and they checked it and said the timing was not the issue...which how could it jump timing if it hadn't been running? But they haven't yet found the issue.

We have replaced the starter, distributor cap, camshaft pos. sensor, crankshaft pos sensor, battery is fine, checked the fuel pump too. Volvo said no codes were showing that lead them to anything.

I am wondering if it is the alarm thing that has disabled something? Volvo said that wouldn't be able to do anything, but they also said it was a timing belt, so I don't know what to think about them.

It just isn't sparking. you hear the starter, but no spark. Appears to be getting fuel.

Any ideas would be appreciated since I have already put over 1500.00 in this and it is still sitting.

thanks!

 

Check the wires at the plug leading to the gray relay on top of the cooling fan. Over time the rubber around the terminals fall apart and the wires will slide off the relay at times.
Make sure they are all plugged in tight.

 

Thanks, I had noticed that some of those wires looked like they had been pretty hot - some melted cover, my husband taped one of them. I have been suspicious of those from the beginning...even if he taped them, this could still be it right? Do you replace the wires only, or something else. He just told me that the fan hadn't been coming on right and the guy wired it to come on all the time "just to get us home." This was just before the trans. went out. Maybe a fan motor? Can I just replace those wires...or what? Hubbie said he had checked the wires to the relays...but I am still wondering about that area...it seems like it is something to fix.

Thanks!!!!

 

If it is the wires to the gray relay(On drivers side of the fan) Volvo actually sells single wires that you solder or splice in. They are basically replacement wires directly for that.
I believe they are cheap as well to get.

The fan relay is a big black one with 3 plugs. The one you need to look at is gray or light green looking. It has a single plug on it.

 

Thanks, we will try this!

 

If it's cranking with no spark, it's worth trying the ignition module that's attached to the ignition coil on the strut tower. Usually no spark is caused by either that or the cam or crank sensor.

 

Just wanted to follow up and let everyone know that this was the computer. Changed it out, cranked right up. I figured it had to be the computer because of all the weird codes we were getting. Bought one off of ebay for 39.99 and it worked!