I have a 96 850 non turbo.I changed the battery in the car a couple of weeks ago because I thought the battery was the problem. Once I put the new battery in it had the same issue. This weekend it stranded me, I took the car to the store and came out and it would not start, it would not even turn over. After about 1 and a half hours later I went back to get my car with my wife and before trying to jump it I got in and started the darn thing. It was hard to turn over but it did start. Can someone tell me what else to check???

Thanks,

J

 

I would check and see how good the alternator is charging.

 

Tech,

If the alt. was not charging good I understand but when it would not start the other day (would not even turn over) and it just set for a 1 and a half and started up, it just dont make since to me.

 

Hello Jds850,

Whe I first took The Anvil is for a safety they found a bad battery ground.

They had asked me if I was having any problems with starting and I had told them no.

Are you able to check your major ground connections?

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Hi JDS,
Turn the cockpit lights ON and see if they go really dim when you try to crank or they just go low by reasonable value. This will tell you if the battery or ground connections are bad or if the dimming is not very low then I would put my money on new starter.

 

My brother in law just had a similar problem with his F-150 It was a bad starter. Granted there is a big difference between the truck and the Volvo, but the problem sure sounds the same.

 

I trying to get to a point. The solder joint at the battery terminal goes bad on these cars. So when the car is running it is charging low and not enough to charge the battery. It will keep the car running and still take juice from the battery at the same time.
Then one time when you turn it off it is dead.

The way you test is to check and see how much it is charging at the battery. Then probe the positive cable just before the terminal and see how much more it is charging compaired to the battery. Usually .4 to .5 difference is to much. Also the battery terminal will get hot enough to burn you.

 

Have you considered rebuilding the starter?

Its easy to do and most auto parts stores have the brush kit.

Its the brushes that spin inside of the starter, generating power in a coil, which in turn sends out a gear which in turn engages the fly wheelthatspins to startthe engine.The brushes wear with time and use.

In my case, with a different car and the access was way too easy, I went toCanadian Tireand bought a starter rebuild kit for $20 and with the car up on ramps Ihad the starterout and back in the car in thirty minutes.

This may be a possible solution that wont cost too much to do. It doesnt happen often that a starter goes bad but age kills everything eventually.

Best $20 I ever spent.

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