89 240 GL....starting problems

We don't drive this car very much and so sometimes it sits unused for a
week. After it has sat unused for about 3-4 days, it often will not start.
There is plenty of cranking power....you crank and crank, but there is no
"fire". Its' just like the spark plugs are dead. Haven't done any tests yet
to see if they are actually not firing. However when I come back to it
later, and jump-start the car (since the battery has been run down from so
much cranking), it will start up. Subsequent restarts are then fine, starts
usually on the first crank. What is likely wrong with it?

 

I have a similar problem on an '81 240. If you have a tachometer, does the
needle move at all during cranking? If so, you have spark. If not, no spark
could be the problem. It could be the sensor in the distributor, the wiring,
or the ignition module.

If you don't have a tachometer, can you hear the fuel pumps running while you
try and start it? If so, you do have spark. If not, either the fuel pump
relay could be bad or there could be no spark. There is a method of shorting a
couple of fuses together (Do a search at www.brickboard.com) to run the pumps
whether there's spark or not, and if you have spark it should start then. If
it still won't start, it's likely an ignition problem.

My solution is to replace the Volvo ignition system with an aftermarket one I
bought on ebay, since the Volvo parts are fairly expensive, and I can install
it myself.

Good luck!
KennyH

Horsepower is cheaper than therapy.

 

You might try tracing the wires to the temperature sensor and make sure they are
intact. You could also try testing the temperature sensor to make sure that it is
changing value properly with regard to temperature. It sounds like the fuel injection
is not enriching the fuel/air mixture enough when cold. That's my best guess. HTH.

Nick

 

Having experienced similar problem too many times over past 20 years
driving 240s, I would first look at fuel pump relay. Unplug it, clean
contacts, jimmy it, borrow a friend's and plug it in. Also, clean
all fuse contacts.