97 850 starter troubles

Just purchased 97 850 wagon in great condition. Had a 95 850 wagon
previously and loved it with no major issues. A few days after buying it
began to have intermittent starting trouble. When the key was turned
nothing would happen. Lights and radio would come on but the engine would
not even turn over. The first few times after about an hour of waiting we
would go out and it would start fine, work for a day or so and then repeat
the same scenario. After 3 times I took in to my mechanic who said needed a
new starter. Well, after a new starter and battery it worked for 3-4 days
just fine and today it did it again. Same symptoms, it would not start or
even turn over, after an hour or so it worked. Now it will not start again.
Anyone ever had this happen?

Elrodo

 

Sounds like the ignition lock cylinder is faulty & needs to be replaced
Not the electric starter switch

--
"*-344-*Never Forgotten"
Is for the New York City Firemen who lost their lives on September 11,2001.
The official count is 343, but there was also a volunteer who lost his life
aiding in the initial rescue efforts. And I will never forget them as
long as I live,
nor should any American.
"Mow Green"

 

If it is like my S70 (and it probably is) you should be able trouble
shoot it by removing the plastic around the column and removing the
switch. If the switch starts the car reliably I would suspect the lock
cylinder. If the key ever rotates through 360 degrees order a
replacement promptly, it probably does not have long to live. I had to
do this, as this is what happened to me. On the bright side you will get
a new extra key with the cylinder with no plastic on it.

 

I suspect it is the electrical portion of the ignition switch going bad.
You can Google this part to find it. It runs about $80. Bay 13 at
volvospeed.com describes the replacement, which you can do quite easily.

 

I have a 1996 850 GLT wagon. My car started fine when cold, but did not
want to start when warm (sometimes even on the second attempt after
driving few blocks). I posted to news groups, reaserched circuit
diagrams, and came to the conclusion that it is a ignition switch. I
changed it on the Volvo dealers parking lot. The problem was still there
and finally I took it to independent Volvo garage, they changed the
starter and the problem was gone. Maybe you need the ignition switch if
the starter change was no go. It is easy, 10 minute job, but at $90 here
in Canada, it is not cheap to speculate.

Adam

 

There's one other thing that nobody's mentioned - the neutral switch.
Try starting in neutral instead of park.

Also battery cable connections can act this way - if all the dash
warning lights go off in the start position, then it's a power delivery
(battery or cable) problem - if they stay on, then it's a switch
problem. Note: headlights, wipers, heater fan all go off normally in
the start position, don't use them as a guide.

--
Mike F.
Thornhill (near Toronto), Ont.

Replace tt with t (twice!) and remove parentheses to email me directly.
(But I check the newsgroup more often than this email address.)

 

I had the same problem with my 850 GLT.

Bad starter... several in a row.

Started caring a Heavy stick (2x2) that I could "thump" the starter with.

If it went "...." I would thunk the starter and it would start immediatly.
I think the "replacment" starters are really rebuilt junk, not new... iether
that or they are not building them like they used to ...

Bob S.

 

Try this nex time it happens. Turn the car off and then grab the gear shift nob
and shake it. There is a switch on the gear shift and sometimes it gets stuck.
I experienced this after my wife dumped Coke on the center console. At first it
did exactly what happens to you until I shake the gear shift and then turn the
key and the car would start. I had the car towed one before I learned this
trick. This happens to me one a week.