Req: Help on: 1988 240 DL Will Not Start

I drove my 1988 240 DL to the store and when I tried to start it
again, it would not start. The starter turns over just fine. Once, I
had a problem with the fuel injection relay, and it behaved the same
way. Can anyone tell me if this might be the problem, or how to test
it? I have a circuit tester, but I am not sure which is the injection
relay. What other problem might this be? It happened out of the
blue, with no warning.

 

You need to find out whether it's fuel or spark related. Check for spark
at the plugs, then work your way back if necessary. If you've got spark
then check your fuses for your fuel pumps and pump relay. Make sure your
primary pump(located under the car on left side, just in front of the
rear wheel) is working. Spin the fuses around a little or lightly sand
the areas of contact, sometimes it's this simple, if you're lucky. I've
got an 88 240 and my fuel pump relay is located under the dashboard on
the passenger side. It's white plastic, maybe about 2"x2", it's clipped
in up under there(you can get to it from beneath). It might be getting
juice and still not be working, I don't know how to test it. If
everything else seems good, it might be worth a try to get another. It
could also be timing-belt related, hopefully not. Just my 2cents, hope
it helps out.

 

If you pop off the plastic cover of the relay and look at the circuit board
the problem is usually pretty obvious. The solder cracks around the pins
that go to the connector on the bottom, anyone with a soldering iron can
heat it up and add a bit of fresh solder to get it going again.

 

Thanks, bro...good info, I would not have thought that you could revive
a toasted relay. Hey, a quick question, in this thread I said to check
under the dash(passenger side) for the relay, completely forgetting the
many Volvo posters from U.K. and such (my mistake). Would more or less
everything be reversed? (fuse box,relays,ect...) I guess they would even
need to reverse the OD button on the shifter too!

 

I have another suggestion. If this is a fuel problem ! After checking he
fuel pump relay, if nothing seems wrong you might want to jump fuse 4 and
6 together with a wire and see if the relay or pumps work. I do hope this
is te right fuses as it has been a while since I had to do it. Then if
everything seems good there the next thing is to check the CPU located in
the kickpanel of the passengers side ( right side). Now if memory serves
me folow the green and yellow wire from the relay to the CPU. I again hope
it is green and yellow. Anyway it is a ground wire coming from the relay
to the CPU. Take a jumper wire and ground this wire. This will make the
pumps come on with the key switch in the run position. If that fixes it
then either replace the CPU (expensive) or leave the wire grounded to the
body, it will only operate the pumps when the key is in the run position.
Unless you sit around withthe key on all the time this should not be a
problem.. Good luck.. MAX

 

I just sent a reply but it seems to have gotten lost. Anyway if it is a
fuel problem jump fuses 4 and 6 with a wire, this will activate the pumps.
If that fixes it then you have a bad relay, more that likly. But then
again it still could be another problem. If the relay is good then I would
check the CPU. Passengers (right side)kickpanel. Look for a ground wire(
green and yellow i think)Coming from the relay to the CPU. Ground this
wire with a jumper. If the car starts then you have a bad CPU. Either
replace the CPU or leave the wire grounded. It will only activte the pumps
in the run and Start positions. This is not a problem if you are not prone
to sitting around with the key in the run position.. Good luck.. MAX