hgray14 Posted November 5, 2014 Report Share Posted November 5, 2014 1995 Volvo 850 Turbo A few days ago I get into my car, turn the key, and everything comes on except the started. The car has plenty of juice but I didn't even get a click from my starter. After about 10 minutes it fired up just fine. Then no problems for a few days and yesterday it does it again. I wait about two minutes and it fired up just fine. In both cases the car was on a slight incline (the nose is pointing uphill.) I drove directly to my mechanic and parked with the nose pointing downhill (although only slightly.) I turned the car off and tried to start it; no problem. Then I turned the car around so it was parked with the nose slightly uphill and it wouldn't start. After about 5 minutes it fired up just fine. So, I have no idea if the car sitting on a slight incline is making a difference but I figured I'd mention it. One other thing. When this happened the first time my gear shift was completely unlocked. Even with the key out of the ignition I could move the shifter through the gears (once I put my foot on the brake) even without pushing in the shift-unlock button next to the shifter. I know those can be a problem but every time the car has not started since that first time the shifter has been locked in park properly. It's at the mechanic right now so any suggestions you can give me would be greatly appreciated. I don't want him spending a ton of time on this if it is a simple fix. (The car is actually there for another reason and I'd love to be able to tell him not to bother with the ignition issue.) And just to reiterate...the car has plenty of juice. The battery is not the issue. It near brand new and when the car does start it cranks over fine and everything, even with the lights on, the radio on, etc. Thanks a ton for any suggestions! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T5power Posted November 5, 2014 Report Share Posted November 5, 2014 corroded wiring on the starter? having it face one uphill direction and it starts and facing a downhill direction could be because a wire isn't hitting contact points... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hgray14 Posted November 5, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2014 Maybe, I'll check into it. Being that it's a California car in a fairly dry area I'm doubtful of corrosion. I've never run into that issue before but it's worth a look. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midnight Caller Posted November 5, 2014 Report Share Posted November 5, 2014 When it doesn't start, try to wiggle the shifter back and forth a few times. You may have a slight misalignment on the PNP switch, causing start inhibit. My two cents... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hgray14 Posted November 5, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2014 Midnight Caller - I'm sure I did a whole bunch of that the first time it happened, as the shifter was completely free to run through the gears. But I don't know if I did the next two times. What is the PNP switch and it is easy to replace? (My fear is that as with many things electronic, the mechanic will not find the problem and will either want to charge me more than the car is worth in order to look further or I will have to do it myself.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midnight Caller Posted November 5, 2014 Report Share Posted November 5, 2014 The PNP (Park/Neutral/Position) Switch is a teeny-weeny-itsy-bitsi m******ucker that could give a lot of headaches with shifting if it goes bezerk. It's on the gearbox and it's linked to the shifting cables : If you have Volvo Scan Tool you could connect to the gearbox and see what the switch reports (Parking position / Neutral position) when you lock it in "P". Maybe that is your issue. You say the starter isn't working when you turn the key. I assume other dashboard lights are on. Do they turn off or dim when you are turning the key to engage the starter ? That could mean your contacting unit could be ok and the starter relay is the culprit. Make sure you have a multimeter with you, and when the problem appears, ask someone to turn the key and you measure how many volts are coming to the starter relay pin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hgray14 Posted November 5, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2014 I just looked it up. Doesn't look too expensive but how hard is the install...not that it matter, I guess. If it has to be done, it has to be done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midnight Caller Posted November 5, 2014 Report Share Posted November 5, 2014 CHECK IT FIRST ! Also check what I edited later in the post ! I don't want you to call me names afterwards if that wasn't the problem Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hgray14 Posted November 5, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2014 No worries there...there will always be name calling. No, the lights don't dim on the dash when the starter isn't engaged. I don't have a scanner tool but I have a Bluetooth adapter for the OBDII and use the paid version of Torque on my phone. I'll have to see if that feature is in there anywhere. Also, the 1995 doesn't have a fully functioning OBDII as that wasn't required on US cars until 1996. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midnight Caller Posted November 5, 2014 Report Share Posted November 5, 2014 No, you won't do anything with the OBD2 tool. AFAIK, the 850 1995 is OBD1 and you don't even have an OBD2 port... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hgray14 Posted November 5, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2014 Mine has an OBDII port. It isn't fully functioning but the "OBDII" blutooth adapters I've purchased all fit it just fine. It's under the change holder in front of the shifter. (maybe it's called an OBDI because it doesn't give full OBDII output info but it definitely is an OBDII style port.) Of course the car still has the little computer thingy up behind the passenger's headlight...is called an OBDI? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T5power Posted November 5, 2014 Report Share Posted November 5, 2014 1995 Turbos had OBDII functionality. Non turbos were another story. My 95 850 works perfectly with scangauge OBDII. What do you mean it's not fully functioning? The little port by the headlight is mostly for OBDI code reading. you can also read mileage on there too. kind of like morse code Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midnight Caller Posted November 5, 2014 Report Share Posted November 5, 2014 OBD2 on that 1995 car doesn't have multiplexed output. Engine is on pin (engine on pin 5 if I remember correctly, the rest is on kline pin 7). With Vol-FCR you will read everything but the engine. The 1995 Euro 850 we have here do not have OBD2 port prior to 1996. I guess US spec was otherwise Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T5power Posted November 5, 2014 Report Share Posted November 5, 2014 OBD2 on that 1995 car doesn't have multiplexed output. Engine is on pin (engine on pin 5 if I remember correctly, the rest is on kline pin 7). With Vol-FCR you will read everything but the engine. The 1995 Euro 850 we have here do not have OBD2 port prior to 1996. I guess US spec was otherwise Hmm, I'm going to guess that that may be because Euro spec model years are (typically) the same year of manufacture. for instance, in the US, a production date 1994 Volvo 850 would generally be a model year 1995 Volvo 850, unless it is a later model year 1995 with an early 1995 manufacturing date. My model year 1997 Volvo 850 had a production date of August 1996, however my late model year 1998 S70 had an early production date of January 1998. Euro Spec would be model year=production date. from my understanding anyway! Getting entirely off topic but interesting nonetheless! Hope you find the issue! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midnight Caller Posted November 5, 2014 Report Share Posted November 5, 2014 On every model, cars manufactured after the 6th month (week 26) are sold as model year +1 Manufactured March 1998 = Model Year 1998 Manufactured August 1998 = Model Year 1999 Sorry for the off-topic ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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