Any Mechanics out there?
14 years ago
General
SOLVED
Solution: Found moister in the ecu compartment, dried it out, started up fine.
"My poor Volvo 850 just didn't want to wake up today.
Made me miss a doctor's appointment, and halted a trip to the fabric store.
I am fairly mechanically inclined, and can fix whatever. I just wanted to ask before I started on anything. As this would seem to be more of a trial and error problem on my side. A mechanic may just know exactly what to do without removing half the engine.
Bottom line, car will not turn over.
Here is the video with the sound it's making.
http://youtu.be/ysZi3Aoiaj4
What I know so far.
Fuel - check
Battery - check
Spark/wires - Good as far as I can tell, wires fairly new.
Belts - check
Fuses- check
Vacuum - Fittings/hoses checked, no visible problems.
What I think?
I have a feeling it is electrical, or a bad fuel pump. I am more than a little rusty. So, I will leave it to people a tad more in the know.
Other notes.
-The idle air pump remained running after the car was off.
-There has been lots of rain, and moister may have found itself in some areas, as the seals are old.
-Car ran fine 2 days ago.
-OBD 1 computer has no error codes, OBD II not checked.
If you have any ideas, I am all ears.
Thank you."
Solution: Found moister in the ecu compartment, dried it out, started up fine.
"My poor Volvo 850 just didn't want to wake up today.
Made me miss a doctor's appointment, and halted a trip to the fabric store.
I am fairly mechanically inclined, and can fix whatever. I just wanted to ask before I started on anything. As this would seem to be more of a trial and error problem on my side. A mechanic may just know exactly what to do without removing half the engine.
Bottom line, car will not turn over.
Here is the video with the sound it's making.
http://youtu.be/ysZi3Aoiaj4
What I know so far.
Fuel - check
Battery - check
Spark/wires - Good as far as I can tell, wires fairly new.
Belts - check
Fuses- check
Vacuum - Fittings/hoses checked, no visible problems.
What I think?
I have a feeling it is electrical, or a bad fuel pump. I am more than a little rusty. So, I will leave it to people a tad more in the know.
Other notes.
-The idle air pump remained running after the car was off.
-There has been lots of rain, and moister may have found itself in some areas, as the seals are old.
-Car ran fine 2 days ago.
-OBD 1 computer has no error codes, OBD II not checked.
If you have any ideas, I am all ears.
Thank you."
FA+

Try getting a cheap spark tester (or doing it the old shade tree way) and seeing if you have spark is the cheapest and easiest thing to do. Sometimes coils can die in there specially after a good rain or two.
Okay..
It dose turn over.
I have a spark tester. I will be right back.
Found moister in the ecu compartment, dried it out, started up fine.
Problem solved.
Thanks man.
First of all, your car is 'turning over' (as the engine is rotating) however it's not catching or self sustaining. So, that eliminates about half the electrical system, and the starter. Also it has a rhythmic sound to it, meaning the valves and timing belt are ok. So, this comes down to fuel and spark.
There are two ways to check this - first, pull one of your spark plug leads, and jam a screwdriver up in the plug, then, with a friend starting the car - hold the metal shaft of the screwdriver close to the engine, if you see a spark jump the gap, if so the electrical system is fine.
The other, is try to start the vehicle for a good 5-10 seconds, then immediately go to the tailpipe, do you smell fuel?
"Okay, see, this is exactly what I meant. When I hear turn over I assume it means start up. Though, when you said that I realized I had forgotten what "turn over" means.
Okay..
It dose turn over. "
I may edit this to avoid looking as stupid as I am....
All other electrical systems seem to check out, but I am a tad worried that I am getting "ghost" in some systems. Things seem to randomly start and go without explanation. Like the idle air pump.
Timing is fine. The battery was just running out in the video.
Compression is fine.
Looks like the rain was the culprit
Tow it to a mechnic.
Let me check some stuff real fast, As the video was only so much information.
Checked today. Compression is pretty good on all 5 cylinders.
To be honest the car sounded very funny when I made the video. Is there anything else other than compression it could be?
Compression and timing are fine. Took it out for a spin.
If the compression is off, it is off equally in all the cylinders.
I will double check, but with the problem solved I think it was just a bad video.
I would bet that the timing was slightly off due to the computer being.. wet.
I dried everything out, relay box, and ecu compartment.
Both where fairly moist.
Kicked up with the first turn of the key.
drop him a note he can help.