Hi there,
I need some help from you experienced older Volvo owners/mechanics! Just over a year ago I bought this 1975 244 DL Sedan, B20F engine. It's in great shape and has only 153,000 miles on it. The previous owner had put in a new fuel pump and new plugs and wires. Since I've owned it I have had to change belts and hoses. Other than that it has been great.

On Friday I went to start it as I was leaving the doctor's office and it wouldn't start. It would crank but not engage. I made a few attempts and finally after sitting about 10 minutes it fired right up. I left and went to meet friends for dinner at a restaurant - and it did it again, with the same result. Once it started again, I went to friends house who put some gas dryer in the gas tank as we thought I might have got some bad gas (I had filled up that morning). When I left his house, it started right up - as it did again yesterday morning and afternoon. However, as I was driving home in the afternoon, it suddenly just shut down, like flipping off a switch. I was close to home and was able to coast into the road of my housing area. I sat for over an hour trying to get it to start again and it didn't.

I need some knowledgeable help on what it may be. My friend thought it could possibly be the coil. I looked at this forum and other newer 240's with this problem seemed to get a similar answer for a similar problem - coil, fuel pump relay...

If it is the coil, what would the estimate cost be to fix it? I am a single mom with little to spare in the way of $$. I am in Washington State. I have friends who are mechanics but none of them know anything about old Volvos.

generally the warm start problem is flooding

the book even TELLS us to plant the foot when trying to start so I now do that and no problems, but generally you only get one chance and after that need to put foot to floor and turn over engine until it clears the flooded fuel

as for stopping dead, suspect the black box that gives the spark [best to get a used one from a wreaker yard]

hi KBarker,

I have the same car, except with a fuel injected 2.1l engine.

What I think you should do is replace the fuel pump relay as your symptoms are classic 'no fuel to engine' stuff. You'll find the relay under the hood on the back wall. They cost about 10bucks and you can change it yourself. You'll need to take all 2 or three of the relays off and relplace them at the same time as I can't seee your car and can't say which it is as we never had B20's in 244's here in Aus, but it will be one of them in that location.

The other thing it could be is the new fuel pump you have. It might have a loose connection.

Either way it is the fuel pump that is playing up, either the pump itself or it's power source (relay/loose connections).

Another thing is to write into www.brickboard.com -- the guys there are pretty knowledgeable and most are from the US --

If you have more dramas feel free to write directly to me at erikpill@hotmail.com.

Cheers,
Erik