So here is the story of my latest 240 debacle. We own a 1984 240 DL wagon. I have put a lot of money in this car already. It has a new cooling pump and hoses, belts, brakes, tires, u-joints, and various other small things. It has run great for the most part for a year, sometimes not so good up hills, up until a few weeks ago.

My wife took the car one morning to get us a coffee. Started up fine, ran fine. She was gone driving it for only 30 minutes or so. The car sat most of the day before I went to start it up. No go. Car was getting plenty of battery power, and starter worked fine. Smelled gas. Still wouldn´t start. Thought I flooded it so I let it sit overnight.

Next day, no start. I thought it might be the ignition coil. Replaced. Still no. So I decided to take it to a "Volvo Brick Specialist" in my area. He suggested it was the fuel pump in the gas tank. So I had him replace it. He replaced it and said it started up and ran about 2 miles before it killed. He had to tow it back. He said he couldn´t figure it out and fiddled with it a little more. Then he said he had no idea what it could be. So now I had it towed home. I´m out 120 for 2 tows and 460 bucks for his repair job that yielded nothing. I am very upset right now about it...

I would still like to keep this car running, but am a little pissed now I have had to spend so much on a "specialist" who had no idea what it was. I am very good at repairs, but short on time. So it looks like it will be a weekend thing for a while fixing it.

Does ANYONE have any clue as to what it could be or why it isn´t starting? I heard one theory that someone could have put sugar in my gas tank but don´t know if that would have any effect. Any imput at all would be helpful...Thanks!

Check the fuel pressure regulator.

- Hold a plug wire close to the fender to see if you have spark during cranking.
- Clean the 25A fuse by the driver's side strut tower
- Listen for the main pump running forward of the rear tire (under the car) on the driver side during cranking
- clean fuses 5 and 7

nice86 and robert240 are right,but i suggest you do this by the book. check for spark as suggested. if spark looks good (bluish}, check compression. if good, check fuel pressure. you will have to make up a tool for this, as these cars run about 27 psi. need a 100-150 psi gauge, fuel injection line, tee fitting, clamps, and the fittings you have to score from the fuel rail from a salvage yard. before checking fuel pressure, disconnect harness from mass airflow sensor. this sometimes keeps them from starting. checking the 25 a fuse under the hood near the battery is a good idea, also the fuses in the fuse box. you wont hear the pumps running with the ignition with the engine not started because the computer requires a feedback circuit from the ignition coil to ground the circuit through the main fuel pump relay. so check for a loose primary connection at the coil or break in the wire from coil to pump computer. also check all ground connections. if injector ground at intake open, injectors wont work and no start. other possibilities include plugged fuel filter, bad main pump. good luck, there's always an answer.
volvoocrunch

as others say, first step is - is it fuel or spark?

first test spark and if none suspect that black box that supplies the spark

these fail after 20 years or so but can go on and off in last stages, just to fool you

if spark OK, what type of inject system is it - like maybe K Lamda or is it electonic

Not sure this works on modern ish cars with there electrickery reading volvoocrunch's reply but an old trick we used to do is to pull a plug,tip some fuel into the plug hole,screw it up quick and crank it over.If its a fuel related problem it should fire up on that 1 cylinder.

Thanks for the great ideas! Sparks appear to be okay, i am getting it when I crank over. I will be pulling the fuel pressure regulator sometime this week when I have time. I put new Bosch spark plugs on a few months ago so those are fine. I will let you all know what I find. Gonna check those fuses and other things out too. Thanks!

Yeh i hade the same problem and that was it.
So try it i think it will work.
Regards Pelle 79