Crank but will not start

Tiny
DONNYMC
  • MEMBER
  • 1996 VOLVO 850
  • 4 CYL
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 133,000 MILES
I have a 2.3 turbo. I had a bad alternator and after replacing the car will nit start. It cranks fine, but will not start. It has fuel to the fuel rail but does not seem to have spark. The battery did die. Does something need to be reset?
Monday, August 22nd, 2011 AT 12:05 PM

19 Replies

Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,761 POSTS
What happens on these cars is sometimes when you reconnected the battery the system will have a voltage surge which will pop a fuse or a controller. Lets start by checking he fuses. Here is a guide to help along with the fuse panels. Also, check the control module relay.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-a-car-fuse

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-an-electrical-relay-and-wiring-control-circuit

This guide can help as well.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-cranks-but-wont-start

Check out the diagrams (below). Please let us know what you find. We are interested to see what it is.

Cheers, Ken
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Monday, August 22nd, 2011 AT 1:20 PM
Tiny
DONNYMC
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
I checked fuel its good. I checked spark from the coil (did not have a spark checker I used a screw driver) did not seem to have spark. So I replaced the crankshaft angle sensor and the ignition module the car started! FYI
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Monday, August 22nd, 2011 AT 2:30 PM
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,761 POSTS
Good to hear, please use 2CarPros anytime. We are here to help.

Cheers
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Monday, August 22nd, 2011 AT 2:52 PM
Tiny
RAYANNANICHOLE
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
  • 1996 VOLVO 850
  • 2.4L
  • 5 CYL
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 140 MILES
Hi, my car will not start and I am not sure why. It is turning over but does not sound like it is firing. Also, I accidentally disconnected something from the air filter and I am not sure where it goes to. So I was hoping you could help me with that. Can you give me an idea of maybe why it is not turning over a charge the battery and I do not know if it has something to do with the fuel pump or the ignition coil or if because that tube is disconnected but please give me some ideas. Thank you
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Thursday, August 30th, 2018 AT 4:32 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RIVERMIKERAT
  • MECHANIC
  • 6,110 POSTS
" I accidentally disconnected something from the air filter" is pretty vague. Can you maybe upload a picture of what it is? Also, look around the air intake tube and the filter housing for anything that looks disconnected.

To diagnose the no start, you need to find out what is missing: fire, air, or fuel. I would also check the timing belt to make sure it's turning. That's located in the front of the motor, usually under a plastic cover. Pull the two or three top screws or bolts and carefully pull the cover away from the block and have someone crank the engine over while looking to see if the belt turns.

To check for spark, remove a spark plug boot from one of the plugs and insert a #2 Philips screwdriver in it, holding the screwdriver near a metal piece of the engine while someone cranks the engine. You should see a strong blue spark. Smell and feel the spark plug to see if there is gas on it.

Remove the air filter and make sure you can see through it when holding it up to the sun. Tap it against the ground to remove loose dirt and debris. Check the inlet hose to make sure it isn't obstructed.

Turn the key to the run position and listen carefully when you do it. You should hear a click and hear the fuel pump energize (it sounds like a whirring sound). If not, you may need a new pump or pump relay.
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Thursday, August 30th, 2018 AT 4:32 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RAYANNANICHOLE
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Hi, sorry, I thought I had attached the photo the first time. I will get a better photo later as well of the actual hose that was coming off of this black peg. I have just changed the heater core in my car because it was overheating badly and there was antifreeze coming into my car. I was able to drive it once after I changed it and now it will not start. The black plastic hose thing broke off of the air filter box and I am not sure where it was connected to from the air filter or if that even matters. I am not very good with all of this stuff as you can tell and I have no one to help. Not knowing what things are called makes it hard to look for in the repair manual that is on your website. :( So any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Rayanna
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Thursday, August 30th, 2018 AT 4:32 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RAYANNANICHOLE
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Okay, so I just replied again and it did not go through and I had attached more pictures.

So this morning I tried to start it up and it sounded like it wanted to more than before. I am not sure if the part that is broken is the air inlet hose or not so I am attaching more pictures. Also, there is a wire that looks like it is a ground that is attached to the alternator housing then has a plug of some sort that is not plugged into anything. I will attach those as well. I am not sure where either of these things are supposed to connect to. I hope this can get fixed today.
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Thursday, August 30th, 2018 AT 4:32 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RAYANNANICHOLE
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Okay, so this is about my fifth time trying and I do not know if you can even see these photos. When I try to click on them it is not showing them and I guess I will have to send them one reply at a time as this is about my sixth time trying to send the second reply message as the first did not go through.

Here are more photos
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Thursday, August 30th, 2018 AT 4:32 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RIVERMIKERAT
  • MECHANIC
  • 6,110 POSTS
I am not seeing any new photos. What I can see is a vacuum line with a check valve, but it looks to be connected.

As for the no start condition, check for spark: Pull one of the spark plugs, insert a Phillips screwdriver into the plug boot and hold the metal portion near something metal as someone else cranks the engine over. You should see of hot white spark.
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Thursday, August 30th, 2018 AT 4:32 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RMBURNS18
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1996 VOLVO 850
Front wheel drive automatic 200,120 miles.

I have a non turbo. It has been running great and on Thanksgiving going up a mountain in North Carolina CEL started flashing and was throwing codes po 300, 303,304, and 305. It quit running and now will not start. I replaced the fuel pump relay. And can hear the fuel pump running when the key is turned on. It had been throwing cod po 172 the last couple of weeks every 100 miles or so. I have replaced the distributor cap and rotor. There is spark and checked fuel at rail valve and have good fuel pressure. Also replaced the camshaft sensor. There is also spark when removing coil wire from the dist cap. Also checked the timing to see if it might have jumped, but that is okay. Also put in new plugs

When you turn the key engine turns over but acts like no spark or fuel.

Any Ideas?
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Thursday, August 30th, 2018 AT 4:32 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
P0300/0303/0304/0305

Misfires can be caused by worn or fouled spark plugs, a weak spark (weak coil, bad spark plug wire), loss of compression, vacuum leaks, anything that causes an unusually lean fuel mixture (lean misfire), an EGR valve that is stuck open, dirty fuel injectors, low fuel pressure, or even bad fuel.

P0172 Rich condition

Possible causes include a bad O2 sensor, excessive fuel pressure (bad fuel pressure regulator or plugged return line), leaky fuel injectors, dirty air filter or restricted air inlet, or a defective coolant sensor that prevents the engine management system from going into closed loop mode.
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Thursday, August 30th, 2018 AT 4:32 PM (Merged)
Tiny
GABRIEL108
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1996 VOLVO 850
Engine Mechanical problem
1996 Volvo 850 Two Wheel Drive Automatic 180000 miles

My 850 has been running good until yesterday. It will crank but wont start. I tested one of the spark plugs and it sparked fine. I also listened to see if the fuel pump engaged when the key is in the start position and I could hear it. Please help.

G
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Thursday, August 30th, 2018 AT 4:32 PM (Merged)
Tiny
LEGITIMATE007
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,121 POSTS
Check the mass airflow sensor and airfilter along with breather.
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Thursday, August 30th, 2018 AT 4:32 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
I also listened to see if the fuel pump engaged when the key is in the start position and I could hear it.

It could be coming On but is it producing the correct fuel pressure and also are the injector/s pulsing-Check the fuel pressure and comeback with the readings we start here-
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Thursday, August 30th, 2018 AT 4:32 PM (Merged)
Tiny
GNUTAT
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1996 VOLVO 850
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 140,000 MILES
Turns over slow but will not start
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Thursday, August 30th, 2018 AT 4:32 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JIS001
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,411 POSTS
Check battery and make sure it is fully charged first.
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Thursday, August 30th, 2018 AT 4:32 PM (Merged)
Tiny
REGENT53
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1996 VOLVO 850
Engine Mechanical problem
1996 Volvo 850 147000 miles

Car stalled while driving - I could get it to idle slowly and drive a while. No power - then no start at all. Fuel pump OK, timing belt OK,

What next - how to check?

Thanks
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Thursday, August 30th, 2018 AT 4:32 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Fuel pump okay, timing belt okay all you need now is spark from the ignition to have a combustion
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Thursday, August 30th, 2018 AT 4:32 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CISCO27
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1996 VOLVO 850
Engine Performance problem
1996 Volvo 850 Front Wheel Drive Automatic

well I have a 1996 volvo 850. I'm driving the car with the maf sensor plug in. N when I plug in the maf sensor the car wont start n their is a smell of gas.N if I unplug the maf sensor the car starts.
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Thursday, August 30th, 2018 AT 4:32 PM (Merged)

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