Volvo 340 auto has died and won't start

Hi,
can anyone help me to get my Volvo 340 1.4 Automatic, to start ?
the problem started 2 days ago... the car was driving great until then, I took my daughter to school and when I was just on my way out, the car just gently died and cut out ! ...there were no problems before this - no noises pinking or anything, I have petrol in the car and there is petrol going into the carb, I have checked the distributar cap ..the contacts were a bit dirty so cleaned them and the starter is turning the engine fast and is working good .. but it just won't fire.
(so after getting a tow home) ........
..... I have put my battery on charge now after running low for trying to start it, could it be the coil, or anything like that ? I don't have a test lamp to test things, are there any other ways?

if anyone can help me It would be greatly appreciated

thanks

Bev&mart

Hi Bev,


You can check that there is a spark at the plug, by removing one and then attach the HT lead. Touch the end of the plug to the rocker cover (or any metal part of the engine), get a friend to turn the engine on the starter and look for a spark jumping across the spark plug gap. Make sure everything is dry before doing this as I know from experience that 20,000 volts in the arm is not fun!!! You could also wear a pair of rubber gloves as well.

If there is no spark, clean and check all connections (coil & distributor)

If there is a good spark then you can check the fuel is getting through the carb by removing the air cleaner and looking down the venturi, pump the throttle a couple of times, you should see a small jet of petrol squirt out into the middle of one of the venturi. You have to look carefully as it is only a very small squirt. If you cannot see petrol then you probably have a fuel supply problem or a block inside the carb.

You said the engine gently died, this makes me suspect a fuel problem.

Give these ideas a try first. I hope this helps a bit.

Crunchie

It would probably be best to consider replacing Distributor cap,rotor arm and leads.It may be that you have relatively new ones already,but replace any parts which are quite old.It sounds electrical and may be moisture in the cap entering via hair line cracks.A cap is about £20 for this engine.The recent rain will bring out any faults in a cars
electrical system.

Good luck.

Dave Wright.

Hi,
thanks to all who has helped me, I would just like to say that we have tried the things you've said, and the only thing we have noticed that there is no spark coming from the coil, we took the lead from the center of the distributor cap which comes from the coil, and turned the engine over while touching the top of the engine with it and there is no spark (we even pressed really hard with the lead and my husband (silly man) even held the lead with his hands the 2nd time we tried it, and there were no sparks from him (lol) or the top of the engine on the metal part !
before buying a new coil, do anyone think it could be this ?
we have also tried the leads from the spark plugs and they are the same, but we are thinking if there is no spark coming from the lead off the coil... then maybe it could be that ?

there is petrol getting to the carb.

thanks for all your help

Bev & mart

[srtames]

Assuming you have electronic ignition, you have either a faulty ignition module or flywheel sensor. You can try cleaning the connections on the module otherwise you should get one from a breakers yard for £20 (volvo charge about £150!)

good luck , steve

Someone else please correct me but you would not expect to get a spark by carrying out the experiment Bev and Mart suggests, as you only get the spark from the spark plug, connected to a lead and 'earthed' in the way prev described, not from the lead itself held to the engine.

Would you not need another experiment (other than this one) to see if the coil was in need of replacing?

Remove the spark plug from the engine, and then plug the lead back onto it - do this one at a time so that you know which lead goes where.

Then if you hold the spark plug so it is touching the engine it will be earthed as normal and should spark.

As said before be careful holding the plug as even though there is not a lot of power in the spark there is enough voltage to give a bit of a jolt!

I doubt that simply holding the lead next to the engine will produce a spark as the spark gap / material is carefully designed with a spark plug to make it spark (hence having to make sure the gap is correct!)

Good luck, and be careful

Stu

thanks everyone for your advice, just wanted to thank everyone who contributed advice, as the ignition module pack was at fault.I baught one for £20.00 from a scrapyard, and its now working ok .Just wondering whats going to go next time lol
thanks
bev&martin:P

[srtames]

Hi Bev, glad you fixed your 340 but you will need to expect some problems from the auto transmission probably new belts which I would suggest you get a garage to do.
If you join the club you can get a list of non-franchise volvo specialists in your area. Thiis will save you a lot .

Regards, Steve