Troubled 760 V6 .....

Hi,

this is my first post here though I have been reading the forums for a while!

My other half has a "F" reg volvo 760 V6 very nice car but has a couple of problems !!

We have had gear box probs for a while - cutting out (wait half hour and it starts), lack of power from gearbox - "grabbing" as it changes, changing at higher revs approx 3500.

On checking the atf it has a pink slime in it ... as does the coolant tank... deep joy that will be the radiator. No contamination in the engine oil.

Didn't drive it for a week towed to local garage last night as it wouldn't start and now won't start in the garage !

Current status including info from garage is that there is a spark (albeit slightly weak), there is fuel pressure and the engine is cranking. But the engine won't "catch".

We have given the go ahead for investigation but wondered if anyone here has any ideas?

Many thanks

Iain

[Isis]

Hi Iain,

Its difficult to diagnose such things remotely so to speak but from your symptoms i would suspect the engine position sensor, located on top of the gearbox (bell) housing at the rear of the engine compartment, this is providing the rotor arm and distributor cap are in good order.

It is also possible the coil is weak or failing given that the spark is reportedly weak, though both the sensor and coil are prone to failure when hot the fact you have a spark seems to indicate the coil is working, however poorly, it should run.(unless the spark is so poor it is virtually undetectable)

However, if the engine position/speed (or sometimes called TDC) sensor fails, the spark occurs at the wrong time in the 4 stroke cycle and the engine fails to start as a result.

I do have a spare TDC sensor for a B280E engine(which given the age of your car it may have if it is a non catalyst car)The cable is in a poor state but it does work (i have tried it) I am happy to post it to you to try before you buy a new one as they are quite expensive!

Hope this helps,

Kind regards

Iain