960 3ltr died on a run

[migrator]

There must be someone out there with the t-shirt!

Driving quietly (yes I was) up the A1 recently and the car just died.

No stuttering or spluttering - just like the ignition was switched off.

The ancillery equipment all turns when the starter is fired. The cam belt is new and not damaged. Both cam wheels are turning and the inlet cam shaft can be seen turning when the oil filler cap is removed. Top half of head removed and engine 'wobbled' by hand. The exhaust cam shaft also turns. Timing marks on the wheels appear to be aligned OK.

When the ignition is on there is a permanent power supply to the individual cylinder coils - all of them all of the time.

An old fashioned engine I can work at but this has me beat.

Any pointers please?

There is just no 'spark' or so it seems.

[nedah]

Some years ago I had a similar experience with a 92 940 2ltr. In the never to be forgotten words of the garage " Everything works just fine. There is nothing wrong except that we cannot get it to start" !!

Eventually, to the best of my memory, the problem proved to be a defective HT ignition lead. It was delivering current but not at the required level.

Hope you manage to get it sorted.

[migrator]

Thanks for that but the trouble here is worse as there is no HT cable on the engine. Each pot has its own coil unit.

Someone out there has had this happen and has the answer ...

well its fairly easy to see, pull the spark plug out, and see if its sparking. if it is, spark isnt yer problem. it'd have to go on every single coil for the engine not to fire though, so i'm not convinced. i'd suggest either its something earlier on in the chain (before the power is split - distributer perhaps) and also check fuel is getting in..

[Mike Arnold]

If you have a 1995 or earlier you can read the ECU fault codes. It might tell you something.

it has crankshaft position sensor, i suppose...its wires may be broken...i also agree about OBD codes (if fitted on your car)
p.s that engine is total pain in the ass for DIY, i think...sorry about you...

[Peter Milnes]

Post '95 the OBD2 sytem was used with either an accessible connector in the dash or inside the cubby hole (underneath a small panel in bottom) enclosing the handbrake lever. Codes can be read using a code reader suitable for Volvo use. Codes on OBD2 are different than the earlier Diagnostic codes.

All the best, Peter.

Hi guys,
How is the patient?
Sounds reminiscent of a prob when I changed the cam seals on the beast below. The key to my prob was no spark on any pot. Turned out I had left the earth lead for the coils unconnected from the block in the mayhem. Could this have severed/frayed off during the drive?

Not sure exactly where the earth is terminated (I think near the inlet manifold & it's a pig to see) but you could jumper a GND over to create a guaranted circuit. 12v feed was fine, just nowhere for it to go :-)

Any help?

G

1995 facelift 960 Auto Estate 3.0 24v, 136K, 3 years with me. Changed: self level rear shocks '05, front susp bushes '05, air mass sensor '04, lambda sensor '04, Gear selector switch '03, disks/pads '03

[Peter Milnes]

You need to remember that the Motronic system uses two ignition amplifiers to feed the six plug-top mounted coils. They have seperate earths which are commoned at an earth point. The only way that both ignition amplifiers can be faulty is if both earths have become detatched at the common point or the engine earth strap has become disconnected or broken.

All the best, Peter.

[migrator]

Thanks, Peter and GmanRopley for those earthy comments. That is definitely something else for me to have a look at.