no..... my Volvo died……….. please help……

[gr1z]

Hi, I have a volvo 760, great car, but its died. It will not start it will turn over. I grounded a plug on the block and could see a spark. With the spark plug out the there was a bit of sweet sweet gas smell. I took off a fuel like, thought it was the fuel send line. Well it wasn’t and fuel puked out on the front of the motor. Anyway looks like the fuel pump works and there’s spark…… I really have no idea what is causing the car not to start. Is there some relay I am completely un aware of..???????? Please help any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[NI_Volvo_Nut]

Can you hear the fuel pump run after cranking?

Assuming you can, is the timing belt intact?

Was it running ok when last running?

[gr1z]

no, i can not hear the fuel pump wile cranking. however i had assumed it was working so i hadn't really been listing for it.
when i disconnected what i thought was a sending fuel line, fuel came out of a thing on top of the motor, when the motor was cranked.
i have not really taken a close look at the timing belt. would it be apparent if it was broken?
the car was running fine until i parked it in the cold for a month. now it won't start.
is timing something that could cause this??? i am really at a loss now i used to think you just needed fuel and spark. i have not checked compression. if the head gasket went last time i drove the car would i have known? could a blown head gasket cause no compression?
is there an easy way to check the timing?
are there any fuses or relay that could cause the car to turn over and appear to have spark and fuel but not start?

[NI_Volvo_Nut]

Good chance its the fuel pump relay.

Remove your ashtray, to the left of the fuse box you find a flat 2 pin plug, this is your fuel pump wiring, pink and black from memory, give the pink a 12v supply, if the car starts, its your fuel pump relay is the problem. If it doesn't start, I'd say fuel pump.

when you crank the car and stop cranking, you should hear the fuel pump still running. If you hear the fuel pump and the car still isn't starting, then start looking at other issues. Even if you remove the fuel lines, you will still get the fuel running through the pump, weather its working or not.

[arcturus]

It could have picked up moisture whilst standing in the wet over winter. The fuel could have gone off.
Possibly also check camshaft position sensor.

[gr1z]

can i check the camshaft position sensor??? is there any easy way to tell if the fuel pump relay is gone?

[NI_Volvo_Nut]

Originally Posted by gr1z

can i check the camshaft position sensor??? is there any easy way to tell if the fuel pump relay is gone?

As I described above.....

[minty]

Originally Posted by NI_Volvo_Nut

As I described above.....

Yeah i second this.
You can also remove the relay and carefully prize its shell off by using a flathead screwdriver to manipulate the plastic lugs on the bottom either side of the pins.
Once it is removed check the solder joints i did and found the inner switches rocking worse than an uncle at a wedding.
This has been the culprit on my last two 740 non start issues.

Hope you get it sorted soon
Minty

[gr1z]

NI_Volvo_Nut i saw your above bit about testing that relay. unfortunately i know very little about car and even less about fixing them so that didn't make much sense to me. anyway thank you guys so much for the input i really appreciate it i had no idea what to test or what to look at.
the uk forums are clearly awesome.

[gr1z]

i can not hear the fuel pump prime. i had taken out the fuel pump relay. i hope. can anyone confer if it is the white relay, bottom left? i popped it open and it looked fine. is there away i can test the functionality of this relay? replacement best option? NI_Volvo_Nut made a great suggestion however when i opened up the ashtray i could not figure out witch wires were for the fuel pump.... is there an easier way to test the fuel pump?