240 General: Breakdown- not starting:~

[Bob Meadows]

Looking for a few obvious pointers before I start:~
Volvo 240 '88 estate.

The car is well serviced and normally runs faultlessly: Friday evening the engine just cut out whilst driving and wouldn't start.
Just prior I had to put fuel in etc- not misfueled and I double checked (E5 as normal)

I'm going for maybe the obvious things first but any other suggestions are welcome.
Ignition and associated parts to include the ignition amplifier (spare carried)
Fuses etc. (Cranks over as normal)
Pump solenoid- spare substitute.
Fuel pumps & pressure.

Thanks Bob.

[BicycleBoy]

Bad luck, but at least you were driving it... so we know only one thing has broken.

1. Got a spark? An old plug earthed to the head is a quick way to check.

Do you have k-jet or carb?
Just fuelled is a red flag, but let's not go there yet....
If you do pull your fuel filter, empty the inlet side contents firstly into a china cup (check for sediment) then into a glass (let settle and check for water contamination).

[Bob Meadows]

Thanks for the tips:~
The fuel did initially worry me but I went back to the garage and double checked the pumps etc.
Checked with the attendant as well: think he thought I was mad!
The car is a K-Jet and the fuel filter is about 3 years old with very little mileage- will do what you recommend though.
Thanks Bob.

[BicycleBoy]

Aye, check for spark first.
If the engine stopped dead, I'd suspect ignition component. Got spark rules this out.
If it stuttered before dying, I'd suspect fuelling component, particularly given refuelling prior. If your tank was low you could have picked up sediment, or water. Worse, the petrol station could have delivered same from their tank...

[Bob Meadows]

Yes it just stopped dead, no stuttering etc:~
Fuel had been low so a number of things to check- I do have a feeling it is ignition related but will have to go through the processes, ignition first I think.
Regards Bob.
(Looking at the car Monday)

[Bob Meadows]

Don't you just love the easy fix:~
------------------------- " ------------------------
Went for the basics first- fuses, noticed No6 main pump was loose in the cradle with slight burning marks each end- fuse also wrinkled across the aluminium connections.
Removed the above and cleaned the holders up- replaced the fuse.
Started up without any further problems, checked a couple of times and the cranking time does seem to be reduced even further.

I did check the fuse when the car initially stopped but as it was beginning to go dark I obviously missed the fuse looseness & contact discoloration that stopped the fuse doing its job.
A good result saving a lot of potential investigations.
Regards Bob.

(The spare parts are back in storage!)

[BicycleBoy]

The curse of the fusebox strikes again!
Good you know where no.6 is now. Should your green fuel relay die, (as is their wont) a hokey bridge between no.6 and no.4 will get the fuel.pumps running again and get you home.

[Bob Meadows]

Thanks:~
Got those main points sorted, I carry the bridging wire plus a spare fuel relay.
Quite a few other "just in case" spares as well.

Love the low technology aspects of the 240 and one of the main reasons for
purchasing it.
Thanks again for the valid suggestions.
Regards Bob.

[Clifford Pope]

Glad you have found the cause.

For general reference the Ignition Amplifier is a good spare to carry. I once had my car stop dead without any warning, tried the fuses and the bridging 4-6 trick, and then swapped in the spare Ignition Amplifier, because I'd just read they can fail without warning. It had!
If you carry the IA ready-bolted to a spare heat sink then you don't need to bother unscrewing and swapping - just unplug and plug in the new one and let it dangle on the wires as a get-you home remedy.

[Moomoo]

Just made a croc-clip bridge and put the spare amp in the car. No good in the shed is it?🤔