Car wont start by key, have to tow it

[cheshire190e]

cheers morgan105,

I have tried pretty much everything you have said apart from checking the valves and dizzy cap for moisture.

ill get a compression test done, and take the dizzy cap off.

Thanks

Matt

[pettaw]

If its spitting back through the carb or backfiring, there's a good chance the dizzy cap is tracking spark so its sparking at the wrong time. Also the rotor arm may have moved on its mounting if it wasn't fitted properly....I've seen that happen before too.

[germ]

Hmm lol i managed to do a compression test on mine and all was perfect. i really don't know whats wrong. it must be ignition/fuel.

[cheshire190e]

the guy who has the car at the moment has tried cleaning out the dizzy cap and says this made no difference. Ill get a compression test done when i get back from uni in a few weeks.

Hope that turns out ok

Matt

[cheshire190e]

Hey guys,

I am going back from uni next thursday for a week so want to have a good go at getting the volvo running.

Up to now we have tried:

HT leads, Dizzy cap, Rotor arm, Cleaning plugs.
Checked for air leaks. New manifold tried 2 carbs
Cleaned out the cps
Tried pouring fuel directly into the carb
Tried spraying lynx in whilst turning over

Still no joy.

Could anyone who has even the slightest idea what may be causing the problem please note it down on here so next week when I get home ill have a long list of things to try to get her running again.

Thanks again

Matt

[filthyjohn]

The only things I can think of that you haven't listed are crank position sensor (12 o'clock on the bellhousing) and the renix module.

[morgan105]

Only on one vehicle have I ever had this next thing happen and the vehicle would not start, even though it had just done a 100 mile round trip. Stranded me less then a mile from home and had to tow it back.

Problem turned out to be a bent camshaft. Put a replacement camshaft in and vehicle was as reliable as ever.

The engine was only small and journey was mostly motorway and I did push it a bit so may have overheated the engine slightly causing it to bend, although I don't remember it showing it was overheating.

It was not much of a bend to see with the naked eye but enough to not let the vehicle start and run.

[Jason B]

definitely check the crank position sensor, even if you think it isn't that... I had the volvo break down on an event last year, went through all the checks, seemed to have spark and managed to get it going again. Completed the event and stopped at the finish pub, when we came out of the finish pub to go home it would crank but not start and that turned out to be the CPS. (though mine exhibited more classic symptoms than yours is..)

[cheshire190e]

Cheers for the replys guys,

I have tried cleaning out the crank position sensor and was informed the car would not spark if this was faulty.

It has recently had a new camshaft in it but ill try the old one back in it.

Cheers

Matt

[morgan105]

It's had a new camshaft, were the valve rockers set up correctly when it was installed?

[pettaw]

Yeah, that's my first thought too. Did they set up the valve timing properly....Also did they set up the distributor timing properly too?

[cheshire190e]

When the cam was installed I set up the timing and everything was running great for a week or so.

it started with a lumpy idle and then just went progressively worse until now when it wont start.

Im unsure as to what it could be, but could try putting the old cam in

Cheers

Matt

[cheshire190e]

I don't suppose anyone has a spare crank position sensor I could try on it when i get home???

Cheers

Matt

[morgan105]

Were the bolts that hold the cam down correctly torqued? If they have come loose it may not be opening the valves and they will be closed all the time.

[pettaw]

Right, so the engine was running fine and then progressively got worse? I bet its the cam, followers, pushrods etc bedding in, and the valves have now gone out of adjustment.

Don't put the old cam back in, just check the valve clearances again.