henrivolvo
My Volvo 240 model 1991 is hard to start after rain. This problem has been bugging me for a few years now and it is not going away. I have changed all the sparkplug lead, distributor cap and rotor. With no improvement. The car is always garaged. I have given it the WD40 treatment on all injectors connections, all other possible connectors but no luck. I have the car now for 8 years and
jamesinc
I'm moving this to the workshop - troubleshooting section for you
240Joe
Could it be the under bonnet fuse getting wet?
I have mine in a waterproof cover now after it cooked itself.
henrivolvo
I am not sure about this under bonnet fuse. I know a distribution link block in front of the left hand wheel arch close to the battery. This had a WD40 treatment. No change in the problem.
volstretch
Check your earth strap from the motor to the body. If it's a bad connection (rust, loose or dirt) it will still work satisfactory in the dry but as soon as the air gets damp forget it. We had a 164TE that was scared of the dark. True story, headlights would work all day every day, then came night and they would not work. Drove me crazy. auto electrician couldn't find problem but just added a relay to the headlight circuit and now all good. He said the slightly cooler and damp night air will expose any less than satisfactory electrical connection issues.
henrivolvo
Sounds like a possibility. I will check it out. I have the Volvo factory electrical manual which is very good and tells you all the earth connections on the car, and believe me there are a few. I will keep you posted if that is it.
Canoe
only try to start it before it rains...:-)
Slowbrick
Have you done any troubleshooting to see what you aren't getting? Is it losing spark or fuel when it doesn't start? Depending on what it is will determine the troubleshooting.
henrivolvo
it will start before rain. It is hard to start about one day after it started raining..
I have sprayed Inox in all the connections and plugs under the bonnet and the fusebox inside the car has been treated with Inox. The fuel pump does run when I start it. Sometimes when I start it I can hear a dull backfire after a few seconds of starting. When it fires after some time of starting it sound like it runs on 2 or 3 cylinders. I have to keep the revs up and it will run OK at 2000 rpm. After 30 sec of higher revs it will idle. If I try to accelerate it will again start to run on 2 or 3 cylinders or like it doesn't want to advance the ignition. Sometimes it will stall, sometimes it will slowly rev up with splutters and coughs etc. Eventually it will start running fine. What I usually do is keep the rev up and drive off. I brake with the left foot and keep the throttle with the right foot. (it's an automatic) Once the car has warmed up, say 5 min, it will start running fine.