Volvo: 1989 Volvo 240 not starting, 1989 volvo 240, volvo 240

Question
My car will turn over until you kill the battery but will not start. Yesterday drove all over doing errands shut it off and started it many times, went to go somewhere later in the day and it wouldn't start. The next day it starts. We have changed the coil, mechanic is stumped as it started everytime for him(he had it two weeks).When car does start it seems to start hard.
Thanks for your help.

Answer
Normally, when the car randomly decides to start or not to start, it's usually an electrical issue.  The most common problem is corroded contacts, somewhere between the ignition and the spark plugs.  Volvo's used exposed wire contacts in quite a few places (like those leading to the coil leads), which get corroded and cause random shorts.  When the car fails to start, I would pull out a spark plug and check to see if you are getting current at all.  From there, I would work my way back through the ignition system until you find the place where there is no longer voltage while cranking the engine.  Usually it's just a lead that requires a quick once over with sand paper.  I struggled with this exact problem on my 240 for a year before I finally figured out what it was.  Quick fix, but requires some patience and trouble shooting skills to track down.  Good luck!