Volvo: Starting Problems, spark plug wire, volvo 760

Question
Jason,

My Daughter has a 1987 Volvo 760 Turbo, The past few days when she goes to start the car it will start without any problems and at other times it will not start.  The starter it turning over and cranking,  A neighbor opened the air intake cover when my daugher started it and it fired up right away,  I replaced the air filter thinking that a clogged air filter was causing the problem and it fired up right away, then this morning she left the house and it started up when she tried to restart the car a little later it did it again, any ideas.

Thanks

Doug Morales

Answer
It sounds like an intermittent lack of spark when the car doesn't start, probably due to a short or corroded connection somewhere.  Next time it refuses to start, pull a spark plug wire and hold it close to the chasis to see if you are actually getting current.  If not, start tracing back to the distributor, coil, etc until you find the culprit.  FYI, a lot of times the smaller 12 volt electrical leads going to the coil can become corroded and not send current to the coil, which in turn doesn't allow the car to start.  I had this problem a few years ago, with the same symtoms you're describing.  Check all open metal electrical leads like that for corrosion, and if you find anything, give them a good rub with sandpaper.  Good luck!