Volvo Repair: 1993 Volvo 850glt - HEADACHE!!, mass air flow sensor, mass air flow

Question
QUESTION: So for quite some time my car has been giving me problems.  I bought it used a year ago with only 95k miles on it, and now one year later it has 117,000.  Right away i found i couldn't fill up the tank more than halfway without the engine severely hesitating.  I figured, not a problem, so I left it be.  Then just recently a whole slew of problems started.  The car stalls out randomly, but not right away - the throttle dies and the engine winds down until it hits idle, then it stalls out.  It was also hesitating like mad and giving me very little power, i could barely drive it uphill!!!  I thought it was the fuel pump, but everyone keeps telling me that after only 117k miles that's almost impossible, and the symptoms don't seem to fit a fuel pump problem.  Please help!!

ANSWER: Matthew, its not impossible on these cars. In fact it happens more than you think..  I would also have the Air Mass meter checked.  This is something that should be left to a Volvo Shop.  Roger

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: The plot thickens!!

My grandfather removed the original Mass Air Flow Sensor, and said it fell apart in his hands (so he claims).  So, we ripped one out of a '95 Volvo 850, as we'd read that they're compatible with my '93.  Well, either it wasn't or it was broken, the hesitating went away but the car couldn't idle or else it would just stall out.

Well, since we couldn't put the old one back in I just decided to suck it up and buy a new one from the dealer.  $250 later, I put in my brand new Mass Air Flow Sensor, and I'm right back to square one.  I have little to no acceleration or power until 3,300 RPM, which is where my car starts behaving like normal again.  I can barely even make it uphill.  Now i know it cannot be the Mass Air Flow Sensor, this one is brand new.  Does this mean it's the fuel pump?  Or is there something else i have to do to reset the computer in the car?  I'm at my wits end!!

Answer
Matthew, okay, now its getting interesting.  I would check some basics and let me know if everything is good or not.  First check to see if the timing belt is on correctly.  If one of the cams is off by one tooth, it will affect take off power.  Check to see if the throtle hose has a hole in it. To make sure the fuel pump is the culprit, you need to hook up a fuel pressure tester.  Lastly the fuel pump relay can be an problem as well.  Roger