Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us
Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network
HomeAnnouncements
Discussion Groups
By Brand
BMWChevroletDodgeFordGMHondaLexusMercedes-BenzNissanPeugeotToyotaVolkswagenOther Brands
By Topic
4x4 CarsRVsDrivingMaintenance & RepairCar AudioCollectible Cars
Country Specific
Australian ForumsUK Forums
ArticlesAuto InsuranceBuyingCars & TechnologyMaintenanceMiscellaneousSafety
DMV Resources
Related Topics
MotorcyclesBoatsMore Topics ...

Car Forum / Volvo Cars / December 2006

Tip: Looking for answers? Try searching our database.

'83 240 GLE fuel pump relay

Thread view: 
Enable EMail Alerts  Start New Thread
Thread rating: 
Josh - 21 Dec 2006 12:11 GMT
Does anyone know where the in tank fuel pump relay is on a '83 240?
I'm trying to isolate a problem, car stalls after driving perfectly for
a short time on hot days, seems the in tank pump is gone but i am
trying to rule out any other faults. High pressure pump workes fine.
Any other advice would be appreciated
Thanks
Josh
clay - 21 Dec 2006 16:16 GMT
> Does anyone know where the in tank fuel pump relay is on a '83 240?
> I'm trying to isolate a problem, car stalls after driving perfectly for
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> Thanks
> Josh

I just went through fuel troubles in my '83 245.
I was going to say on the firewall, under the carpet on the passenger
side. That's the relay for the main pump. I hadn't thought about the
relay for the in-tank pump.
I'll be watching this thread...
Mr. V - 21 Dec 2006 17:18 GMT
I've never understood the in tank prepump to have its own, separate
relay.
Josh - 21 Dec 2006 23:55 GMT
> I've never understood the in tank prepump to have its own, separate
> relay.

If this is true then it pretty much confirms that the pump itself is
dead. Looks like i've got some replacing to do.  Thanks for your help.
Michael Pardee - 22 Dec 2006 01:53 GMT
>> I've never understood the in tank prepump to have its own, separate
>> relay.
>
> If this is true then it pretty much confirms that the pump itself is
> dead. Looks like i've got some replacing to do.  Thanks for your help.

Dunno about the 240, but I thought it had a dual section relay module like
the 740 does. Those are notorious for becoming intermittent when warm -
cracked solder connections. It matches your symptoms well enough that I
think you should verify whether yours is one of the affected relays and if
so, where to find it.

Mike
Josh - 23 Dec 2006 10:41 GMT
Definately sounds possible, but I think since the time the car cools is
directly proportional to the time the car runs, a cracked solder is not
too likely.I will still check it out though.  I am also a little
confused. Doesnt metal expand upon being heated, therefore making a
break in a circuit less likely to show itself in hot weather?
Michael Pardee - 23 Dec 2006 17:03 GMT
> Definately sounds possible, but I think since the time the car cools is
> directly proportional to the time the car runs, a cracked solder is not
> too likely.I will still check it out though.  I am also a little
> confused. Doesnt metal expand upon being heated, therefore making a
> break in a circuit less likely to show itself in hot weather?

I don't know the details of why the failures are more common when warm, but
it is that way not only in Volvos but in Hondas, which have the same
problem. (In Hondas, the relay assembly is known as the "Main Relay.") If it
means anything, the cracks show up as circular hairlines in the solder where
the heavy relays are mounted. When my eyes were younger I could see the
cracks in mediocre light, but now I need sunlight and a magnifying glass.
(Come to think of it, I need sunlight to find the magnifying glass!).
TeGGeR's excellent Honda FAQ site has a good picture at
http://tegger.com/hondafaq/mainrelayoperation/badmainrelay.html

Mike

Mike
John Robertson - 25 Dec 2006 09:57 GMT
>> Definately sounds possible, but I think since the time the car cools is
>> directly proportional to the time the car runs, a cracked solder is not
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
>
> Mike

Dont just resolder it remove the solder and replace the solder with new
silver solder ,quickly so as not to cook the joint and solder .
Josh - 25 Dec 2006 11:40 GMT
i shall have a look at the relay in the morning, try resoldering it and
see if it affects the car at all.  I've gotta do some soldering under
the hood anyway.  We are getting some freakishly cold summer weather so
it may be some time before i know if this is the fault :-P. Thanks for
everyones help
Michael Pardee - 25 Dec 2006 16:21 GMT
>>> Definately sounds possible, but I think since the time the car cools is
>>> directly proportional to the time the car runs, a cracked solder is not
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
> Dont just resolder it remove the solder and replace the solder with new
> silver solder ,quickly so as not to cook the joint and solder .

I favor reusing the old solder with a dab of rosin. I don't know where to
get rosin flux separately any more (the tin I had was from a store that went
out of business when I was a kid), so just a touch of rosin core solder to
freshen the joint is a good substitute. Failing that, remove the old solder
and start over as you say. I agree - just reflowing without flux produces an
oxidized (dry) joint. Not as bad as a cracked one, but not still not as good
as you want.

Mike
Josh - 25 Dec 2006 22:14 GMT
I opened the relay and bingo! cracked solder. However, the cracked join
was not actually linked to any other component, it was one that was
holding the relay coil in place.  Could this have been the culprit? The
crack was quite large, maybe it was enough to let the coil vibrate and
in turn the plates.  i resoldered the second join to this coil just in
case the cracked solder had also damaged the second join - this one was
linked to the battery power. I wont know how the relay is going until i
get some more hot weather, any suggestions on how i can safely test the
relay?
Boris Mohar - 26 Dec 2006 13:58 GMT
>I opened the relay and bingo! cracked solder. However, the cracked join
>was not actually linked to any other component, it was one that was
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>get some more hot weather, any suggestions on how i can safely test the
>relay?

The body of the relay, called the armature is where these cracks usually
occur. The armature is the par of pump current switching circuit.

Regards,

Boris Mohar

Got Knock? - see:
Viatrack Printed Circuit Designs (among other things) http://www.viatrack.ca

void _-void-_ in the obvious place



Signature

Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

James Sweet - 26 Dec 2006 01:10 GMT
> Dont just resolder it remove the solder and replace the solder with new
> silver solder ,quickly so as not to cook the joint and solder .

No need to use silver solder, ordinary rosin core tin/lead electronic
solder works fine.
~^ beancounter ~^ - 26 Dec 2006 02:00 GMT
my volvo mechanic told me the other day, the lead content
in newer soder is not as high as in older soder, making it
not "breathe" and expand/contract with heat, thus cracking after
limited cycles.....the s80's are having trouble w/some sodered
components....

> > Dont just resolder it remove the solder and replace the solder with new
> > silver solder ,quickly so as not to cook the joint and solder .No need to use silver solder, ordinary rosin core tin/lead electronic
> solder works fine.
James Sweet - 26 Dec 2006 09:04 GMT
> my volvo mechanic told me the other day, the lead content
> in newer soder is not as high as in older soder, making it
> not "breathe" and expand/contract with heat, thus cracking after
> limited cycles.....the s80's are having trouble w/some sodered
> components....

The new manufacture stuff is made with lead-free solder. I'm all for
reducing the use of toxic materials, but lead-free solder is crap.
Wouldn't surprise me if the waste levels increased due to lower reliability.
Boris Mohar - 26 Dec 2006 14:01 GMT
>> my volvo mechanic told me the other day, the lead content
>> in newer soder is not as high as in older soder, making it
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>reducing the use of toxic materials, but lead-free solder is crap.
>Wouldn't surprise me if the waste levels increased due to lower reliability.

Indeed.  Just look up Tin Whiskers.

Regards,

Boris Mohar

Got Knock? - see:
Viatrack Printed Circuit Designs (among other things) http://www.viatrack.ca

void _-void-_ in the obvious place



Signature

Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

Josh - 27 Dec 2006 02:08 GMT
I've confirmed that the relay is working properly by testing for
voltage at the pump. voltage exists, but the pump doesnt run.  Thanks
to all for help isolating the problem, i am in possession of a new
pump, i just need to install it this afternoon.
Would any of you know a good way to get fuel lines off the pump?  They
are jammed on too tight to just pull off. The guy who sold me the pump
suggested heating the fuel lines, is there a way to do this without the
risk of igniting the fuel?
James Sweet - 27 Dec 2006 06:06 GMT
> I've confirmed that the relay is working properly by testing for
> voltage at the pump. voltage exists, but the pump doesnt run.  Thanks
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> suggested heating the fuel lines, is there a way to do this without the
> risk of igniting the fuel?

I usually use an impact wrench to get the banjo bolts out. Be careful
not to twist the fittings and kink the lines.
Josh - 29 Dec 2006 05:55 GMT
> I usually use an impact wrench to get the banjo bolts out. Be careful
> not to twist the fittings and kink the lines.

Thanks for the suggestion, i followed the fuel line until i found a
banjo bolt and undid that instead of messing with the connection at the
tank, fed the line through and that gave me enough play to remove the
hatch.  I replaced the pump with no problem and now hear the soft buzz
which i couldnt hear with the old one. Ran the car for about an hour
today (quite hot) and it went beautifully, also fixed up a little bit
of chugging at idle, guess the fuel pressure was too low.
James Sweet - 29 Dec 2006 07:34 GMT
> Thanks for the suggestion, i followed the fuel line until i found a
> banjo bolt and undid that instead of messing with the connection at the
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> today (quite hot) and it went beautifully, also fixed up a little bit
> of chugging at idle, guess the fuel pressure was too low.

Oh you were replacing the in-tank pump? I thought you meant the main
pump under the car. I'm not sure what banjo bolt you're referring to but
the line from the tank has a coupling under the car just ahead of the
tank, the hose is permanently attached to the tank bung plug.
James Sweet - 23 Dec 2006 19:14 GMT
> Definately sounds possible, but I think since the time the car cools is
> directly proportional to the time the car runs, a cracked solder is not
> too likely.I will still check it out though.  I am also a little
> confused. Doesnt metal expand upon being heated, therefore making a
> break in a circuit less likely to show itself in hot weather?

It does, but just the fact that movement takes place when it gets warm
can break a circuit. It's always a good idea to resolder the relay even
if it isn't causing problems, it will some day.

Rate this thread:






 
Sign In
Join
My Latest Posts
My Monitored Threads
My Blog
My Photo Gallery
My Profile
My Homepage

Start New Thread
Enable EMail Alerts
Rate this Thread



©2008 Advenet LLC   Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.