1986 Volvo 360 GLE from Italy - Comments

My VOLVO 360 GLE (1986) is hard to start in summer.

The problem is the following:

(1) It does not start easily in the morning with a cold engine after the car is parked overnight, and.

(2) It does not start easily also after the car is driven and the engine is hot, or when the car is parked in the sun for a long period of time.

When ignition fails, it gives out a gasoline smell.

To start it, one has to unplug and re-plug the ignition wires or keep on kicking until the car starts.

The electronic ignition system, the battery (new), the starter and the electric system are all OK.

I had it fixed three times on this same problem and the latest fix was on 12 June 2001. Yet it didn't go away.

This problem occurs only in summer.

The car works perfectly well in winter.

What is causing this problem and what are the fixes?

Can anyone tell me what to fix?

Please write to my email address at (L_guindo@yahoo.fr)

Hi!

I have similar problems with my '89 360 GLi (B200F -engine). It also works just fine in winters, even if they were -30 celsius. But in summer... If it's hot weather, then there will be trouble to start the engine. This only happens if I haven't driven in few hours. If I have stopped for a short time it works well. So, I don't know what's wrong with it and I have been too lazy to try to find out, because it will start after 10-15 seconds of trying. I think this problem could be something like gasoline evaporating somewhere in the injection system, so it would take time before the gas pump delivers the fuel from the tank into the engine.

Hi

I own a Volvo 360 GLS '83, I have got a problem that sounds a bit like yours. Once in a while if I have been driving till the engine is hot, it stops for a few minutes (engine turned off) and then starts again. The engine refuses to idle and runs very erratic. If it stalls it is very hard to get started again. There is black smoke from the exhaust. After driving for a few minutes, fighting to avoid stalling (dangerous as I have to use the handbrake to stop, while keeping the engine alive) it starts to run again.

This behavior is totally erratic and I haven't got a clue as to what causes it. I would be grateful if anybody has got an idea.

Regards.

Brian.

Hi,

I have a 1986 Volvo 360 GlTi and my problem is very similar to yours. However, my car starts like a champ in winter when it is cold, but after I have driven it a for a short while it doesn't seem to want to start again! I think I might have the solution though. It seems to be the Accumulator box not getting enough (or getting too much) fuel to feed into the injectors. My advice is to take your car to a Volvo specialist as they know much more than conventional mechanics about these fine machines.

A 1987 volvo 240 runs good and stops when warm, could this be the fuel pump in the gas tank? Cause it starts up again.

Tengo un volvo 360 gle 85 y el problema es muy similar en frio parte excelente pero una vez que se calienta no parte bien y trabaja inestable. pero si lo e andado y lo apago y lo enciendo enseguida parte al toque. da tirones bruscos al andar. ensucia las bujias con un polvo negro (humo) y tira humo con aroma a bencina.

Se le an limpiado los inyectores, revisada la compresion y esta todo correcto, lo unico que se le a echo es cambiarle los cables de la bujias.

Que podra ser.

In regards to the comments above about the Volvo 360 having problems starting in hot weather:

All European cars are built for the cold, they love it.

So if you live in Queensland, move to Victoria. Or keep the car as you winter run about.

I'm in Victoria and have the problem dude,

its almost always the fuel pump or the auxiliary air valve that bloody Volvo put on this car (doesn't really need it unless ambient goes below -5)

simple problem, but hart to find.

I had that exact same problem with my 360GLT (It's kinda like old fords/doorhandles?) I put new points, leads and plugs in, also a higher power coil (Out of my mate's VK calais (I haven't told him about that yet) and voila!!! The starting problem in my 360 must have been weak spark. I blew out my fuel lines too just to make sure there was no blockages. I'm in Queensland too by the way.

Hope this helps... D.J. Jonny Long, Town of 1770, QLD.

I have a 360 GLT and the fuel injection is not working supposedly because the computer is not working though the mechanic is unsure. The car has only done 60k miles from new. A new computer is about 450 euro in ireland, I don't want to scrap the car so does anyone know of a quick fix or any advice. thanks. dylan

I had an 1984 model 360GLT, and am now considering buying a 1986 model. Brilliant little car!

I had a similar problem with hard starting when hot. I did all of the usual things, replaced filters, plugs and leads. With the car that I had, it had a low pressure 3/8" in line fuel filter mounted near the fuel tank, and well hidden behind a metal plate. There was no mention of this filter in any of the service manuals I researched, so is easy to overlook. Upon inspection, this filter was clogged with silt. Replacing this filter solved the hard starting when hot problems instantly. It may have been something that a previous owner had fitted? Its worth checking, as hard starting when hot is a common problem with this model.