1997 850 NA - starting issues at 1deg F

Post by **xHeart** » 13 Jan 2016, 17:42

Overnight street parking makes battery sounds weak and overloaded. The engine would stop running within few seconds of starting. It struggled, hesitated and gasped the third time, but caught on after intervention with gas pedal.

The gas pedal was sticky, not responsive. But all turns normal after it reaches operation temp.

How to work the cold start conditions?

Post by **cn90** » 13 Jan 2016, 18:19

It is always down to the basic:

1. Fuel: Fuel Pump, Fuel Relay.

2. Ignition: condition of the spark plugs, cap/rotor, Bougicord.
? ECT

Gas pedal...If not already replaced, replace the accelerator cable now.

Post by **scot850** » 13 Jan 2016, 19:53

I take it you don't have a block heater? I'm not sure if these are still available from Volvo. I keep meaning to pull any in the cars here in Canada at PnP as most have them. They are easy to install, with a couple of bolts at the back of the block (no fluids have to be removed) and run the wire under the block along the RH chassis rail and up to the area behind the grill.

What oil are you using? Try synthetic 5W/30 as it is easier for the engine to turn this over in the engine than dino oil.

Finally, a good high power battery and good battery/starter cables and earth pints clean and shiny.

You could also consider simple things like parking the grill pointed downwind, and placing cardboard behind the radiator grille.

Neil.

Post by **erikv11** » 13 Jan 2016, 23:35

This is not likely a problem that warrants replacing any parts (fuel supply, ignition, cables etc.), probably just due to the cold.

+1 on the block heater, they are fantastic in super cold temps. My V70 fires right up at 0 F, and the temp needle is off cold after just 2 or 3 minutes. There were a few threads about this last year right about this time, the stock block heater makes a huge difference.

I bought a new block heater last year from Tasca Volvo but it is not as nice as the older style ones from junkyard cars. Have not installed it yet so no comment.

scot850, pull some block heaters, rescue them, they are useful!

Post by **misha** » 14 Jan 2016, 02:33

I agree with erikv11....no need for replacing parts,it's just from cold weather.

Measure battery voltage before starting the car in the morning with a digital multimeter...it's a 10sec job.
Do you wait 2-3 seconds with key in pos.II before starting the car alowing fuel pump to prime?

Post by **xHeart** » 14 Jan 2016, 18:50

Early morning temps were in teens. Drive home from work was in 30s. It started fine and ran great as it always does.

The battery voltage reads 12.38.
Misha suggested in another post to switch to synthetic 5w40. Which I will, but for now it is on Pennzoil conventional 5w30.
What spec would you recommend for stronger battery? I have one spare on the shelf fully charged from our 2001 V70XC.

Most of the tIme I do pause for few seconds before crank. Once started, I let it warm up for 5-10 minutes before moving.

Two car garage is not possible in this life. That block heater idea is attractive.

Post by **scot850** » 14 Jan 2016, 23:05

I've taken note of your instructions eric! Once it gets a bit warmer I'll keep a look out for block heaters for next winter!

Up here in Canada you can get battery heaters as well, the wrap around the battery to keep it toasty. Mind you, at the temperature you are getting that is probably not needed yet. You can also buy oil pan heaters that you can slide under the car and warm the oil.

Neil.

Post by **erikv11** » 15 Jan 2016, 08:05

xHeart, That block heater diagram you show is the 500W original one, if you can get one of those they are great. I bought from Tasca last year that ships with that schematic but the unit is actually smaller (400 W) than pictured and with less surface area in contact with the block. The smaller one may work fine though in our lower-48 conditions, I have not tested it out. It costs a couple bucks to run the block heater overnight, think of leaving a 500W bulb on all night.

Post by **cn90** » 15 Jan 2016, 08:13

Block heater only heats the block, i.e., the coolant part.

Oil Pan heater heats the oil.

No need to replace parts, the list I mentioned above (fuel, ignition parts) is just a checklist to verify how old they are.

Post by **erikv11** » 15 Jan 2016, 08:20

Heating the oil is only an issue for startup, it is so thick that it is not flowing well. The oil will heat instantly when it spreads over a warm block. That is why a block heater is much more efficient for heating the engine than an oil pan heater.

Here is a post from last yer with a lot of info https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... hp?t=68260.