95 850 NA hard to start when cold, on warm days

[kjj]

It usually starts almost normally when warm after driving it for a while, but first thing in the morning, it cranks and cranks before starting. Difficulty seems to track the ups and downs of ambient temperature in the spring. Check engine light is not on. OBD-II gives no codes.

Starter now needs to be replaced, not sure if that is just stress from extra cranking or part of the problem. Had no particular problems with the starter until the starting difficulty was noticed, now sometimes doesn't engage, or disengages while cranking.

Temp gauge appears normal, pinned low before starting, then gradually warming up to 3 o'clock position while running.

Pausing in the run position to run the fuel pump before starting doesn't help.

Engine runs normally after starting, power seems about normal. Sometimes bogs down a bit right when I let off the key, but not always. Never bogs down or stalls while running.

Any clues?

[lext]

For someone who joined in 09, you sure take your sweet time making the first post

Not sure how cold it is where you are, but maybe the battery is on the way out? When it's cold, battery produces less amp, while the cold oil/engine requires more juice to start (compared to when engine is warm). Normally there should be plenty of extra capacity to make that happen, but it could just be that yours has been reduced to just borderline above the minimum required.

[kjj]

I probably just joined up so that I could see attachments, or maybe I had a question that I never got around to asking. My first 850 was around that time. (My second is a 1998 S70 T5, currently in my garage getting the world's slowest ever involuntary water pump, timing belt and head job. The slow starting '95 is my third.)

Other way around. Easier to start on cold days, harder to start on warm days. Subzero days in the winter were fine. Cold mornings, like in the 40s or 50s, take a little extra cranking. Warm days, like 60s and 70s, take a lot of cranking.

Also, battery is maybe 2 years old and has no symptoms of early failure. It cranks and cranks until it starts, or until the starter finally dies.

I see other suggestions to check the water temp sender, but my understanding was that the same sensor also drives the temp gauge on the dashboard.

[misha]

It's the same sensor(ect) but if it's out of spec it gives an ecu false readings.
It always MUST be oem or at least Vernet.
Aftermarket ones simply doesn't work.

Before you decide to change it,check it's connector and wiring from both sides....sensor side and harness side.
Sometimes connector can be corroded and sometimes the wires are split.