2004 s40 1.9 hard start/wont start

[HeavyFuel]

It seems im still battling the hard start issue. I think i have it narrowed down to a rich fuel mixture, or flooding. When i change the spark plugs, it starts perfectly for a few days. After that, it begins to start hard, misfiring and sputtering to life. Eventually, after 10 days or two weeks, it wont start at all. Just crank and sputter. I inspected the spark plugs after the two weeks, and eventual "no start", they are wet with fuel, and black. I did change the fuel pressure regulator a few weeks ago, but i noticed just yesterday that the new regulator looked like it was not in straight. I took it out, and reinstalled it, and it was no longer crooked, and the clip holding it in seated in farther than before. Im hoping this makes a difference. Time will tell.
One more thing, i went to drain coolant from both the radiator petcock, and the drain on the back of the engine. Nothing comes out from either one. Engine warm, hot, cold.....makes no difference. No drain.

[alschnertz]

Though the fuel line issue looks intriguing, I think it would have been spewing fuel if it was not connected properly before. Curious to see your results.

That is odd about the coolant drains. Guess you'll have to pull the lower radiator hose instead.

[HeavyFuel]

Agreed, regarding the likelyhood of the fpr installation causing the trouble. I will say, however, it started today with a vigor.
Another observation, is the MPG "computer" on the dash. It shows a very high fuel mileage, like 45 mpg or more when cruising, and 34 as the average. Shows 15 or more when accelerating moderately hard. I know from checking it the old fashioned way it only gets about 31mpg average. Are these always inaccurate?

[alschnertz]

checking it the old fashioned way it only gets about 31mpg average. Are these always inaccurate?

I'm guessing the 45/15 numbers were not averages but were instantaneous readouts.
I've never found the instantaneous reading very useful for anything.

As for the average readout, mine shows about 29 mpg over thousands of miles since I don't reset it at every fillup.
I never checked it the old-fashioned way - I suppose the odometer could be off as well.
Regardless, around 30 is what I'd expect from this car and my driving.

[HeavyFuel]

It’s been a while since I posted about this car. It still has same issues, but have learned some things, and made some interesting observations. This gets a bit wordy, but bear with me, please.

First off, I have noticed that it does use coolant, and there are no leaks that I can see. So I had a leak down test done on the head at a local shop, and he said it held 150 psi no problem. So I have ruled out head/gasket issues.

Secondly, I noticed that when I run the car with lower than normal coolant level, I can go a good month or more without hard starting issues. If I fill the coolant tank and run it at normal level, I will foul plugs within a week or so, and it won’t start

The turbo has been replaced once, by previous owner. There is the possibility that the turbo the put in was defective (cheap aftermarket?) and is leaking coolant past the seal and through the charge tube, into the combustion chamber, and fouling my plugs.

Is there any other way coolant would get into the combustion chamber?

[AmericanT4]

Most of the time the hard start issue on the 1.9t is either fpr has gone bad or you have a bad coolant temp sensor. Both of these parts are common fail issues. Quick fix for coolant sensor. You will notice when u first try to start that the temp gauge actually reads redline so as a safety feature engine will not start. If you turn ignition off and on a few times until you see the temp gauge drop to cold reading again the car will now start first try. No quick fix for fpr. If temp gauge is fine when ignition turned on but car just cranks then you have a bad fuel pressure regulator and need to replace to fix hard start. More then 90% of time one of these is the hard start issue. 2001 V40