Battery earth/ground point

[carryoncampers]

I also have an XC90 D5 2010 which suddenly won’t start today.
There hasn’t been any problem before.
It cranks strongly but will not start up.

I’ve timed how long the fuel pump goes on for and it’s about 27, 33 and 32 seconds but it still won’t start up.

I changed the fuel filter less than a year ago and the old one was full of crap. Should I change it again so soon? Maybe that should be the best thing to try next.
Any ideas?

Many thanks.

[WhiffSmithler]

And there's been nothing else happen to it and no work done on it and no error messages on the screen since it last started?
Did it start normally with only brief cranking time (I'm thinking like less than 3 seconds)?
I wonder if enough glow plugs might have died, or the glow plug relay died, that it's not not wanting to start. Glow plugs do die and need replacing. You can easily check their resistance with a multimeter - should be 0.5 - 2 Ohms. If you get higher than that they're bad. If you get a null reading they are dead.
Start there first I think. If you replace the fuel filter you'll have to crank a fair bit to get the air out so there'll be starting problems till that happens, on top of your existing problem.

[carryoncampers]

Thanks whiffsmithler, it stated instantly until this morning and there had been no problems errors etc.

Only random thing is it got stuck in a bog a couple of weeks ago so maybe something got knocked or disconnected?

I’ll check out the glow plugs next. Thank you.

[WhiffSmithler]

The fuel filter probably has a drain knob at the bottom of the bowl - if it's like my 2007 xc90. Could that be leaking fuel (pressure). If you've driven it a few times since the bog episode it would be surprising though...

[carryoncampers]

Well you’ll never believe this.
First things to check are always fuel and a current.
Turns out the fuel gauge had stuck at 50% and there was no fuel at all. My mechanic disconnected the fuel hose to check the pump on the tank and when there was absolutely no fuel about he decided to put some fuel in and that was it!
I’ve now filled it to the brim and will watch to see if the gauge has corrected itself. If it is a float maybe it just got stuck. It is reading full now.
Super weird that it ran out of petrol at home so never stuttered or anything. Just wouldn’t start in the morning. That’s what threw me off the scent. Well that and a stuck gauge. What are the chances??

[WhiffSmithler]

Well I wasn't expecting that one! And careful when you say "petrol" if you mean diesel (you said it's a D5 model) or we'll be _really_ worried about your Volvo! But great to hear that it's running again.

[carryoncampers]

Oh yes! Diesel!
Thanks.

[Speedwagon55]

Just spent nearly the entire day chasing similar symptoms on my XC90 V8 (hard time starting, stuttering engine, P0089 code, etc.). After changing the Fuel Pressure Sensor, PEM (which required removing two middle row seats, after first checking behind the rear passenger wheel), and the mass airflow sensor, I finally gave up and towed it home. While looking up possible “ground” issues, I happened upon your post and saw your comment about a stuck fuel gauge at halfway. My fuel gauge was also at halfway…

It now runs fine.

I guess I should have been suspicious that I’d gone 330 miles on half a tank…. What’s the foundational reason for your engine not getting fuel? Being out of fuel. Thanks for sharing!!