2007 XC70 does not start in cold temperature (battery is good) Topic is solved

[GabrieS]

-5 degrees outside today but the car would not start at all.
I thought about warming up some of the parts that are potential offenders.
I have taken the hair dryer and placed it for about 10 minutes on the parts listed below with no results. I made sure they felt nice and warm to touch and would then crank the engine...but no success.
- PEM (Pump Electronic Module)
- ECM/PCM (the two modules under the hood inside a plastic box with a plastic lid on the passenger side)
- Starter
I googled "Volvo XC70 starter issues" and I found one user (WyoXC - post#17) on another forum say this:

However it is not something that people say consistently in that thread and at the same time my starter cranks just fine...so it still feels like a shot in the dark.
Dwwalker...Please post if your issues have resolved after more time has elapsed with the replaced starter.
Thanks

[abscate]

-5 degrees outside today but the car would not start at all.
I thought about warming up some of the parts that are potential offenders.
I have taken the hair dryer and placed it for about 10 minutes on the parts listed below with no results. I made sure they felt nice and warm to touch and would then crank the engine...but no success.
- PEM (Pump Electronic Module)
- ECM/PCM (the two modules under the hood inside a plastic box with a plastic lid on the passenger side)
- Starter
I googled "Volvo XC70 starter issues" and I found one user (WyoXC - post#17) on another forum say this:
Untitled-1.jpg
However it is not something that people say consistently in that thread and at the same time my starter cranks just fine...so it still feels like a shot in the dark.
Dwwalker...Please post if your issues have resolved after more time has elapsed with the replaced starter.
Thanks

Its the perfect time for this test

Here is the cheap diagnostic next time the no-start occurs

A three second blast of starting fluid (ether, or di-ethyl ether, same thing) into the snorkel, followed by cranking, will tell you if you have a cold induced fuel delivery problem.

If it suddenly breathes fire on ether, then your fuel is not getting delivered properly.

[GabrieS]

I had the starter fluid ready but when I went to do it...I realized there is nowhere for me to access the air intake. I lifted up the air box from the air filter but it has a long pipe running down and behind the engine under the firewall.
I was unable to disconnect anything to get close to the air intake.
I know this is very easy to do on lots of cars because the air intake usually sits on top of the engine...but not on this car.
Unless you have a better spot for me to spray the starter fluid in...I cannot access the air intake.
Sorry...I was going to do this test and had everything ready...and then this happened.

[- Pete -]

At the top of the airbox lid there is a “honey comb”. Just behind that sits your MAF. Use the red pipe on the side of the ether can & with someone in the drivers seat hitting the key, shoot the ether past the MAF, down the intake runner (tube). I try to avoid getting ether near the MAF, they aren’t free to replace & can be damaged easily.

[abscate]

You ca also pull any vacuum line on the intake tree and use the red stinger to shoot three seconds into the manifold.

Abscate has a paychecking riding on the outcome that it will breathe no fire.

[ADent]

How about heating the CEM? Under the dash. I think mine is flaking out in the cold.

[dwwalker]

Per mrbrian, it's the starter. The car thermometer said -23C this morning but the house one said -18C. Either way my car wouldn't start at that temperature before. With the new starter it started right up like it did yesterday. No pulsing of the tach etc. Without that background of the EM field I might never have figured it out. The starter still turned. Thanks.

[mrbrian200]

Per mrbrian, it's the starter. The car thermometer said -23C this morning but the house one said -18C. Either way my car wouldn't start at that temperature before. With the new starter it started right up like it did yesterday. No pulsing of the tach etc. Without that background of the EM field I might never have figured it out. The starter still turned. Thanks.

Please report back after a few more nights at that temperature or lower. I like to see consistent behavior over time. Once in awhile something appears to be fixed but is a one-off/ issue remains. Sounds promising though!

[GabrieS]

Hello,
I have changed the starter as per emerging suggested fix from the last few posts. My major beef with that suggestion was to not spend money left and right just to see if that fixes my issue...and without a clear confirmation of the issue being eliminated. That is why I started this thread...There is nothing as powerful as brainstorming about a particular issue with guys or gals that are passionate about that particular issue.
I pulled a Bosch starter from another XC70 from the auto-wrecker for $30. This one said "Bosch" right on it and "Made in Germany".
I replaced the old starter with the new one and had no issue starting the car...but the temperatures were only around 0 degrees Celsius.
The original starter was lighter than the Bosch, had a dull white metallic finish (tin like) of its housing, and had no markings on it.
The Bosch starter is heavier, has markings laser etched on it with the words "Bosch" and "Made in Germany", is black in color, and much heavier to feel.
The only modification I had to do is to add an adapter for the signal wire. The Bosch starter has a male quick disconnect terminal for the signal wire. The unmarked starter had a small bolt onto which a ring terminal was placed with a small nut securing the connection in place.
I bought a Female Quick Disconnect terminal from my local Canadian Tire (https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/cert ... c=true#spc) and a ring terminal. I crimped them both to a wire and connected the original ring terminal to the ring terminal on my wire, then connected the quick disconnect female end of my wire to the quick disconnect male terminal on the Bosch starter.
Of course it is too late in the year to hope for another cold night to confirm.
So it will have to be confirmed next winter.
Will update all of you when I have news.
Thanks

[darrylrobert]

since your code reader is giving saying "crankshaft position sensor" you dont think it could be the crankshaft sensor?

oh okay i read you solved the problem. i am also going to change swap out my starter as i have a "hot start problem" thanks