Volvo wouldn't start this morning. Still coughing on start.

undflyer · Post by **undflyer** » 12 May 2016, 09:08

Hey guys! My 1998 Volvo V70 was sitting in the driveway for about three days and this morning didn't want to start. I gave it about three tries before I began to diagnose. I inspected distributor, wires, tried to start with MAF sensor unplugged and re-seated the fuel pump relay. After doing all of this it started up with a cough. Let it run for awhile and it continues to start but doesn't sound right. About a week ago I noticed some irregularities with the idle. Approaching a stop it would drop low below 1000 and when put it park the idle was unusually high. Not sure if these are related. Let me know what I should do next....

Sommerfeldt · Post by **Sommerfeldt** » 12 May 2016, 09:55

See if there are any codes. That should always be your first stop. To me, it sounds like either an air leak, or you MAF is going.

- S

Post by **cn90** » 12 May 2016, 11:44

Put a jumper in fuel relay SOCKET terminals 15 and 87 (I posted some photos in forum).
If the symptoms go away, then you just diagnosed a bad fuel relay.

Post by **sleddriver** » 12 May 2016, 11:57

Not enough flow or pressure from the fuel pump?
Clogged fuel filter?
Fuel pressure regulator? (Could also be leaking/split vacuum line to same)
Dirty Idle Air Control (IAC) motor?
Dirty throttle plate?
Vacuum leak downstream of the MAF?

undflyer · Post by **undflyer** » 12 May 2016, 12:50

Thanks for the great responses. I am going to first try and jumper the fuel relay although I think I hear the pump come in position 2. If that doesn't do the trick I'll start checking the other boxes. Is the fuel filter a big job? Are these symptoms typical of a failing fuel pump? Or does a fuel pump either work/or it doesn't? Thanks guys. Car seems to start much easier when it's warmed up.

Post by **Clemens** » 12 May 2016, 13:25

When my pump (or actually my Volvos pump) was going out it would sometimes fail to provide pressure and tapping the fuel tank with a piece of wood or a hammer really good would get it going (ideally someone would start at the same time). This worked for a while till I replaced it. In between it worked like charm, and would usually start until the pump was in that stupid no start position again.