Hi,
I have a real headbanger for y'all. My '97 940 will not start either hot or cold unless I first crank the engine so that it turns two or three times. I then have to relax the ignition key but without switching off the ignition lights, when I recrank the engine, it nearly always starts. It's been like this now for over a year and starting to get on my nerves. I did a full service about six months ago changing distributer cap and rotor and leads. I also changed MAF sensor, crankshaft sensor, pump relay as well as a complete front and rear suspension rebuild. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance

 

Sounds like an ignition switch problem. The part under the cylinder.

 

97 940? Must not be a US car.

Check your fuel pressure. Specifically the rest pressure. If the check valve goes bad it takes a few seconds for fuel pressure to build up enough for the injectors to spray any meaningful amount of fuel. Or try turning the key to the ignition position for 2 seconds a few times to energize the fuel pump and hopefully build up pressure then try to start the car. I'm basing this on Volvo with a b230 or b230t engine. Rest pressure can leak from the other end - the fuel pressure regulator or the injectors - but is more common from the check valve. The check valve is located at the exit of the fuel pump under the car.

What year and model car do you have? What part of the world are you located? Which engine do you have in your car?

 

Hoonk,

Thanks for your reply. The pressure regulator (atop the fuel rail) was another thing I changed, but not the one underneath the floor. I will look into that over the next few days.
The car is an Irish 1997 940 estate or "wagon" and is a B200FT, close to the last of the 940's ever built.

 

Lev,
Thanks for your reply. When this problem first started, the ignition switch was the first thing I thought of too, but swapping it out for a KGU didn't make any difference.