This item may have been covered, but I'd like it re-covered. I have a 1993 850 with almost 200, 000. It"s the 5 cylinder 5-speed. In the morning or the first time I start it for the day is when I have the problem. When I first turn the key over to start it for the first time for the day it will try to start the first, I think. Then, it'll continue to crank but NOT try to start for a little, almost like it's flooded.(Although, from my UNDERSTANDING, it can't because of the electronics) I changed my plugs and wires about 6-7 months ago with no issues. This just started happening. Intermittently, I'm hearing the fuel pump engage, but I'm not sure it's the problem. A buddy, who's a mechanic for a living, but doesn't do a lot of import work, suggested the battery. So, I had the battery checked and it was bad, so, I had it replaced and for a couple of days it was fine, but now we're back to the same issue and now because it's NOT been ran for a while and was just starting it every once in a while, the battery's dead. Once I get it running, it runs like a top and can drive it, shut it off, do some shopping, and go back out and start it right back up. WHAT AM I MISSING, PLEASE??? I have a Chilton's manual, so just let me know and I can take it from their. My Father-In-Law suggested Throttle-Body, but I would've thought it would've affected it while it was running too. JUST DON'T KNOW, AT THIS POINT???

 

Are you saying that the battery is draining?

 

It's draining over time from repeated cranking trying to get it started and this battery is only 2-3 weeks old now.

 

So the hard starting is only during cold starts? Like first thing in the morning?

 

Yes, that's correct. Once I get it started, I can shut it off and re-start it repeatedly throughout the day with NO problem. But then come again the next morning on a "cold start" same problem.

 

I would suggest replacing the ECT (Engine Coolant Temperature - temp sensor under the thermostat) if you can't find a code.

 

"Then, it'll continue to crank but NOT try to start for a little, almost like it's flooded.(Although, from my UNDERSTANDING, it can't because of the electronics)"

OH YES IT CAN !! Your fuel injected car with all the computer controls will continue to pump in gas the entire time you're cranking the engine over until the battery dies or you let go of the key. If it doesn't start in a reasonable time it will pump in so much gas it will start to get past the rings and into the oil.

Have you tried to read the codes from the under hood diagnostic panel yet ??

 

Maybe I can understand the explanation of possibly flooding. But I DON'T QUITE UNDERSTAND the Engine Temperature control or whatever the previous statement being, since it's a "Cold Start". I'm thinking more along the lines of fuel filter or injector, but I'M FAR, OBVIOUSLY, FROM A MECHANIC.

 

On these Volvo's (and maybe other cars, I don't know), the computer controls the FUEL, SPARK, AND AIR when the car is started. To decide how much FUEL AND AIR to mix, it reads the temperature of the motor. A cold engine requires more fuel than a warm one. If it things the car is warm, it will not mix the two properly.

 

Upon the suggestion from my Father-In-Law, which I SEVERELY DOUBTED WOULD WORK, I tried starting fluid, to NO AVAIL. Also, and I'm just going through the easy things because I can do them myself, could it be a stopped up PCV or a fuel filter, by chance? I'm on my way to Autozone now, to pick both up, because, like I stated they're common "MAINTENANCE" issues and they're cheap to replace. I need to get it fixed today and as cheaply, as possible, because I just sold our second car and they're coming to get it today, so I won't have something to drive until I purchase something else as quickly as possible, because my wife has NOTHING to drive, although she won't be out of the hospital for another week or so. SO, I NEED ALL OF THE QUICK HELP THAT I CAN GET. I changed the plugs and wires about 8 months ago, and haven't had a problem until now and just put a Duralast Gold battery, which isn't a cheap battery, here in Louisville Kentucky, not even 3 weeks ago. PLEASE HELP GUYS...

 

I understand you're not a mechanic so we'll take it slow.

You can't get a PCV system from Autozone unless they special order it from an import part specialist and mark it up. I can guarantee you it's not coming in an autozone or any of their duralast brands Have you done any research on a PCV for your Volvo ?? Have you seen that they cost over $100 ?? Big shock to me fist time I saw it.

PCV can't be your problem for no start. After all it's crankcase ventilation and nothing more. PCV doesn't do anything to impact the engines ability to start so you might need one for other reasons but it's not going to help get it started.
There is always an exception and if, IF you had a rip in a really big hose for the PCV system there might be a big enough leak it could cause a hard start. BUT , , , if that was the case once started it would idle like crap all the time, warm, cold, all the time and your's isn't.

Fuel filter plugged . . . if the starting fluid didn't help then it's likely not fuel that's the problem so again you might be due for a fuel filter, it would be good for preventative maintenance but it's not very likely to be the problem.
You can check fuel pressure with a gauge screwed into the schrader valve (looks like a tire inflation stem) on the end of the fuel rail.

The coolant temperature sensor or ECT (Rspi recommended) can be a cause because the computer always looks at the temperature the sensor is sitting at to determine how much fuel to pump in. When it's a frosty Minnesota -30 degree day that sensor is going to tell the computer to pump in a lot more fuel to get the engine started than a sunny 90 degree Miami day.

In your case if the end of the sensor is starting to get coated with crap or it's just starting to fail internally it could be telling your engine it's 80 degrees out when it's actually 50 and in that case it would be hard to start because it's pumping too little fuel to fire. Possibly if you crank it enough it might build up enough fuel to fire but it's going to fight you to start.

Have you tried to check to see if you have spark when you're having the no start issue ?? If not it would be something to find out.

Do you have a check engine light on ??

 

As the Prince said, it's not a fuel filter or PCV.

One guy I know has had hard starting issues for weeks. Car starts great when cold, put hard when warm. He pulled the sensor plug off and seen corrosion on the connector pins. He cleaned up the connector and hasn't had a problem since. Only been a few days.

Fuel filter video:

 

Also, if you have a CEL you need to read those codes. I thought you said that you did have SPARK every time it failed to start? Could be a MAF or other things.

 

When I put the key in the ignition and turn it over to crank it, whether the first time (Cold Cranking) or not, I hear the Fuel Pump, Intermittenly. Is this normal, or is this a sign of the problem, and that the fuel pump's going out? Normally, when I have a hard time starting it, it's when I DON'T hear the FUEL PUMP. It started today after a few tries but was HARD TO finally catch and start. MAYBE I'M MAKING TOO MUCH OUT OF THIS... I bought a fuel filter today and according to Autozone, this year, make, and model doesn't have a PCV.???

 

Bobby, please answer the questions asked above, ignoring them or failing to do so will leave you ALONE.

To make sure we are clear...

1. Do you have a CEL?

2. If so, have you had the codes read?

3. Have you checked for spark?

Also, your car DOES have a PCV. Don't believe some person selling parts over us, especially after Kiss told you that AutoZone wont have one nor will they be able to order you one.

We'd like to help you and NOT have you throw parts at it. The fuel pump relay is a common failure. If you want to toss a part at it, toss that one.

 

BOB , , , read my post about the PCV 4 posts above and look at the picture of all the hoses and the black box. That IS the PCV.

After all I did take it slow and explain it.

 

It has been throwing codes but they're the same as it has been throwing when I purchased it 3 years ago and they go the defroster and climate control.

 

I just assumed it was getting spark because once it actually starts it runs like a top, but NO haven't physically tested for spark.