Suddenly hard to start, but runs and drives fine
 

98 S70. Suddenly hard to start when cold, as in takes 3 or 4 tries then starts, runs rough for a couple of seconds, but once running, runs and drives fine. not sure on hot restarts yet. Any ideas? I'm thinking maybe coolant temperature sensor.

do you have a scan tool?

Yeah, but when I checked it, there were no codes stored and no check engine light. it does start right up when warm/hot, but only acts up when cold starting. Pretty much acts like it is starved for fuel, give it a little gas and it runs fine. Runs out great on the highway too......

Never mind.......confirmed it is a bad coolant temperature sensor. turn the key to on with a stone cold engine and the temperature gauge immediately goes to normal operating temperature. Pulled out the old sensor and it is cracked at the tip. New one on order.....

I don't find codes very useful. With a can tool, you can just look at the temperature early in the morning, and you know what the real temperature is. The car doesn't know what the real temperature is, but you do.

Good point!

New sensor installed today....car starts right up and runs just fine.........is it me or do Volvo's seem to eat these things every couple years.