Thanks to all for the help. Here's a summary:

1. car would not start in the garagae after being left a week

2. continued cranking would not get the engine to start over a two day period (christmas eve and christmas day)

3. had the car towed to dealership; their first attempts to start yielded the same results; no start

4. service technician came out later that afternoon, and the car started right up

5. i was there yesterday (12/27) and the car started repeatedly without any trouble

6. there are no codes in the computer, so nothing to track down

7. technicians have checked the rest of the car over, and find no problems

I will be picking up the car today (12/28) but do not at all trust it; I have this nagging feeling that I'll be stuck again over the New Year period.

Notes written to me on this subject suggest "lawnmower syndrome". One from 11/19/2000 "Rough Start" describes the problem, and the reasons for it. I can't find any notes re: how to avoid the problem, but assume that you just can't run a Volvo engine for short periods of time; that each time you start up, you need to run the car for awhile. It's not clear, though what this time period is, and whether or not you need to drive the car or just let it idle and run.

Further, there seems to be no information about how to remedy the problem once you get into the situation. If it is related to a loss of compression, how do you fix the problem? Or does it require a tow each and every time.

Needless to say, I have never owned a car that would/could be prone to this problem. I hate thinking about the possibility that I'll have to pay close attention to the way I start, run and drive the car, versus turning the key and forgetting about everything except driving safely.

Besides a good "italian tune-up", the odds of it not re-occuring will be less if you use a good synthetic oil (from what I've read on the subject previously).

We found that changing the spark plugs helps this problem. Also, we changed gas to 89 and that also helped. By the way, we had the same

problem over Xmas with our car. Car was in garage getting body repair for

approx. 2 weeks one day after getting the car back it left us sit.

It seems if the car is not run for a period of time this problem occurs. Also, check the fuel valve or seal for possible leaks, we discovered we had a leak once this was fixed the problem occurred less, but unfortunately still occurs.

One last question on my mind. If what's described as causing the problem (per not 11/2000 "Rough Start") is there any damage done? Anything need to be done to the engine? Or will this correct itself with an Italian Tuneup?

Shouldn't be any damage. Do the italian yune up every 6 months or so. If it happens again, hold the throttle to the floor and crank till it lights. To all those at higher altitudes, your owners manual advises 1/2 throttle at cold starts above 6000 feet. I find this helps at 5000 ft.(denver)

Should be no damage and a 'spirited' driving style (get it over 4500 rpm regularly. It really comes alive then) should keep you in tip-top shape. Don't be afraid that high rpm's will damage a properly warmed up engine. They were designed to run for hours on the european highways and the tempo here tends to be a little more 'frantic'..

You should smell the oil on the dipstick tough.. A lot of fuel from the start-attempts may have washed down the cylinders and into the engine oil. Gasoline vapours in the crankcase is not what you want (can you say '*boom*'?). So if it smells of gasoline then replace the oil immediately.

Perhaps add a bottle of 'techron' engine cleaner once in a while to the fuel. Many people here on the BB have good experience with this additive to keep their valves nice and clean.

Perhaps some of the guys in the US can give a bit more advice (I'm in europe and we usually don't see this problem here).

Bye, Arno.