Volvo AWD S40-V40 Forum

INDEX FOR 10/2025(CURRENT) INDEX FOR 6/2003 S40-V40 INDEX

[<<] [>>]

THREADED

THREADED EXPANDED

FLAT

PRINT ALL

MESSAGES IN THIS THREAD

REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE

Replies to this message will be emailed.

SAVE

Poor starting on my 1998 T4 S40-V40

posted by laughingbuoy on Sun Oct 12 04:32 CST 2003
Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS]

[IGNORE ALL POSTS] [RELATED]

Hi,

I've started to experience poor starting on my newly purchased 1998 T4. The starter motor will go over for about 5 or 6 seconds before the engine kicks in. Then the engine will cough and splutter a bit for a few seconds before everything is fine. Seems to happen more when the engine is warm (not hot), but this could be my imagination.

I've been doing a bit of reading and have dug up the following information, and seems like it could be one of the following.

1) Dodgy fuel pump relay. Read that this ofen happens and when I pluck up the courage to have a look I will. Read one report of a guy wiggling the connections to the fuel pump / relay which cause the car to start straight away.

2) Oil level is very high. Car was "serviced" before I bought it buy a non-Volvo garage, but a garage that "specialises in Volvos" On the dipstick the oil is above the max level. I read somewhere that the wrong oil type can affect the "hydrolic valve taplets" and someone replaced oil with decent oil with a lower viscosity and the problem went away.

Also seems a bit of a coincidence that my DSA traction control light has just started to be on all the time indicating an error.

Anyone any ideas? Ring any bells for anyone? I won't be able to get it to a garage until next week at the earliest.

Cheers for any info.

Dr.P

REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE

SAVE

Poor starting on my 1998 T4 S40-V40

posted by arno on Sun Oct 12 19:27 CST 2003
Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS]

[IGNORE ALL POSTS]

last visit: Fri Dec 8 01:10 CST 2000

[RELATED]

> Also seems a bit of a coincidence that my DSA traction control light has just started to be on all the time indicating an error.

As DSA also has control over the injectors (it cuts fuel when wheelspin is detected) this may be significant.

It may be blocking fuel injection for the first few revolutions until the computer decides it's faulty and shuts DSA down, after which the engine can start.

Could be a simple wiring/connector oxidation issue, so check that out first to see if everything is still tight and all ground points look OK.

Oil level above maximum is not a good idea though. If the crankshaft can touch the oil when running then it will start to foam up the oil, which can lead to the oil pump sucking in air and reducing the lubrication of the engine.

Bye, Arno.

REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE

SAVE

Poor starting on my 1998 T4 S40-V40

posted by laughingbuoy on Sat Oct 25 23:32 CST 2003
Author: [PROFILE] [EVERY POST] [THREADS] [BEST POSTS]

[IGNORE ALL POSTS] [RELATED]

Right, sorted out but strange.

Aparently the sparkplugs fitted were not appropriate for the engine?!?! Looks like the "service" it had just before I bought it was a bit of a bodge job. I have the plugs that they took out and they are all sooted up, considering they have only been in for 4 weeks they are pretty shocking. Enclosed a pic.

OK, that's not the wierd bit, this is.

To fault find with the DSA the garrage plugged her into their computer and the fault was from the brake light switch. The one by the brake pedal. This had given the computer and anomolous reading and the DSA light had come on 'cos there was an error somewhere in the system. However the switch was now working fine. They reset the error message and all is fine and dandy.

I must have done this when I put in some LED brake lights that I bought. I think it's because they only pull very very little current, the system has been confused! Who would have thought that putting in LED brake lights would mess up your traction control! Bizare.

Anyway, thought I'd post this up to warn anyone about the LED bulbs, and if anyone without DSA wants a cheap set of LED bulbs... let me know!

Laters,

Dr.P

<< < > >>

Brickboard.com is not affiliated with nor sponsored by AB Volvo, Volvo Car Corporation, Volvo Cars of North America, Inc. or Ford Motor Company. Brickboard.com is a Volvo owner/enthusiast site, similar to a club, and does not intend to pose as an official Volvo site. The official Volvo site can be found here.