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