I thought I would start a new thread on mine and jerry g's hard starting problem since I took a different tack. I have cleaned out the idler valve and throttle body, I am still getting code 1-2-1 indicating that there may be some problem with the AMM (but I haven't proven that it will start in limp-home mode when I disconnect the AMM).
Someone along the way suggested that there could be a fuel pressure problem. So before I rig up my fuel pressure gage I thought I would replace the fuel filter, After installation,it started right up but that doesn't prove anything since the problem is intermittent. In the meantime, I thought I would solicit the experts on fuel filters. The car has 155k miles on it and hasn't seen a dealer since 50k The removed filter is a Volvo part with the following identifications on it: 1389562 (that's the p/n) followed by "Made in Austria, K-713 217 3, 96W27". Is one of these a date code? I tried to blow through the old filter and could just barely get some air through it. (I should have given the new one the same test before I installed it. I have owned a lot of cars and the only time I knowingly had a problem with the a fuel filter, was with those little aftermarket in-line filters on the VW's.