Vickie has developed an pretty annoying quirk. - one my wife really hates when she has a screaming 2 year old with her

Most of the time - she starts perfectly, on about the 3-5th turn of the engine, but on the rare occasion, it seams she might be loosing pressure on the fuel rail.

I will need to turn the engine over MANY MANY times while pumping the pedal in order to get enough fuel to get her started.

Once started - she runs like a dream.

haven't found any rhyme or reason (Full or 1/4 tank) (first thing in morning or sometimes after a 30 min drive). Can't say much about the heat as we are in West TN in the Summer - so it's always hot! (morning or night)

Most of the time it does seem to occur on the first starting of the day, but one time my wife started the car (perfectly) drove to the gas station and filled Vicky up (with the required 93 octane) and then Vickie wouldn't start without the pumping.

Not sure if it is the fuel pump going out or maybe the pressure regulator that is causing it to not maintain the necessary fuel in the rail.

Any ideas?
Thanks
Charles

Wish I could be helpful and add something, but Sean said it all. Pumping probably isn't the factor, but if you think a leaky injector or leaky FPR diaphragm is flooding it, you could try just holding the pedal to the floor when it recurs. Checking plugs will help, but if it acts up that seldom, doing that when it happens will be an annoyance.

I just fixed one for my Vicky that turned out to be a leaky FPR diaphragm. Mostly affected restarts after 30 mins, but holding the pedal down would get it going. If she had watched her fuel consumption, that may also have been a symptom. OBD code 232.


--
Art Benstein near Baltimore

When you are dissatisfied and would like to go back to youth, think of Algebra.

Vickie wouldn't start at all this morning, so went out and looked over the FPR - no leaks. It even looks fairly new so I did what I should have done first.


I opened the fuse panel and noticed that no "obvious" blown fuses, but one had a tiny bit of white residue on the side.

So I rolled the fuse - and Vickie started first try.


Fuse isn't "really blown" but apparently has gotten so hot part of the plastic has melted causing bad contact.



Replaced it and all is right with the world again.

Thanks for all of your help
Charles

Good work!

Exactly -

Apparently the fuse got a little hot when we were having issues with the Kill switch the PO had installed (see previous thread which resulted in an alarmectemy).

Guess it got just got warm enough to melt some of the plastic and not blow the fuse.



Should have checked that first (especially as many times as you've said to check the fuses FIRST!!!)


Thanks again
Charles

Good catch, rolling fuses should be done every few months, especially # 4 and 6. Start by removing all fuses, clean the contacts, slightly squeeze the contacts together and replace all those crappy plastic fuses with ceramic ones.

Sometimes it is hard to remember but the fuse box is a good place to start with any electrical related problem of these cars.
Dan

Can't help you much other than to say, check that those components are functioning properly. Vapor lock? Could be the check valve behind the fuel pump. Fuel pump relay? Check that too.

However, two things I do know: 1. Pumping the pedal will do nothing to help start a fuel injected car and 2. your vehicle requires only 87 octane fuel, but will run best on 91 octane. Unless you have modified it, it cannot advance timing enough to require 93.

In my area, the choices are 87,89 & 93. I figure it's better to be on the high side.

I'll take a look at the FPR - it's happening more often now.


BTW - Can you order the diaphram somewhere or do I need to buy the whole FPR?

Thanks again
Charles

Yes, our cars don't need 93, but (as you noted) 91 is optimal for best efficiency (to avoid retardation under certain conditions). I completely agree.

Unfortunately, the choice of 91 is not always available in all areas of the country, and AKI (formerly, octane) levels vary regionally. In my area, for example, the choices (across several name-brands such as Exxon-Mobil, AMOCO, etc.) is 87, 89 and 93 -- so if you, like me, wants at least 91, we have to buy 93.

Curiously, when I visit my daughter on the other side of the country (L.A., CA), the pumps on all name-brands all show a maximum of 91 or 92, so if I were to want 93, I'd be out-of-luck.

Bottom line is that there seems to be regional restrictions on the AKI choices available.

Same here, Ken. I feed it 93 because I can't find 91. Develops more power, gets better mileage. However, I don't want anyone to think that the Volvo engineers were so short-sighted as to build an engine which would melt itself down with regular gas.