Starting problems

Leoniel · Messages: 199 Registration: 24.01.2010

Hi All. I hope someone can help with a starting porblem. I have a 1995 (696 model) 245000 mile 850 estate which has always started faultlessly in 3 years/70000 miles - until today that is. It started fine from cold this morning. drove to the pub (45 minutes). After that 1st & 2nd attempts to start engine turned and fired but just "rattled & died" like a really bad misfire. Started okay on 3rd attempt. After this I did several short trips and each time took 2 or 3 attempts to start. Last attempt was at petrol station when it wouldn't run at all. Popped bonnet and wiggled HT leads at dizzy cap and retried - this time after a bit of persuasion it restarted. Any suggestions?

n22n · Messages: 44 Registration: 22.11.2010

850's dont like short stop and start runs, if you do a search on here or look at some of the other threads on this forum at the moment youll find a few people who have had problems like yourself and some things that have been suggested, regards cavey

SylwiaW

Starting Issues

zdenka · Messages: 32 Registration: 27.02.2011

Hi Mono, These 850 seem to have the ocassional starting problem, as mine did. There will be something causing it and i have been trying to get to the bottom of it. Here is a link to my thread which might give you some intersting reading. I hope this helps. Regards stuart

midav · Messages: 12 Registration: 07.05.2010

Sorted!!

Swettik · Messages: 8 Registration: 07.10.2008

:Banane32: Thanks for the replies. Mine's sorted now - stopped looking for bigger problems and went back to basics. Turned out to be a tracking distributor cap. Never known one go so suddenly and with such a big effect. Anyway, easy fix just how I like 'em. Searching through looking at starting problems it looks like a lot of peopleare suffering the overfueling problem caused by short runs. This of course is not just an 850 (or volvo) problem - any fuel injected car will protest at this at some point or other. I thought I'd pass on the following tip I learnt from an AA patrol when I had a similar problem on my wife's BMW shortly after she defected from Volvo: To make starting easier, remove the oil filler cap and crank the starter with the oil cap off until the engine fires. this apparently helps to vent the engine and reduce the flooding caused by the confused ECU. Just remember to replace the oil cap afterwards! I don't know whether this works on all cars but he told me it works on both Volvo and BMW. Good luck