740 GLE wagon - starting problem - Gaithersburg - Maryland - USA

I am experiencing an intermittent problem with starting the car!

Last week on Monday morning - the air was humid - I turned the ignition
key - the starter did not kick in - the engine did not turn - the car did
not start.

I tried it on the following days - the car would not start.

However - yesterday evening - I turned the key - after a delay of about 2
seconds the starter kicked in - the engine turned - the car started.

I immediately drove the car to one of the local Volvo Shops in the DC metro
are and dropped it off.

Today the shop told me "the car started" and "we recommend to replace the
rotor, ignition wiring, etc."
I had those parts replaced brand new about two months ago at another shop
for the same reason.

On the brickboard.com - other Volvo owners with similar problems had solved
them by resoldering or replacing some of the relays responsible for starting
the car.

In fact the previous shop that looked at the problem said they also had
"resoldered the system relay".
I remember that after that, the car would start better.

Does anyone have any ideas or similar experience with a resolution they
found to permanently resolve the above problem?

I would greatly appreciate any help!

Thank you,
Robert

 

If the starter doesn't turn, there's no point in looking at the ignition
or fuel system. Either you have a bad starter, battery, the big battery
wires going to the starter and engine ground, or there's something wrong
with the control circuit. This involves the neutral switch (if
automatic), the ignition switch and the small, usually blue-yellow wire
going to the starter.

 

On older 740's the first place to check for a no start/no starter is the
motor block end of the blue negative cable from the battery. The wire at
the connector has very little strain relief and separates from the
connector over time. A bad battery will sometimes exhibit the same
symptoms as well as a bad starter. First start with the basics and then
worry about the technical stuff.

Bob