Volvo 240 cold start problem

[Guest]

Hello all. I hail from hot tropical Singapore. Own a 89' 240 GLE.

Have had cold start problems for 1 year now. Problem gets more acute if car unused for more than 24 hrs.
Symptoms are:
1)Excessive cranking before engine catches > engine very ragged and shaky, can only be stabilised by stepping on throttle .

2) Engine will die off if car stops at say, red light within 5 mins of startup, have to keep foot on pedal to prevent this.

3) After more than 5 mins of driving(when warm?), engine stabilises. No longer dies off. But still a little shaky.

4)Power is ok.

List of components replaced over the past year:

a) fuel injectors and their "0" rings
b) cold starter switch and coolant thermostat
c) external main fuel pump and accumulator (was getting noisy anyway)
d) throttle gasket and rubber bellow (found to be cracked)
e) complete engine top overhaul
f) fuel pressure regulator (replaced 1 month ago when symptoms mentioned above got worse. Engine died off repeatedly.
But upon replacement, problem only improved back to original symptoms mentioned above)
g) Periodic engine tune up and CO level check during servicing.

My local official Volvo agent has given up. Says its just a old car problem. Says that since its bearable, got to live with it.
Symptoms 1 to 4 still exists.

This is a real challenge. Please, can someone help me?

 

[Nick Zervas]

What about the fuel filters and gas? Sounds to me like you have water in the gas. Try
changing gas stations and see about your fuel filters.

HTH

NickZ

 

[Rod Gray]

The problem you are describing is carbon build up on the back side of the
valves caused by low octain gas. The carbon soaks up the gas as you try to
cold start causing long start times. The dealer can do a corbon blast to
clean the valves. The usuall rate is 2.5 hours. But first try a full tank of
92 or 93 octain gas with a bottle of Techron added. That may do it.

Hello all. I hail from hot tropical Singapore. Own a 89' 240 GLE.

Have had cold start problems for 1 year now. Problem gets more acute if

car unused for more than 24 hrs.

Symptoms are:
1)Excessive cranking before engine catches > engine very ragged and shaky,

can only be stabilised by stepping on throttle .

2) Engine will die off if car stops at say, red light within 5 mins of

startup, have to keep foot on pedal to prevent this.

3) After more than 5 mins of driving(when warm?), engine stabilises. No

longer dies off. But still a little shaky.

4)Power is ok.

List of components replaced over the past year:

a) fuel injectors and their "0" rings
b) cold starter switch and coolant thermostat
c) external main fuel pump and accumulator (was getting noisy anyway)
d) throttle gasket and rubber bellow (found to be cracked)
e) complete engine top overhaul
f) fuel pressure regulator (replaced 1 month ago when symptoms mentioned

above got worse. Engine died off repeatedly.

But upon replacement, problem only improved back to original symptoms mentioned above)
g) Periodic engine tune up and CO level check during servicing.

My local official Volvo agent has given up. Says its just a old car

problem. Says that since its bearable, got to live with it.

 

[finnegan]

Hello all. I hail from hot tropical Singapore. Own a 89' 240 GLE.

Have had cold start problems for 1 year now. Problem gets more acute if car unused for more than 24 hrs.
Symptoms are:
1)Excessive cranking before engine catches > engine very ragged and shaky, can only be stabilised by stepping on throttle .

2) Engine will die off if car stops at say, red light within 5 mins of startup, have to keep foot on pedal to prevent this.

3) After more than 5 mins of driving(when warm?), engine stabilises. No longer dies off. But still a little shaky.

4)Power is ok.

List of components replaced over the past year:

a) fuel injectors and their "0" rings
b) cold starter switch and coolant thermostat
c) external main fuel pump and accumulator (was getting noisy anyway)
d) throttle gasket and rubber bellow (found to be cracked)
e) complete engine top overhaul
f) fuel pressure regulator (replaced 1 month ago when symptoms mentioned above got worse. Engine died off repeatedly.
But upon replacement, problem only improved back to original symptoms mentioned above)
g) Periodic engine tune up and CO level check during servicing.

My local official Volvo agent has given up. Says its just a old car problem. Says that since its bearable, got to live with it.
Symptoms 1 to 4 still exists.

This is a real challenge. Please, can someone help me?

Did you replace COLD START INJECTOR? If it doesn't inject any gas at cold start your car may not start at all. If it's leaking too much gas during normal running temperature your car will run too rich and balk or hesitate. I've never heard of a COLD START SWITCH. If there is a vacuum hose cracked or leaking and drawing too much air into intake manifold it will cause rough running until car gets to operation. Check pcv hose etc. If the timing belt jumped a cog or two your car won't run right.
Hope this helped.