2002 V70 D5 Starting Issues
 

Hi all. I have lately been having cold and hot starting issues. Most times it will start after about 10 seconds of cranking, other times it just refuses to start. Then I HAVE to resort to a "sniff". I don't like using ether but it's a last resort before flattening the battery completely.

I have changed the fuel filter and renewed glow plugs. This work was done after the problem surfaced.

Any ideas people ?

Injector leak back test would be the next thing for me. Loads of info here about how to. It only takes one to drop the rail pressure.

I cleaned the EGR including the butterfly, helped improve the starting on my sons D5.

Have you tried with a little gas at the same time, works for me, mine is worse the colder the outside temp is...

I also have a 2008 S60 D5 that needs a little 'encouragement' on a morning (especially cold mornings) to get started.

While cranking I tend to press and release the accelerator pedal (depressing no more than an inch and maybe once per second). This seems to let the engine catch within 2-3 seconds. Works without fail.

I have already done a leak-back test and I know that injector 3 (and possibly 4) are leaking more than the others but I haven't quite plucked up the courage yet to take them out and have a look. I have swirl flaps to do and plan on doing it all at the same time.

Interestingly, the car starts fine when warm.

It's getting worse and worse now. After starting on a 'sniff' I drive to work (about a mile) leave it for 10 minutes and it needs another 'sniff'. I bought 5 new glow plugs when it first started to be uncooperative. THAT didn't make an ounce of difference. This weekend I am going to check for power to said glow plugs.
If there is a problem with the leak back is there any quick fix other than new injectors?
It doesn't seem to use anymore diesel than normal and there isn't any loss of power or any error lights or messages.
My pride and joy is beginning to p*** me off !

Any help is much appreciated.

Do a leak back test on the injectors. I had the same problem on my s60 and injector no 5 was leaking off to much fuel causing the rail not having enough pressure to start the car. The car would only start with easy start. I did the leack back test using some aquarium tubing and 5 empty bottles of coke.

Do the leak back test before spending any more time on plugs. It only takes one and generally you will be in no doubt. 40ml per min max at idle.
The original injectors on that car were all drawn from a particular flowrate class; 1, 2 or 3. The number is on the top of the injector. A used injector ideally comes from the same class but the engine management can tolerate up to two injectors from an adjacent class. You could put a 1 into a set of 2s but not into a set of 3s.
There is a ton of stuff here about peoples experiences, good and bad, about injector replacement and getting them out and back in with a proper seal.
In the main you will also see that plugs made no difference for them either.

I bought 4 out of five injectors from somebody breaking a V70. They cost me £80 for the four.
I took my car for an Italian tune up then listened to the injectors through the longest screwdriver. Numbers 1 and 2 where ticking loudly but 3, 4 and 5 were making sounds like a wooly whoosh without the ticking. So I have replaced 3, 4 and 5 while the engine was still very hot.
The injectors came out with no problems at all. In fact I had the job finished in under 90 minutes ! ! !
BRILLIANT !!!
It sounds better and starts without a 'sniff' anymore.

Thank you guys for your invaluable guidance and help.

Thats good to hear, yet to fix mine, i think i have 1 injector out, well, Vida said injector 1