V40 failure to start

[spanner110]

I just had to walk home because my Volvo V40 patently refuses to start.
It is something of an intermittent problem that of late has started to get worse, and for the life in me I cannot seem to get to the bottom of it.
Under normal circumstances it will start fine, ie. if you keep your foot off the accelerator and start the engine immediately once the glowplug light has extinguished.
However, the engine just turns over impotently if you do any of the following: turn the ignition key halfway and then fail to start the engine for any reason, turn the key to position 2 and then operate any electrical function switches or the radio etc, or try to start the engine before the glowplug light has extinguished.
One other curious thing I have noticed is that if you leave the car switched off for about five minutes and then go back to restart it, it usually does without any problem..
The vehicle is a (X reg) 2001 estate model and apart from the starting issues isn't a bad car really (ok so the rear suspension is as soft as my wifes' bum) that said, I rely on it for work and can ill afford to throw any money at the problem so any assistance will be greatly appreciated.

[gatos]

When you try either of the last two procedures you described, does the power to any of the other car electrical components cut off when the engine is cranked?. ie headlights, stereo aircon etc

The reason I am asking about this, is because when the engine is cranked, all the power is directed to the started motor. So if you have the key on ignition and have the radio on, what happens to the radio when you try to start the engine?

[spanner110]

Originally Posted by gatos

When you try either of the last two procedures you described, does the power to any of the other car electrical components cut off when the engine is cranked?. ie headlights, stereo aircon etc

The reason I am asking about this, is because when the engine is cranked, all the power is directed to the started motor. So if you have the key on ignition and have the radio on, what happens to the radio when you try to start the engine?

I make sure everything is turned off before I turn the key now, however if the radio is on then it cuts out momentarily during the cranking phase. The heater/aircon control has a mind of its own also, even if it is 'off' it does start up up on its own, and when I turn it on it gives me 7.5 minutes of operation before it shuts itself down... this has always done it and probably explains why it was hardwired into a rocker switch when I bought it.
By way of an update, I did walk back to the car a while back and it started on the first turn of the key, how maddening is that!! so it is now back on the driveway and I have yet to decide whether I should just cut my losses with it. If I do, the first person who comes up with £500 can take it off my hands.

[gatos]

Ok, the reason I asked was to make sure all the available current was directed to the starter motor. If I was you, I would get the car sorted and you will find out that it is extremely reliable. Ideally, you could have your codes read and it will hopefully pinpoint the problem with your car.

It could be something as simple as the fuel filter needing replacement, or a leaky injector. See here: http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=90745

Where abouts are you located?

[spanner110]

Originally Posted by gatos

Ok, the reason I asked was to make sure all the available current was directed to the starter motor. If I was you, I would get the car sorted and you will find out that it is extremely reliable. Ideally, you could have your codes read and it will hopefully pinpoint the problem with your car.

It could be something as simple as the fuel filter needing replacement, or a leaky injector. See here: http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=90745

Where abouts are you located?

At the moment I'm in Hereford.
My neighbour is a mechanic and has offered to plug the car into his OBII?? reader to try and isolate the fault. Outside of that I'm stuffed.
I do like the driveability of it but do need it to be v.reliable.... The other annoyance is the airbag light is lit on the dash as well as an indication light which says "service"!!

[tt82]

There is a technique to remove the service light.

Hold down trip reset with ingnition key in 0
Turn ignition key to position II whilst holding trip reset button.
When service light flashes, release trip reset button.

The airbag light IIRC is a little more serious and requires a trip to the dealer. It may be worth just getting an idea of what it would cost to sort out as you will be left with a very good car afterwards.

[spanner110]

Quick update. V40 in local garage now for an entirely different problem.... Got it stuck in a ditch (Yeah please don't ask, I only backed up onto the verge to let a f*****g campervan go past) Anyway the garages' resident knuckle dragger managed to shear off the locking wheel nut and now cannot get the wheel off to replace the tyre so I am now carless and relying on the company van to get around.
I do appreciate the suggestions that have been made and as soon as I get it back I will try to get to the bottom of the electrical issues.
The other thing that hasn't worked out too well is that my laptop has self terminated although I am fortunate to have been allowed to borrow one from the local Vicar, even though I may be offline for a while.
I'll keep you all posted

[Anadinolin]

Originally Posted by spanner110

Quick update. V40 in local garage now for an entirely different problem.... Got it stuck in a ditch (Yeah please don't ask, I only backed up onto the verge to let a f*****g campervan go past) Anyway the garages' resident knuckle dragger managed to shear off the locking wheel nut and now cannot get the wheel off to replace the tyre so I am now carless and relying on the company van to get around.
I do appreciate the suggestions that have been made and as soon as I get it back I will try to get to the bottom of the electrical issues.
The other thing that hasn't worked out too well is that my laptop has self terminated although I am fortunate to have been allowed to borrow one from the local Vicar, even though I may be offline for a while.
I'll keep you all posted

you sound like you are having as much bad luck as me a few weeks ago...

hopefully you can get the garage to tell you whats wrong if anything...the fan being on a rocker switch sounds wrong - normally its just a transistor replacement that stops it from going barmy in the first place, wish people would come and look on google or even the owners clubs forums to sort these things out..if you get the heater fan sorted, you will have a hole in your dah now...or a vacant switch? lol

as GATOs suggested, has the car been serviced since you have got it? you might have a dodgy fuel filter or air filter....has your mechanic neighbour got a multimeter? get him to check the glow plugs and glow plug relay for you. you should be getting 12Volts at the glow plugs on startup.

Also check the battery, see what cold cranking amps are on there (CCA) the higher the better

diesels can be very finicky at times, but once sorted they are nigh-on-indestructible - just make sure you dont get a ford escort (lol)

ps dont get me started on campervans, they have been my bane for the last few weeks - such inconsiderate people i have bumped into in the driver seats of those...

with the airbag light...well check under your seats for any loose rubbish, they can knock the airbag leads, triggering the light and unfortunatly the airbags are de-activated while the light is on...my airbag light was down to a loose lead and GATOS was able to reset it for me

[spanner110]

Originally Posted by Anadinolin

hopefully you can get the garage to tell you whats wrong if anything...the fan being on a rocker switch sounds wrong - normally its just a transistor replacement that stops it from going barmy in the first place, wish people would come and look on google or even the owners clubs forums to sort these things out..if you get the heater fan sorted, you will have a hole in your dah now...or a vacant switch? lol

as GATOs suggested, has the car been serviced since you have got it? you might have a dodgy fuel filter or air filter....has your mechanic neighbour got a multimeter? get him to check the glow plugs and glow plug relay for you. you should be getting 12Volts at the glow plugs on startup.

Also check the battery, see what cold cranking amps are on there (CCA) the higher the better


ps dont get me started on campervans, they have been my bane for the last few weeks - such inconsiderate people i have bumped into in the driver seats of those...

with the airbag light...well check under your seats for any loose rubbish, they can knock the airbag leads, triggering the light and unfortunatly the airbags are de-activated while the light is on...my airbag light was down to a loose lead and GATOS was able to reset it for me

Do you know which transistor it might be?
As for the holes in the dash, the only ones I'll get are the ones where I've punched and kicked it out of frustration......It actually did it again today - only this time it was because I forgot to take it out of gear before starting it - stalling it in the process. I then had to take the dogs for yet another walk whilst the car settled itself down, after which it started up without a problem.
At least the tyre got fixed and only set me back £75 for the tyre itself and all the p*****g about (they smashed one of their own sockets whilst getting the lock nut off so I suppose that would be karma for the workshop knuckledragger)

[Anadinolin]

http://volvoforums.org.uk/showthread...ghlight=heater

try looking here