V50 Engine 2.0D : Poor starting

[Swedenborg]

As a new member to the Volvo Forum I firstly wish to say Hi to everyone.

It might be obvious to some but I just wanted to share my exasperating experience to those who like me have to decide what is the right action to take or which expensive part to replace when your car is being decidedly naughty especially on frosty cold mornings.
Firstly my 2008 V50 136 2L Diesel has been a good all round reliable car and has given me miles of trouble free motoring, yet just recently I have had a real job starting the engine either hot or cold, it would half start but no more just as though only two cylinders were firing and at other times it would take 3-4 attempts and would be very reluctant to go.
Battery I thought, can’t be getting a good earth or the battery was failing, perhaps the cold weather dragging a cell down and failing to hold a charge. So new battery fitted, still the same poor starting, so I removed the throttle body and carefully cleaned everything and refitted it, to no avail, still the poor starting, until I changed the starter motor, bingo starts on the button first turn.
Why is he going on you might now be saying, well it’s my suggestion that driving your Volvo day in day out it’s very easy to get used to the starter motor noise and don’t realise that your starter motor is getting very tired and not turning the engine initially fast enough and there lay my problem..
I would suggest perhaps that I wouldn’t be the first to fall into this trap, so I wished to pass it on to those scratching their heads wondering what on earth could be the problem.
Thanks for listening

[zork]

Hi and welcome Thanks for sharing...

Mine (same engine) had the same problem in 2009...Replaced the starter back than....A year ago,started acting again,so removed it and dismantled...The 2 bushes were worn...Replaced them and back to normal

Good day!