S40: - Help! Volvo S40 won't start and is acting weird...

NikolajBeier · Jul 27th, 2019, 13:52

So i bought myself a Volvo S40 2003 1.8(the one without turbo) with 340k km on it(Was a 1 person owner and was maintained) And it has been driving beautifully, such a good car!
No problems at all so far, but out of the blue it all just got weird.

I was with friends driving around all good, then i leave in my car to go home and i stop at a local supermarket to get some soda and when i get back in my car it wont start. Just cranks and might once in a while start and get to 500 rpm and die again.

My friend works at Volvo as a trainee and he scanned my car and it reported a failure on the camshaft sensor and we got it swapped the next day with a Volvo Original part and it drove again the same day like it always had.

Fastforward to the next day and im going for a drive and it starts all over, but this time no OBD codes not even with a professional Volvo scanner...
Still the same cranking, sometimes starts but dies in 2 seconds.

I've charged the battery, checked the voltage on the cable to the camshaft sensor and it's fine(5volts), tank is full, max oil and so on..

I get no immobilizer lights or anything. Oil lights shuts off when i crank - batterylight does not but i dont think it shuts off before the car is really on
Really no indication of something being wrong...

Does any of you have any idea of what is wrong? I can't really wrap my head around it...

clarkey1984 · Jul 27th, 2019, 16:43

clogged fuel filter or air filter, or a collapsed catalytic converter are all possibilities.

pierremcalpine · Jul 28th, 2019, 12:18

Why don’t you clean the idle air controller to start. Just remove it and spray it with brake cleaner or carb cleaner. Let us soak, clean with toothbrush repeat.

Have you tried stepping on gas pedal while starting it to keep it from stalling?

magnuz · Jul 28th, 2019, 20:51

Can you hear the fuel pump in the tank when you turn on the ignition ?
Also, is it the volvo engine, or the GDI ?

bigyin85 · Jul 30th, 2019, 10:41

it may also be the fuel pressure regulator as i know that are known to play up from time to time

T5R92011 · Jul 30th, 2019, 14:22

Does sound fuel related...

Jul 27th, 2019, 13:52	#1
NikolajBeier New Member Last Online: Jul 27th, 2019 13:53 Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: Jægerspris	Help! Volvo S40 won't start and is acting weird... So i bought myself a Volvo S40 2003 1.8(the one without turbo) with 340k km on it(Was a 1 person owner and was maintained) And it has been driving beautifully, such a good car! No problems at all so far, but out of the blue it all just got weird. I was with friends driving around all good, then i leave in my car to go home and i stop at a local supermarket to get some soda and when i get back in my car it wont start. Just cranks and might once in a while start and get to 500 rpm and die again. My friend works at Volvo as a trainee and he scanned my car and it reported a failure on the camshaft sensor and we got it swapped the next day with a Volvo Original part and it drove again the same day like it always had. Fastforward to the next day and im going for a drive and it starts all over, but this time no OBD codes not even with a professional Volvo scanner... Still the same cranking, sometimes starts but dies in 2 seconds. I've charged the battery, checked the voltage on the cable to the camshaft sensor and it's fine(5volts), tank is full, max oil and so on.. I get no immobilizer lights or anything. Oil lights shuts off when i crank - batterylight does not but i dont think it shuts off before the car is really on Really no indication of something being wrong... Does any of you have any idea of what is wrong? I can't really wrap my head around it...

Jul 27th, 2019, 16:43	#2
clarkey1984 Premier Member Last Online: Apr 13th, 2022 09:41 Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Beccles	clogged fuel filter or air filter, or a collapsed catalytic converter are all possibilities. __________________ 02 V40 T4 S, "Sargent silver" she's back!

Jul 28th, 2019, 12:18	#3
pierremcalpine Premier Member Last Online: Jan 3rd, 2024 14:43 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Toronto Canada	Why don’t you clean the idle air controller to start. Just remove it and spray it with brake cleaner or carb cleaner. Let us soak, clean with toothbrush repeat. Have you tried stepping on gas pedal while starting it to keep it from stalling? __________________ 2003 V40 1.9T B4204T4, 197,000miles (sold but alive!), 2004 S60 2.5T, 160,000miles, 2010 V70 3.2, 125,000miles, 2002 V70XC 2.4, 175,000miles Click here for my x40 and V70 P3 repair guides Last edited by pierremcalpine; Jul 28th, 2019 at 12:22.

Jul 30th, 2019, 10:41	#5
bigyin85 S40 T4 Sport Last Online: Nov 21st, 2023 15:01 Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Norwich	it may also be the fuel pressure regulator as i know that are known to play up from time to time __________________ Current motor 02' Volvo S40 T4 Panama Yellow, JT turning 3inch full stainless from turbo back, pipercross induction kit, forge dump valve and blanking plate, Coilovers, 17" Dezent Alloys Previous motor 97' Volvo V40 1.9 T4 CD 200bhp

Jul 30th, 2019, 14:22	#6
T5R92011 FCW Auto Service Last Online: Apr 22nd, 2024 19:40 Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Gloucester	Does sound fuel related... __________________ FCW Auto Service (Gloucester) https://www.fcw-autoservice.com

Jul 28th, 2019, 20:51	#4
magnuz Ancient Last Online: Yesterday 20:31 Join Date: May 2012 Location: chesterfield	Can you hear the fuel pump in the tank when you turn on the ignition ? Also, is it the volvo engine, or the GDI ?

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