Volvo Repair: s80 wont start when engine gets cold, camshaft sensor, starter solenoid


Question
QUESTION: I have a 2001 S80. I did no use it for a month and when i started it the
engine won't run.  After calling a volvo mechanic he change the spark plug
and after a few try of starting, the engine run. The following day, when I
started the engine,because it got cold, it won't start again. If I use the car
everyday & the engine gets hot, for sure it will start the following day. I
brought the car to the dealership and at first they said its the starter &
solenoid that needs to be change w/c will cost me $1000. A day later, they
said that it the ECM (computer box) that needs to be change & it will cost me
$2500. We have change the spark plugs, fuel filter & battery. Please help me .

ANSWER:   Fransisco, when you say it will not start, do you mean it doesn't turn over always, or spins fine but will not fire?


Mark

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: At first when I turn on the ignition the tachometer needle will turn to 7000 rpm then go back to 0 then you can read on the instrument panel, EL power system service required. When I try to start the engine it cranks but its not smooth when it turn. Once I'm able to run the engine and warm it to its normal temperature the n turn it off the start it again it will start smoothly. If I use the car the whole day it runs well but once I do not use it for a day the same problem will happen - hard starting again.

ANSWER:     Fransisco, I would have the charging system tested and have the battery "load" tested first. Low voltage, IE: "EL power system serice required" can cause lots of weird problems like your Tach. jumping around.

Merry Christmas!

Mark

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Merry Christmas!
My friend brought his scanner and scanned the computer of the car and the
errors that appeared are P0013 - 'B" camshaft position actuator & P1171 -
rotor sensor fault. He opened the part where you could find the the camshaft
sensor and he found that there is a leak in the oil seal behind the rotor. Can
this be a cause for hard starting? He checked the camshaft sensor and it is
not busted. Thank you!

Francisco

Answer
   If the sensor is oil contaminted, quite possibly so. If you have access or own a labscope, look at the output of the sensor when cranking. You should see a nice even square wave with no hash. O'wise you can guess and replace it. (I don't like that method, but what do you do if you don't have the right tools?) Oh, fix the oil leak first.
   What did you find out on that charging system issue?

Happy New Year!

Mark