Volvo Repair: Volvo S40 Hard Crank, fuel pressure guage, volvo s40

Question
I have a 2002 S40 and it cranks long before starting. I took it to the dealer and replaced the spark plug, the battery and the fuel injector. The dealer had it for a week and basically couldn't figure out what was wrong with it and kept replacing things... It worked fine for a couple of months but is now cranking hard again.  

Answer
This could be a number of things.  I would suspect though that it is a fuel issue.  Does it start long every time or just the first time you start the vehicle?  If it only does it first start, I would check the fuel pressure before you start it.  Hook up a fuel pressure guage and let the car sit overnight (run the car for a few minutes with the guage on before letting it sit).  Then in the morning watch it when you try to start the car.  If the pressure was real low and takes a few seconds to come back up to pressure it will most likely need a fuel pump or possible pressure regulator.  I can't really tell you what to find for sure because every problem like this is very different.  To find it, you will have to have some technical abilities and access to diagnostic tools, like a fuel pressure guage to be sure of what you find, otherwise everything is just going to be an educated guess.

James