My wife's '98 V70R has developed a starting problem. Always started up fine, but then it began cranking a little more than normal, then a lot more than normal. Will still fire right up occasionally, but the problem is definitely worsening.

My local guy couldn't find anything - he said it started right up for him (murphy's law). He checked for vacuum leaks (didn't find any), pulled codes, etc. The check engine light had been on and b/c of that he replaced an 'altitude sensor', which I didn't even know it had. He also replaced the gas cap b/c it appeared worn.

Any ideas? I did some searching around and it looks like others have had the problem, but there doesn't seem to be any real pattern to the fix.

Knowing how sensitive these cars are to vacuum leaks and pressure changes, I thought that my guy would've found something obvious or already known where to look.

Any help or WAGs appreciated.

He should have checked the fuel pressure regulator. Pulling off the vacuum line at the front of the intake manifold - it has what looks like a fuel line going to it - and applying a light vacuum should have been an easy test. The FP regulator is back by the fuel filter, right rear wheel.

Klaus
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Proud owner of a 1967 220S

Thank you Klaus. It's going back to him this week and I'll be sure to mention that and report back.

It was the dreaded Fuel Pump. Ugh. The Fuel Pressure Regulator was OK. The Pump was failing - a slow, tortured death. Thank you Volvo engineers for making the location of the Fuel Pump so impossible to get at.