Dear Fellow Brickboarders,

Hope you're well. Thank you for your replies!!! I cleaned the engine bay grounds, which did not resolve the problem. I replaced the starter switch, with a Volvo brand item. It will take a few days' driving to be sure that the problem has been solved.

The factory-installed starter switch - which at 23 years old does not owe me even a penny - did not rattle when shaken. However, there is some rotational play - perhaps 0.02" (0.5mm) - between the metal housing and the bakelite (dark brown plastic) housing, from which the electrical harness connector pins protrude. I do not know if this rotational "play" is relevant.

I avoided dropping the hard-to-access screws - that secure the ignition switch to the ignition lock body - by using butyl rubber (a stick black sealant) to hold the screw to the screwdriver bit.

Hope this helps.

Yours faithfully,

Spook