I'm new to this forum and looking forward to being able to pick the brains of some experts. I have a fair amount of handy-ness and basic auto knowledge (I know what things are and what they do and can replace it if you tell me what I'm doing and why) but my diagnostic abilities and hands on experience are slim. I bought my 1966 (Automatic) 122S about three years ago with every intention to be my own mechanic, but after a year without tuning the carbs the Volvo finally compelled me to take it to a real mecanic for major surgury on the brakes. Luckily in Berkeley, CA there are old Volvo experts on every block. I found one and let him do all the fun stuff.

But now I've moved to the Great Inland Northwest (AKA Spokane, WA) where the only "Volvo shop" I can find is the dealer (good luck!) so I'm motivated to get back to my original dream. I'm reading up on tuning carbs, thinking about the electronic ignition upgrade, and various other little bits and pieces.

But, without a master mechanic, I have no idea what to do about a little strange starting problem I've been having for a while.

Every so often, I will go to start the car and get only a solonoid click--no starter movement at all. Sometimes a shift out and back into park (its and automatic) will do it, but usually not. If I fiddle with the choke, sometimes it will go. The only way I've gotten it to consistently start is to pump and then step on the accelerator to about 3/4 (which I'm told is murder on the carbs). The car then runs under protest (flooded?) until I rev her up or get up to speed. Why the choke or accelerator would have anything to do with the starter engaging is beyond me.

This happens mostly when:
1)It's raining or
2)The car is running hot and then stopped (the car runs pretty hot most of the time, especially in the 100+ heat we were having for a while) or
3)I drove only a short distance after first starting it

It never happens on the first start of the day or when the car has been parked long enough for the engine to be cool.

My generator, battery, and voltage regulator are new, so luckily with patience (sometimes 10 minutes) I've been able to get her to start every time so far, but its not fun to sit on vinyl in a hot car waiting for the thing to decide to turn over.

Any suggestions?