Subject says it all. My 87 245 is difficult to start anytime it has sat for a long time (over 12 hours) and the engine is no longer warm. Once the car is started, it runs fine. Shut off the car after a short drive and then start it again, and it fires up effortlessly. But when I get in the car after it has sat for a day or two, or even overnight, it takes two or three tries to start it. First crank is about two full seconds, then it starts, idles poorly around 500rpm for 0.5 seconds, then stalls. Crank again, hold the gas pedal down, and gently keep the gas going, and I can keep it from stalling. If I have the AC on when starting, the higher idle caused by the running AC helps the car start better.

Our days and nights are not cold here in Austin, Texas--temps are never below 65 now. The starting has gotten slowly harder in the past 18 months. When I first got the car in 2000 it had no problems starting whatsoever. Here's a list of things I've done on the car in the past year:

-new Bosch copper plugs, new Bougicord wires, new cap, new rotor, new coil, new Volvo battery
-replaced timing belt
-new fuel filter
-new Bosch oxygen sensor
-new PCV system, including oil trap
-new airbox thermostat, new air mass meter
-regular oil/filter/air filter changes

As you can see, the list has all the heavy hitters for engine control inputs.

I'm starting to look at the fuel injectors, and I see there's a part called a "cold start valve" sold from FCPGroton, and I'm wondering a) if my Volvo even has one of these, and b) where it's located on the engine, and c) if it's the cause of the problem. Anyone have experience with this particluar part, or these symptoms?

kourt
87 245
Austin, Texas