2004 V70 takes a lot of cranking to start

[woodstock]

My 2004 V70 has just started having an issue starting. About 5 starts ago the car fired right up as always but then immediately stalled, which it had never done before. I restarted and it was fine. I drove a few miles to the store, and it started up fine when coming back to the car from the store. The next day after sitting overnight, it again fired right up and then stalled, and it took about 7-10 seconds of cranking to restart. When it did start it ran as normal, and I drove to a restaurant. This time after sitting for about an hour it did start right up but then stall, and took a few seconds to restart. I drove home as normal. Today when turning the key it immediately fired, but then stalled, and it then took a good 15 seconds to start again. It is getting progressively worse quickly. It seems like a fuel issue, but it runs fine once it starts. I did loosen the gas cap, and that didn't seem to have an effect. Is this a common starting issue that anyone knows the cause?

[mattsk8]

I would say it sounds like a weak fuel pressure issue, or a fuel pump relay (not sure if the P2 has the same relay issue as the older P80?). Also maybe fuel filter. So google "Volvo fuel relay test" and do that, then either check, or have a shop test your fuel pressure. If you haven't changed your fuel filter, do that first.

[Ihatespeedbumps]

I second the fuel pressure idea. You'll need to connect a gauge to the rail and observe the drop. Volvo allowable fuel pressure drop is one bar after 20 minutes time. No fuel pressure relay on this model.

[Fran9690]

No codes or pending codes stored? If fuel pressure is ruled out after hooking up a gauge, I have seen the crankshaft position sensor go bad, causing the same issue. I had also seen the antenna ring cause similar issues, but normally you get an immobilizer message with that.

[woodstock]

I wanted to give an update on the car. First- Thank you to those who offered suggestions. It helped lead me to the answer. This is what I found. The car has 238,000 miles on it, and still has the original clutch! I figured the fuel filter was a likely culprit, but I searched the car and could not locate the fuel filter. I then learned that in 2004 the filter is integrated into the fuel pump and is inside the tank. This year V70 has no fuel pump relay, and there were no codes stored(on my cheapo OBDII reader). Next I did some online research and learned that the 2004 model has a PEM, or fuel pump module, that is located on top of the tank. It was relocated inside the car on later models due to the module failing because of the exposure to the elements. I located the part on my car, and it looked very clean even though I am in the harsh weathered Northeast. I then studied what happened when I turned the key but didn't start the car. I would hear the pump energize for a second, and if I turned the key to crank the starter it would instantly fire up, but then it would immediately stall. If I did this 4 or 5 times the car would then run fine and stay running. So I decided to take off the PEM and clean the connector contacts. I did this, and when I turned the key to the position that energizes the pump and it was immediately clear that it was the problem. I could now hear the fuel pump energize for 4-5 full seconds, building the needed pressure. I then turned the key to crank the starter and the car started and stayed running. So I guess the lesson learned is this issue can be a failed PEM, a failed fuel pump, or it can be as simple as cleaning the connection to the PEM. So the trusty Volvo lives on.