Last night, there was cold weather and a fair amount of rain, and the S60 didn't seem too crazy about it.
The cold start as I left from the parking structure here at work was rough. Made a pit stop at Whole Foods to get some groceries and the cold start after that detour was rough as well. I pressed the ignition button and the engine coughed and hacked for a moment or two, like a chain smoker with bronchitis, before finding its groove.
I started the car when I got home last night, while the engine was still warm, and there was no sign of the problem. The engine also turned over just fine in this morning's weather, which was much toastier than last night's.
Someone gently suggested that user error may be the culprit, as has been the case with push-button-ignition cars like our S60 in the past. Maybe I didn't hold down the ignition button long enough to achieve a smooth start. It's possible, but I've driven our Volvo many times before. I'm familiar with its ignition and I've never had a problem with it.
Anyway, we'll keep an eye out to see if happens again.
Any S60 owners out there? Have you had any problems starting the car in colder weather?
Warren Clarke, Automotive Content Editor
jazzy7 says:
08:13 PM, 02/ 8/12
Check the air filter housing. I had a 96 Thunderbird. The air filter intake nozzle was perfectly align with the fender attachment rail. So when it rained. Rain water dripped directly into the air filter housing. Worse, a drain hole within the air box, that allows water drainage, had a rubber stopper that wasn't removed prior to delivery. So after being left in a good rain, my T-Bird sucked water into its engine when I started it. Coughing and spluttering with a huge plume of white smoke when I tried to accelerate. Open the hood, I just happened to guess right in that there might be water being ingested. May not be the case here...just giving suggestions.
church123 says:
09:30 PM, 02/ 8/12
You're probably not too far off jazzy7. If not actual water ingestion, I suspect condensation in the MAF tube throwing off the initial air flow measurement.
kain77 says:
06:47 AM, 02/ 9/12
@Warren
Should've took a Prius to the Whole Foods parking lot.
palmetto321 says:
07:37 AM, 02/ 9/12
Interesting. Not too long ago, on a somewhat chilly morning, my wife came to get me out of the house to tell me that her XC60 (T6) was not running well. She explained that she tried to start it and that it started, but was sputtering and generally not running smoothly at all. She shut it off and came to get me. I immediately went out to start it and it cranked just fine.
Perhaps the push button gets a little touchy in cold? I have no idea. We haven't had any such problems since (or before) -- 17k miles, 1 1/2 years of ownership).
mfennell says:
08:16 AM, 02/ 9/12
That's pretty weak. Hard to believe they didn't uncover this during cold/wet weather testing.
mbl_carguy says:
08:34 AM, 02/ 9/12
Never had this issue with my S60 before, but could be that I live in the Southeast and it doesn't get that far below freezing on most mornings.
ontherocks says:
09:35 AM, 02/ 9/12
If my 15 year old Ford Taurus can start reliably and without hesitation in sub-zero MI winters, a modern Volvo shouldn't have a problem. I don't buy the user error issue either, as I'm pretty sure the computer dictates how long to crank the engine -it has nothing to do with how long or hard or manly you push the button.
esoterica says:
10:30 AM, 02/ 9/12
I'm surprised it didn't trip a computer code. @ontherocks, you're correct, Volvo's (along with most others') engine computers run the starter until the engine is started and then disengage it regardless of how long the button is pressed. The new "Americanized" Jetta is the only car I know of that requires that you hold the button down.
stovt001 says:
10:45 AM, 02/ 9/12
I thinking moisture is a more likely factor than the cold, because this is "cold for southern California" cold and we've had a rather warm winter even by our own standards. Like Church, my guess would be not quite actual water ingestion but probably some interference from a bit of moisture. A Volvo still should be expected to be able to handle that though.
nefariousnigel says:
12:23 PM, 02/ 9/12
Cold weather...are you freaking serious? You've got trees with leaves....
Nevertheless, one imagines a Volvo should be able to handle a little cold...but with their 1970's style electrical gremlins, maybe the rain did it in.
montgom616 says:
12:45 PM, 02/11/12
2012 S60 T5 in Wisconsin. 10 degrees Fahrenheit. Starts easily. I vote for user error on your part.
geokilla says:
01:04 PM, 02/16/12
Only time I had a bit of trouble starting my 2012 S60 T5 was when the weather was -10C or below. Even then it wasn't as bad of a start as you said Warren.