Volvo Repair: Hard start/no start XC, fuel pressure regulator, residual pressure

Question
I have a 2002 XC with 35 K mi.  I have found recently that it does not like to start sometimes when cold 20-30 degrees.  I had a previous Volvo 95-960  with the same problem and was told to turn the key on for a couple of seconds to let the fuel pressure build up and then turn to the start mode.  That seemed to solve the problem on both cars.  This morning I turned the key to start on the XC (20 degrees out) (forgot to leave it in on position for a few seeconds) and cranked for about 8 sec.  It almost started.  Tried again - cranked about 10 sec. No start. It started on the 3 rd try and ran aand drove fine.

4 hrs later I got in and turned the key.  All lights on dash but no crank at all.  This is the first time that I have had a "no crank" Battery is fine.  After 3 turns of the key it turned over.  It then took about 3 tries to get it to start!.  Any ideas? It almost seems like 2 different problems.  Key?  Fuel pressure? Bad connection?  computer?

Answer
Well it does sound like two different problems.  A long crank and no start are almost never related.  The long crank sounds like your fuel rail isn't holding any residual pressure like its supposed to.  There is probably a leak internally back to the fuel tank in either the fuel pressure regulator or through pressure regulator, (which is in the pump module).  The reason that turning to position 2 first works is because the fule pump will run for a few seconds when the key is turned so doing that a couple times builds up the pressure until its great enough to get a good start.  You'll almost certainly want a shop to do that job.  Can be complicated, messy, plus you need a special tool to release the pump module assembly.  The no start can be caused by almost anything.  Since it worked third time, I'd think its either because of a loose wire somewhere, or a faulty ignition switch.  A technician won;t be able to properly diagnose the problem though unless he gets the car when it doesn;t start.  If he can't get it to fail to start then theres nothihng wrong with it at the time for him to find.  Hope that helps.

James