Please Help! Sick Volvo '99 V70R - fuel issues?

Discussion in 'Volvo V70' started by beardo265, May 11, 2006.

  1. beardo265

    beardo265 Guest

    Hi, I'm looking for a bit of help here. I've got a sick '99 Volvo V70R
    on my hands. I've got a somewhat intermittent problem, and limited
    funds, so I don't really want to take it to a Volvo dealer, throw up my
    arms & say "some thing's wrong, fix it". Looking for advice & things
    to look at to deal with my problem(s).

    I inherited the car from my father, who bought it about 6 months ago.
    Not too long ago, the car started giving me trouble every once in a
    while. It'd stall out at low rpm or at idle, and also sputter quite a
    bit when starting. There is also sometimes some black smoke when
    starting, but usually goes away shortly after. The problem comes and
    goes, running perfectly in between, and making the car almost
    undrivable when it's bad. At it's worst, you can hardly get the car
    moving. Usually you can start it, rev it up a bit, then when you put
    it in gear it'd stall out. After a few attempts you can get it
    moving, and as long as you keep the rpms up, all will be well for a
    while.

    Now.. I called the problem intermittent, but now that I've been paying
    attention, it seems to be mostly (exclusively?) on a full tank of gas
    that the problem happens. Below 3/4 tank, it doesn't happen I don't
    think.

    Since the car was purchased, there has been a vacuum in the gas tank
    (ie: sound of air rushing in when gas cap is removed). I'm not sure
    if that is a normal Volvo issue, or if it is related to my problem.
    It's always been like that however, and the problem has only started
    recently (and gotten worse).

    I've put a code reader on the car many times, and since the last reset,
    the following 3 codes have come up:

    P0447
    EVAP Emission Control System Vent Circuit Open

    P0650
    MIL Control Circuit Malfunction

    P1139
    Manufacturer Contrl Fuel Air Metering

    Although I haven't recoded them, I believe checking it before I have
    seen another EVAP code, and also a cylinder misfiring. If/when more
    come up I'll update this post.

    Anyway, obviously it looks like a fuel issue, but I'm not sure where to
    turn to next. I can't really afford to just start replacing parts if
    they're not causing my problem. Can anyone suggest where I might
    start? Especially things that would be fairly cheap/free to try?

    Thanks!
     
    beardo265, May 11, 2006
    #1
  2. beardo265

    Mike F Guest

    High negative pressure in the fuel tank is bad. Try removing the gas
    cap when it's running poorly, as see what happens. If it improves, then
    you know you need to look at the tank venting system. If it doesn't,
    the problem may just be with your ETM (electronic throttle module) which
    is covered by an extended warranty.

    --
    Mike F.
    Thornhill (near Toronto), Ont.

    Replace tt with t (twice!) and remove parentheses to email me directly.
    (But I check the newsgroup more often than this email address.)
     
    Mike F, May 11, 2006
    #2
  3. If it's the ETM it should code and set the warning light. (Mine gave
    out cruising down the freeway a couple of months ago - luckily within a
    couple of miles of my local dealer so I was able to limp to it rolling
    on idle.) From what I understand they tend to give some warning before
    failing; mine had coded a couple of times prior. The dealer cleaned it,
    replaced the PCV valve and sent me on my way until it failed a week or
    two later. Both services were free.

    A bad AMM, (Fuel Air Meter) could cause your problems. I'd try cleaning
    it's electrical connections to see if that helps - they'd be suspect
    if you find them oxidized.

    I never notice too much negative pressure when I open my gas cap on my
    '99 V70R, As Mike suggests, that might be worth investigating.

    -K
     
    Kelsey Cummings, May 11, 2006
    #3
  4. beardo265

    Mike F Guest

    In my experience, the throttle module starts "gliching" (see you can
    make a verb out of any word) before any codes are set. Slowly it gets
    worse and worse, then finally codes are set. Often the light goes away
    after a restart at this stage, but the problem inevitably gets worse and
    worse, soon the light is on all the time, the engine runs poorer and
    poorer, and finally won't go at all.

    --
    Mike F.
    Thornhill (near Toronto), Ont.

    Replace tt with t (twice!) and remove parentheses to email me directly.
    (But I check the newsgroup more often than this email address.)
     
    Mike F, May 12, 2006
    #4
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