Rex Posted June 20, 2009 Report Share Posted June 20, 2009 Hi all, Having problems with the wagon again. She's a 98 manual model with RICA upgrade and has been running sweet until the other day - as soon as the engine is demanding torque past 3000rpm she starts shuddering and the boost guage is fluctuating around 1 bar - with a distinct loss of power. At first I thought it was the dizzy and rotor arm as they looked tired....but after changing them, and splashing out on 5 new platinum plugs she's exactly the same. The wastgate isn't seized and the engine management light is not on. I've plugged it into my Delphi diagnostic machine only to find no faults listed. If I pull the airflow meter off she seems to run fine only with standrd 0.6 turbo boost and then an airflow fault comes up. I wondering if it is a fuel pressure problem only the Delphi machine won't give me a reading for this particular model or perhaps an ECU problem after the upgrade? Anyone got any thoughts? Regards, Rex France Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chilled man Posted June 20, 2009 Report Share Posted June 20, 2009 Mass Air Flow fault - try cleaning your MAF first with some MAF cleaner. That and ditch the non oem plugs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NEU Posted June 20, 2009 Report Share Posted June 20, 2009 Try the boost solenoid, I've upgraded to a AC Delco others have upgraded to IPD Heavy Duty version, or you could do a manual boost controler. The original Bosch unit when it get old gets sluggish, so you don't get full boost. I'd try getting a new one at the very least and see if that solves your problem. Good Luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rex Posted June 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 20, 2009 Thanks for the replies. The plugs are "OEM" (I presume that's genuine parts ) straight from Volvo - and I doubt seriously that an airflow meter fault won't register a fault, especially when it notices when it is un-plugged. NEU, Where is the boost solenoid located so I can test it? Good to "speak" to you again Rex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NEU Posted June 20, 2009 Report Share Posted June 20, 2009 Thanks for the replies. NEU, Where is the boost solenoid located so I can test it? Good to "speak" to you again Rex To find it follow the vac lines to it, there are 2 lines going into it and it is attached to the air box. I don't think there is a "test" other then maybe a boost gauge. Easiest way is to add a MBC since you have a '98, or just get a new OEM version, I believe they aren't too expensive ($40) or swap one out with a friend. When I did mine the car was very sluggish and seemed to run out of steam at high RPM. After the swap it was like a new car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chilled man Posted June 20, 2009 Report Share Posted June 20, 2009 Thanks for the replies. The plugs are "OEM" (I presume that's genuine parts ) straight from Volvo - and I doubt seriously that an airflow meter fault won't register a fault, especially when it notices when it is un-plugged. NEU, Where is the boost solenoid located so I can test it? Good to "speak" to you again Rex Ahhh I miss read what you said. How old are the wires ? How about the Coil Pack ? Also if you think its fuel run a fuel pressuegauge on the rail and see whats up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lookforjoe Posted June 20, 2009 Report Share Posted June 20, 2009 The MAF can malfunction without setting a code. My son's '98 suffered from lack of power/poor throttle response, which degenerated into no start/stalling, all from a bad MAF. No codes at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lookforjoe Posted June 20, 2009 Report Share Posted June 20, 2009 Check all your intercooler hoses - especially under the IAC bypass connection before the throttle, the hose tears underneath, and the flexible hose continuing off the aluminum pipe on the hot side, beneath the air intake plumbing, both will split, causing no idle/vacuum problems, but will open up under boost. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rex Posted June 21, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 21, 2009 Hi All, Sorry NEU...."MBC"? Manual Boost Controller??? There are no coil packs as the earlier models (pre '01 in Europe) have old style distributer caps. The leads are good, and the cap, arm and plugs are new. I never, ever use the loud peddle in first gear in any car - I know the built-in safety device on the T5 won't let the boost past .6 bar when in first anyway, but the car runs smooth and normally to the rev limiter in first gear as I tried it this morning, but continues to barf in all other gears. She is now also missing in the lower rev range too as of today. I guess I'm going to have to go to Volvo and get it plugged in. The trouble is here in rural SW France, they don't really know what they're doing and will most likely refuse to look at it when I tell them the turbo and fuel pressure has been upped by the RICA upgrade.....depite me owning a garage Moral of the story.....buy a Porsche. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chilled man Posted June 21, 2009 Report Share Posted June 21, 2009 Moral of Story .... Buy a Car you know how to fix ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lookforjoe Posted June 21, 2009 Report Share Posted June 21, 2009 Hi All, Sorry NEU...."MBC"? Manual Boost Controller??? There are no coil packs as the earlier models (pre '01 in Europe) have old style distributer caps. The leads are good, and the cap, arm and plugs are new. I never, ever use the loud peddle in first gear in any car - I know the built-in safety device on the T5 won't let the boost past .6 bar when in first anyway, but the car runs smooth and normally to the rev limiter in first gear as I tried it this morning, but continues to barf in all other gears. She is now also missing in the lower rev range too as of today. I guess I'm going to have to go to Volvo and get it plugged in. The trouble is here in rural SW France, they don't really know what they're doing and will most likely refuse to look at it when I tell them the turbo and fuel pressure has been upped by the RICA upgrade.....depite me owning a garage Moral of the story.....buy a Porsche. Did you check the hoses? .6 bar is really not enough to blow them open, but above that, as in the load in higher gears, will push them open... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NEU Posted June 21, 2009 Report Share Posted June 21, 2009 Yes MBC = Manual Boost Controler. But I'll echo check all rubber hoses and changed all the vac lines to silicone, if you haven't done that already. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rex Posted June 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 22, 2009 "Moral of Story .... Buy a Car you know how to fix" Mate, if I knew how to fix it I wouldn't be hear asking questions I've already checked the vacuum pipes and the intercooler hoses. I'm really stumped on this one Just ordered a fuel pressure gague....will update. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chilled man Posted June 22, 2009 Report Share Posted June 22, 2009 when you replaced the plugs did you gap them correclty / gapped them down enough to .26 or lower ? it almost sounds like spark blow out to me , from his discription the sudder while driving above 3,000rpm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rex Posted June 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 22, 2009 Nah, it was like that before I changed the plugs. The 997 felt crisp this morning on the way to work though.... Shame I can't get my two dogs in it, hence the need for a lairy estate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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