How Hard To Figure Out Problemsthat My Car Has?

[FAST850R]

Hello,

I've had CEl about 2 months. Pulled 3 codes, one is transmission speedometer sensor, one is bank1 or 2 (don't remember) system running too rich, and the other one is evapo leak.

I've been trying to figure out what is wrong with my car, but I couldn't figure it out. I took my car to a shop last week at 10 am. A receptionist told me that it would take one or one and half hour to find out the problem.

I got a phone call at 1:00pm and asked to leave my car till Saturday because it needed more time. I let them keep my car, and asked him to call me when it's ready.

Saturday at 1:00pm, I called the shop because I didn't get any phone calls, and the guy told me that he would call me back in 5 min....no phone calls till 3:40 pm, so I went to the shop.

My car was parked out side of the shop, and a mechanic who was working on my car showed up, and told me that he couldn't find out what causes those check engine lights......he told me to leave it till Monday so he could spend more time with my car. I said I need it on Monday for work so I told him that I would bring it next Friday, which is today, so he can work on my car again.

I dropped the car at 10am today and still no phone call from him.

He told me that he is the master tech who has 20 years of experience....hum.....really...?

Before I get mad at him, I just want to make sure that the problems I have is really hard to figure out for master tech who has 20 years of exp.

I'm sure some of you guys are mechanic or really good at Volvos.

If he can't figure them out by today, I am going to take my car to another shop, but I just want to know whether the problems are that much hard to diagnostic.

Thank you.

What you guys think?

[mojojo]

Well, from experience, I can say that diagnosing problems over the internet is much harder than if the car is in front of you.

As well, I purchased one of my cars with an intermittent speedo that turned out to be the signal wire grounding through the dash board because someone else removed the dash pad and did not secure the harness properly. The code was an absent speedo signal. Many things can be wrong with your car for one code, but that's no excuse for poor customer service. Seems to me the problem is hard enough to encourage you to take the car to a shop instead of fixing it your self. Take it somewhere else if you feel the need.

[TRACStar]

Trans code could be a few different things. The other 2 could be coming from the same problem, check your gas cap and all vac lines in the engine compartment.

Screw the mechanic for now at least, check over everything and then take the car to an auto parts store. They should be able to read and clear the codes for you, unless you have your own scanner. Then just see if the codes come back.

Also there should be a line I believe that goes from the gas tank to the charcoal canister under the hood. Check that for cracks and leaks.

And +1 on finding a different shop, it sounds like they may not have even looked at it. I'd rather have someone be honest and tell me they didn't get a chance to check it out than have to leave it there until they have a chance.

[FAST850R]

Well, from experience, I can say that diagnosing problems over the internet is much harder than if the car is in front of you.

As well, I purchased one of my cars with an intermittent speedo that turned out to be the signal wire grounding through the dash board because someone else removed the dash pad and did not secure the harness properly. The code was an absent speedo signal. Many things can be wrong with your car for one code, but that's no excuse for poor customer service. Seems to me the problem is hard enough to encourage you to take the car to a shop instead of fixing it your self. Take it somewhere else if you feel the need.

The speedometer sensor was replaced by me, but I still got the code P0715...I don't know what else I can check. Nothing wrong with the transmission or anything, just annoying tranny shift up arrow and cel flashing.

[FAST850R]

Trans code could be a few different things. The other 2 could be coming from the same problem, check your gas cap and all vac lines in the engine compartment.

Screw the mechanic for now at least, check over everything and then take the car to an auto parts store. They should be able to read and clear the codes for you, unless you have your own scanner. Then just see if the codes come back.

Also there should be a line I believe that goes from the gas tank to the charcoal canister under the hood. Check that for cracks and leaks.

And +1 on finding a different shop, it sounds like they may not have even looked at it. I'd rather have someone be honest and tell me they didn't get a chance to check it out than have to leave it there until they have a chance.

The gas cap is brand new so it's not that.

I checked the charcoal canister, but nothing wrong visually....

I have an OBD II code reader and I've reset those codes at least 4 times

I can smell gas fume in the cabin when I start the car, car doesn't run as it should...low power, and mpg is pretty low(17~18mpg)

I changed entire pcy system, timing belt, water pump, pulleys, serpentine belt, spark plugs, wire, cap, and rotor...etc...

[mojojo]

The gas cap is brand new so it's not that.

I checked the charcoal canister, but nothing wrong visually....

I have an OBD II code reader and I've reset those codes at least 4 times

I can smell gas fume in the cabin when I start the car, car doesn't run as it should...low power, and mpg is pretty low(17~18mpg)

I changed entire pcy system, timing belt, water pump, pulleys, serpentine belt, spark plugs, wire, cap, and rotor...etc...

Does the car leak fuel from the tank area?

All my volvos required the evap hose at tank to be replaced. Would smell fuel in cabin and leak when full and parked on hill.

None threw codes.

[FAST850R]

Does the car leak fuel from the tank area?

All my volvos required the evap hose at tank to be replaced. Would smell fuel in cabin and leak when full and parked on hill.

None threw codes.

I just got back from the shop. I talked to the mechanic and he found out that the entire fuel tank needs to be removed to replace a hose there.

I don't know which hose he was talking about but he said that he did smoke test, and the top fuel tank area where a hose runs through was leaking.

He quoted $150 to remove the tank.

He hasn't found what caused the system run rich code. He said that he will check it next week again when I bring my car back.

Well, it got some progress so I'm happy about it.

I wonder the mechanic was talking about the hose what you are talking about, mojojo.

[mojojo]

I just got back from the shop. I talked to the mechanic and he found out that the entire fuel tank needs to be removed to replace a hose there.

I don't know which hose he was talking about but he said that he did smoke test, and the top fuel tank area where a hose runs through was leaking.

He quoted $150 to remove the tank.

He hasn't found what caused the system run rich code. He said that he will check it next week again when I bring my car back.

Well, it got some progress so I'm happy about it.

I wonder the mechanic was talking about the hose what you are talking about, mojojo.

Yes he's talking about the same hose.

This is a cake job, with a $15 part.

Here's a thread on another forum.

http://www.___.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=23851&p=133042

Like I said, three for three, my 850s have needed this hose.... and none of my cars threw a code because of it (mine are all 95s).

If you were in GA instead of CA, I'd offer to help you knock this out in about twenty minutes. Fuel tank does not need to be removed, just dropped, and with the right tools (hopefully your mechanic has some 1/4" universal sockets) it's very easy.

I just got back from the shop. I talked to the mechanic and he found out that the entire fuel tank needs to be removed to replace a hose there.

I don't know which hose he was talking about but he said that he did smoke test, and the top fuel tank area where a hose runs through was leaking.

He quoted $150 to remove the tank.

He hasn't found what caused the system run rich code. He said that he will check it next week again when I bring my car back.

Well, it got some progress so I'm happy about it.

I wonder the mechanic was talking about the hose what you are talking about, mojojo.

Once you fix this, you'll also notice an increase in MPG because your fuel is not evaporating from the tank.

[FAST850R]

Yes he's talking about the same hose.

This is a cake job, with a $15 part.

Here's a thread on another forum.

http://www.___.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=23851&p=133042

Like I said, three for three, my 850s have needed this hose.... and none of my cars threw a code because of it (mine are all 95s).

If you were in GA instead of CA, I'd offer to help you knock this out in about twenty minutes. Fuel tank does not need to be removed, just dropped, and with the right tools (hopefully your mechanic has some 1/4" universal sockets) it's very easy.

Once you fix this, you'll also notice an increase in MPG because your fuel is not evaporating from the tank.

Thank you so much for the link! I noticed that the pictures are wagon, and mine is a sedan. It should be the same location and process, correct?

Hum...I think I can do this job myself...I guess I have to buy 1/4" universal sockets...

Where can I get the hose?

Thank you.

[mojojo]

Thank you so much for the link! I noticed that the pictures are wagon, and mine is a sedan. It should be the same location and process, correct?

Hum...I think I can do this job myself...I guess I have to buy 1/4" universal sockets...

Where can I get the hose?

Thank you.

my three sedans are the same. dealer had the hose

sockets can be from tool store, used them to get at the hose clamps

[FAST850R]

my three sedans are the same. dealer had the hose

sockets can be from tool store, used them to get at the hose clamps

Thank you for the reply.

I guess I will get the hose from a dealer then.

[mojojo]

Thank you for the reply.

I guess I will get the hose from a dealer then.

This is very common - look another individual has fixed it in his post.

http://volvospeed.com/vs_forum/index.php/topic/117357-fuel-leak-when-filling-tank-corrected/

Maybe the reason your car is throwing a code, and mine did not lies in the 95 model year. Yours is later, I'm sure that explains it.

[FAST850R]

This is very common - look another individual has fixed it in his post.

http://volvospeed.com/vs_forum/index.php/topic/117357-fuel-leak-when-filling-tank-corrected/

Maybe the reason your car is throwing a code, and mine did not lies in the 95 model year. Yours is later, I'm sure that explains it.

Thank you for the reply.

I will order the part this weekends and fix the problem.

I will post here after I fix it.

[FAST850R]

Ok,

I have one more question about my code.

I have another code which is system running too rich. The mechanic said it's not a vacuum leak, and it's really hard to find out what cause the problem.

He has tested many things and yet couldn't find what causes my car running rich. He took my car to a smog shop and did smog test, and it runs rich specially at idle.

He said it might be one of injectors, but he wasn't sure.

Since it's really hard to find the problem, he wants 4 hours of diagnostic charge if I wants to find it out.

I just brought my car home and ask you guys here.

If anyone knows what to check for "system running too rich" code.....please let me know.

I can't spend $700 for this problem, I have 1 more code to figure out the problem....

Thanks.