XC70 1999 Non-start

[Donzilla]

Hello everyone,

I searched a lot of the posts and didn't find anything exactly the same... so here goes. (We just rolled over to 201K miles.)

My wife was driving our (newly acquired) silver XC70 1999 down the road when it sputtered and died... She coasted to the side of the road, and the car rode home on a tow truck. Now it won't start.

I immediately suspected the fuel pump relay, which I checked this evening by jumpering #15 & #87 and it still wouldn't start. Taking the relay apart there could be some damage, it's hard to tell.

I was also thinking the ETM, although that has been replaced once already on this car. Wouldn't the car start, or trigger limp-home mode if that was the issue though?

Previously, the car would sometimes die right after a first start. It would start, run for a second and die. Also, the battery is definitely a bit weak, and perhaps a cell has failed internally. It will get up to 13.1 volts, but die after relatively few start attempts (or previously, only after a few minutes of sitting in it with the radio on).

My next steps would be (to check and replace) fuel filter and spark plugs.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Cheers,
Don

[kcodyjr]

If the 1999's are anything like my two 850's, suspect your fuel pump.

If you get in it, turn off the radio and blower motor, then turn the key to II, you should be able to hear it hum briefly.

Also, there's a Schrader valve on the fuel rail, grab a rag and a philips head, and look for pressure.

Fuel/air, compression, spark. Your symptoms sound like fuel:

* compression issues steadily worsen, intermittent is just about unheard of
* if spark was the problem, it would have felt like it needed a tune-up all along
* likewise, a clogged fuel filter would have made it run like crap when into the pedal

[jimmy57]

Listen to Kcody. instead of wasting money on plugs and fuel filter, spend that for the new battery.
THEN get a cheapy 99 cent tire pressure gauge and have your lovely assistant cycle ignition key on a couple times for 10 seconds each and see if you have any pressure build at the shrader valve on fuel rail.
Of course put the rely back in or if it is hosed then you can fashion a jumper to insert between 30 and 87 positions in relay board and then the pump will run continuously w/o the help of the lovely assistant.
If the relay is not labeled 30/87 on bottom then download the wiring diagram from "repair database/wiring diagrams/1999 s70/v70/c70" and look at the fuel injection for pump and relay. Relay terminals will be ID'd there.

[Donzilla]

Thanks, I will try it out today!

[Donzilla]

So this is what my relay looks like... I will look up the wiring.

[Donzilla]

UPDATE (from the Wife):

Actually, it didn't sputter and die right away. What happened is that she was going about 35-40 mph, and started to accelerate out of a turn when the gas pedal stopped responding. She could push it down, and felt the normal resistance of the pedal, but it did not affect the actual throttle at all. She coasted to a stop, and it kept running. Then she put it in park, and only then did it start sputtering and die. Hasn't started since.

[Donzilla]

Well, I don't get any fuel pressure build up... The best it gets is a little bit dribbling out while it is being cycle on, but no pressure, not enough to even move the pressure gauge.

So, should I go right to the fuel pump and replace that?

Thanks!

[bw77]

Take a look at the fuel filter. If it is the original one, it may be clogged.
With the filter off, check for fuel pressure on the line coming into the filter
from the pump.

I have a 99 S70GLT, the fuel filter is just ahead of the pass side rear wheel.

[Pauloil]

have a look at this;

https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... =1&t=20367

[peacock]

if your battery dies that soon have it test it sounds near the end of its life