1998 V70 AWD Hard Starting Rough Idle

Post by **mt98t5** » 18 Jan 2014, 17:20

I'm seriously frustrated with my 98 V70 AWD. The car idles rough, starts hard when it is 20 degrees or colder. It takes a 200 amp battery charger and 20 minutes to finally start it. I have changed the plugs, wires, distributor cap+rotor, fuel pump+filter, O2 sensor, air filter. I have also tried 2 Maf sensors off of 2 98 Volvos. I cleaned the MAF before trying each. I also cleaned the IAC and throttle body. The car will start and run with a slight miss at idle. If I unplug the MAF it will continue to run and when I plug it back in, it stalls. I read that this indicates that the MAF is good. I have also checked all vacuum lines. No codes. The cooling doesn't stay on when the car is turned on (coolant sensor), although I have never heard the fan run at all. Any help would be great.

Post by **MoVolvos** » 18 Jan 2014, 18:02

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Have you checked your timing? I think my problems which were similar to yours was ultimately attributed to incorrect timing. Just enough to create roughness especially in cold weather and a lack of power in general when driven in E Mode.

https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... =9&t=61273

Blessings,

BKM
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Post by **mt98t5** » 18 Jan 2014, 18:33

What about not starting? I will check timing.

Post by **MoVolvos** » 18 Jan 2014, 18:49

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mt98t5 wrote:
starts hard when it is 20 degrees or colder. It takes a 200 amp battery charger and 20 minutes to finally start it.

Starts hard as in slow crank, no crank, cranks but won't ignite and run etc...? My no start/no crank turned out to be a loose ground wire under the dash which was rigged to bypass the Alarm Module before I purchased the car. Every time I installed the knee bolster cover this no crank issue would occur usually within a day or so. Left it off for almost 2 years before I found the problem which also happened when I was not looking for it. You may want to check some of the ground wires from the Battery.

You can also try jump starting the Starter to eliminate that as the cause. If it cranks easily each time you jump start the Starter you know it is something else.

Blessings,

BKM
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Post by **mt98t5** » 18 Jan 2014, 19:37

It cranks over great.

Post by **MoVolvos** » 19 Jan 2014, 00:13

mt98t5 wrote:
It cranks over great.

Excellent, I was thinking and hoping you say that. Check the timing as you've covered everything else already.

Blessings,

BKM

Post by **anjill182** » 19 Jan 2014, 11:48

Are the plugs wet when you are trying to start it?

Post by **mt98t5** » 21 Jan 2014, 15:35

ECT was good, compared it to a know good ect out of a running car. Timing seems to be off by one tooth. I will be fixing this tomorrow. I will post results.

Post by **mt98t5** » 22 Jan 2014, 15:21

The timing was off from a previous timing belt install. I corrected the timing issue and runs great now!! The interesting part about the job is the fact that the crank pulley for the timing belt had two marks. One of the marks looked like a large tab and the other was a little notch in a "valley", and they were not on the same tooth! I used the tab and not the notch mark. Turned out nice.

Post by **MoVolvos** » 23 Jan 2014, 02:19

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mt98t5 wrote:
The timing was off from a previous timing belt install. I corrected the timing issue and runs great now!! The interesting part about the job is the fact that the crank pulley for the timing belt had two marks. One of the marks looked like a large tab and the other was a little notch in a "valley", and they were not on the same tooth! I used the tab and not the notch mark. Turned out nice.

Glad yours work out well fast! My journey took almost 2 years. Just off enough for newer parts and fluids to make it run better for a little bit and then back to just a slight bit under the weather but never sick. This included another transmission flush after the first year.

Blessings,

BKM

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