Oil and Weird powder on Valve Cover

[sjbock1]

About your check engine light - It may just be because you tried to start your engine with the MAF sensor disconnected. A similar situation happened to me last week. I have a 1994 850 (orginal owner, 130,000 miles). The check engine light has never come on before. Last week I disconnected the MAF sensor while removing the air filter to get to the air flow box to remove the malfunctioning thermostat that controls the hot and cold air flow. Like you, I forgot to reconnect the MAF sensor and I tried to start the engine. It started and immediately died 3 times before I remembered the MAF sensor. After I reconnected it, the car started up and ran fine but my check engine light stayed on. The nearest Volvo dealer is 100 miles away and I haven't taken it to Auto Zone to find out what the code is because they say their code reader doesn't work on a Volvo older than 1995.

[Srini850]

I tried the spark test. All wires sparked.

I hooked everything up and tried starting the car. It was still doing the same rough idle but it seemed like the arcing noise got worse. I had a friend with me and we both listened and determined it was for sure from the coil.

Got it tested at Autozone. The primary resistance reading was at 0.8 when it should have been between 0.5 and 0.6 according to the reference sheet they had. Can anyone confirm these numbers?

I also scanned my cel and found out it was a PO102 code, which was the MAF code as sjbock1 predicted. I guess I'll try resetting the car after fixing everything.

Thank you everybody for the help.

[Srini850]

The nearest Volvo dealer is 100 miles away and I haven't taken it to Auto Zone to find out what the code is because they say their code reader doesn't work on a Volvo older than 1995.

You have a diagnostic system in the engine bay. When you open the hood it will be towards the front of the car on the passenger side.

http://volvospeed.com/volvo_repairs_how ... es_a2.html


There are instructions on how to reset the code. I used to have a 95 850 GLT and that's what I used to do.

[Srini850]

The MSD coil I ordered just came in today. I have a temporary attachment to the original bracket now. Only problem was I was missing the wire that goes from the MSD to the Dist. cap. I ordered the wire but shipping with IPD messed up so I have to wait until Friday. I wanted to try the coil to see if the car would run since I have to go home friday (didn't want it to break on the 5 hour drive).

So here's how I tested the coil:

photo(2).JPG (93.48 KiB) Viewed 1283 times

Yes, those are my old spark plug wires I took the others one off after the picture.

So far the car idled a lot better. It wasn't making that arching noise or sputtering. I haven't taken it on a test drive yet as I had to tighten a few more things and the bracket wasn't really done, so I didn't want the coil falling out in the drive. Hopefully it runs like it's supposed to do when I finish the bracket and actually drive it.

[Srini850]

My friend and I finished the bracket and took it for a test drive. Looks like it's driving again. The idle is nice and smooth and it seems like some of my power is back.

Thank you everybody for your help. Couldn't have done it without the assistance of this forum.

Cheers,
Vishnu