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Rotten egg smell, rough performance

Help, Advice and DIY Tutorials on Volvo's P80 platform cars -- Volvo's 1990s "bread and butter" cars -- powered by the ubiquitous and durable Volvo inline 5-cylinder engine.

1992 - 1997 850, including 850 R, 850 T-5R, 850 T-5, 850 GLT
1997 - 2000 S70, S70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70, V70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70-XC
1997 - 2004 C70

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rsrobbins
Posts: 4
Joined: 12 January 2008
Year and Model:
Location: Boca Raton, FL

Rotten egg smell, rough performance

Post by rsrobbins »

Vehicle = 1999 C70 LPT 160,000 miles
Fillied up tank with Costoc premium.
Ran a couple of errands.
Came to a stop. Motor starting running rough. Felt like I was running on 4 cyclinders when I accelerated.
Started to smell rotten egg, sulfer smell like a bad cat.
From what I'm gathering on these boards suspects include:
Bad MAF (maybe cleaning will solve)
Bad 02 sensors
Bad coil pack(s)
But probably NOT the cat.
Do I have this right? Any other suggestions or misgivings about the above?
Thanks!
Ralph

jblackburn
MVS Moderator
Posts: 14043
Joined: 8 June 2008
Year and Model: 1998 S70 T5
Location: Alexandria, VA
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Post by jblackburn »

READ THE CODE! And let us know what you find. Advance Auto, etc. will pull codes from the computer for free.

The OBDII port is in your center armrest.

Probably a bad coil causing a misfire. In the meantime, don't drive it too much or you'll risk damaging the cat. converter.
'98 S70 T5
2016 Chevy Cruze Premier


A learning experience is one of those things that says, "You know that thing you just did? Don't do that."

mercuic: Long live the tractor motor!

FCPEURO
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Year and Model: 2006 XC90 V8
Location: Milford, CT
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Post by FCPEURO »

Rotten eggs normally means a clogged up cat. I would still pull the codes but more then likely, the cat will need to be replaced.

brady55
Posts: 82
Joined: 30 October 2010
Year and Model: 1996
Location: ATL

Post by brady55 »

also make sure your alternator is not over charging a battery that is being cooked smells like rotten eggs as well and they can go boom if too hot fyi

claymore850
Posts: 145
Joined: 28 March 2010
Year and Model: 850 T5, 244, V70 2.4
Location: Guatemala

Post by claymore850 »

Try changing the Catalitic converter...maybe its clogged... I replaced on my car years ago with a MAGNAFLOW 91006... no problems..cheap replacement part..

jblackburn
MVS Moderator
Posts: 14043
Joined: 8 June 2008
Year and Model: 1998 S70 T5
Location: Alexandria, VA
Has thanked: 9 times
Been thanked: 19 times

Post by jblackburn »

Check for codes before throwing money at a cat that is probably perfectly fine. A misfire sounds like all this is.

Raw gas through the cat from a non-functioning cylinder will cause the rotten egg smell.

Don't drive much before taking care of the coil pack if that is the issue. Running that hot and rich WILL burn up the converter.
'98 S70 T5
2016 Chevy Cruze Premier


A learning experience is one of those things that says, "You know that thing you just did? Don't do that."

mercuic: Long live the tractor motor!

rmv
Posts: 3
Joined: 27 June 2011
Year and Model: v70 xc, 1998
Location: ohio

Post by rmv »

Try to unplug the MAF sensor (electrical connection on airbox lid) and see if it will run better. Mine went unexpectedly.

Fishburn
Posts: 1
Joined: 5 September 2010
Year and Model: 96 850 Turbo
Location: ATLANTA

Post by Fishburn »

This happened to me earlier this year on my 99 s70, it's probably a misfire, mine was caused by a bad ignition coil. I replaced all the plugs before I figured out it was the coil...

rsrobbins
Posts: 4
Joined: 12 January 2008
Year and Model:
Location: Boca Raton, FL

Post by rsrobbins »

It was the #2 Coil Pack...runs great.
You guys are the best...
Thanks!!!!

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