98 S70 GLT won't idle and black smoke

bowersbiga · Post by **bowersbiga** » 15 Sep 2011, 10:53

My 98 S70 GLT with 140,000 I changed the oil trap and hoses about 3 months ago, daughter was driving down thruway and it lost power and belching black smoke. Had it towed home, replaced fuel filter and plugs did compression test - nothing changed. Took it to volvo dealer and they diagnosed a leaky cam seal that caused distributor cap to fill up and thus car runs bad. For $800.00 they replaced cam seal, plugs, wires and distributor cap - nothing changed. They replaced the MAF sensor with a new and the idle leveled out just a little bit better he said, they don't think its the MAF. They then put it on scanner again and got too many codes to count. Dealer called a special volvo hotline and they said it is either the computer, engine management or a transmission sensor. So they offered to me for $2,500.00 to replace all three and it should then run okay, on top of the $800.00 I already gave them!! - they are a Volvo dealer and should be able to tell exactly whats wrong. The only code on when she left was the air pump faulty which I understand to be a non-issue as far as engine performance. Any direction you can give would be appreciated as she is in Indiana and I am in New York with limited funds to repair this.

Post by **keepersboy** » 15 Sep 2011, 11:13

Yikes!!! Makes my skin crawl reading this. Good luck, I'm guessing you'll find help here for no charge

Post by **jblackburn** » 15 Sep 2011, 12:47

I'm wondering if this could be as simple as a blown off turbo to intercooler hose. I've blown them off before or blown holes in them multiple times, and the car starts running like an absolute pile of crap.

This is just a guess, but it would explain a lot and the sudden onset of the symtpoms with nothing seeming to cure it and a ton of codes. The engine computers very, very, very rarely go bad in these models.

I'd inspect these hoses at every clamp and connection to the black metal pipes you can find.

Post by **boosted5cyl** » 15 Sep 2011, 12:52

Can you get the list of codes from the dealer?
Please post if you can.

jencrow1 · Post by **jencrow1** » 15 Sep 2011, 13:29

Sounds a bit like mine, only I don't have the black smoke, you must have a doppel-ganger garage!