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'99 S70 AWD won't start, cranks fine

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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burnout8488
Posts: 504
Joined: 18 June 2011
Year and Model: 1999 S70 AWD
Location: Endwell, NY

'99 S70 AWD won't start, cranks fine

Post by burnout8488 »

Friday afternoon: Started the car in my driveway, it fired but stumbled BADLY upon ignition for about 5 seconds, then smoothed out and idled properly. I drove it to the junkyard with no issue, and it performed perfectly even in some WOT sprints.

After working in the junkyard for an hour, I went back to my car and it would not start. Cranks forever, but would not ignite. Had to get it towed home. I checked spark in the parking lot, and it is firing, seems slow though or out of time. The car is getting fuel, it has a new pump and generously sprays fuel out of the test port.

I tried a spare MAF, no change. Unplugging the MAF made no change.

Saturday: I got a yellow label ETM off of a running 2000 S80 T6. Installed in the car, and now the engine will constantly stumble at 100-200rpm while cranking, but immediately dies once I stop cranking. It seems as if the timing is off, badly.

Tested the crank position sensor, 119 ohms. Another member stated that their new sensor shows 120 ohms, so I can rule that out. The tachometer produces a reading every time I crank the engine. I am unsure if my Cam position sensor is faulty now, or if it's my ECT.

The car threw a P0238 - Turbo/Super Charger Boost Sensor A Circuit High code today. I removed the MAP and IAT sensors, cleaned them, no change. After clearing the code, it has not reappeared again. Perhaps it was thrown as a result of something else.

When I unplug the ECT and/or Cam position sensor and crank the engine, it does not stumble or fire at all. When it's plugged back in, the car roughly stumbles and will not start.

Does anyone have ANY idea what my problem can be? I've tried nearly everything. Let me know if any more information is needed, thank you!
Last edited by burnout8488 on 30 Oct 2011, 20:05, edited 1 time in total.
'13 BMW X1 35i M-Sport
'99 S70 AWD/FWD - 198K - FOR SALE!

burnout8488
Posts: 504
Joined: 18 June 2011
Year and Model: 1999 S70 AWD
Location: Endwell, NY

Post by burnout8488 »

Tried a new coolant temp sensor, no change.
'13 BMW X1 35i M-Sport
'99 S70 AWD/FWD - 198K - FOR SALE!

burnout8488
Posts: 504
Joined: 18 June 2011
Year and Model: 1999 S70 AWD
Location: Endwell, NY

Post by burnout8488 »

Immobilizer antenna ring checks out at 5.3 ohms. Should be working then.
'13 BMW X1 35i M-Sport
'99 S70 AWD/FWD - 198K - FOR SALE!

burnout8488
Posts: 504
Joined: 18 June 2011
Year and Model: 1999 S70 AWD
Location: Endwell, NY

Post by burnout8488 »

Going to pick a MAP, IAT, and cam position sensor off an S80 T6 today, will update the post if any of it works, for the sake of helping someone else in the future hopefully!
'13 BMW X1 35i M-Sport
'99 S70 AWD/FWD - 198K - FOR SALE!

Etheraldreamer
Posts: 27
Joined: 23 March 2011
Year and Model: 1998 V70 AWD
Location: Tacoma, WA

Post by Etheraldreamer »

I wish I had something that could help... But very interested in what it ends up being... props for documenting the issue even if no one speaks up to assist! :D

burnout8488
Posts: 504
Joined: 18 June 2011
Year and Model: 1999 S70 AWD
Location: Endwell, NY

Post by burnout8488 »

I wish I had good news, but here goes some more documentation....!

Does anyone have any input on this?

I replaced the MAP, crank position sensor, and cam position sensor. No change. I am fully out of ideas, if anyone can throw some knowledge at me it would be much appreciated! The car just misfires and stumbles while being cranked and never turns over. The exhaust afterwards smells extremely fuelly and burned.
Last edited by burnout8488 on 31 Oct 2011, 16:59, edited 1 time in total.
'13 BMW X1 35i M-Sport
'99 S70 AWD/FWD - 198K - FOR SALE!

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 »

Your timing belt hasn't jumped, has it?

It may be time to try the tablespoon of oil in each cylinder trick - your engine might be pretty well flooded by now and have no compression to actually start.
'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!

burnout8488
Posts: 504
Joined: 18 June 2011
Year and Model: 1999 S70 AWD
Location: Endwell, NY

Post by burnout8488 »

I doubt it, unless my car just hates me. The car was running and idling great, then I parked it. Went into the junkyard, came back, and no start. The timing would have had to jump a tooth when I turned the car off... if that's even possible.

When I took the plugs out, they were definitely gassy. It still fires a little though, just completely out of time.

Could it be the ECU? What else controls the timing of injectors and spark, that I haven't already replaced?

I've checked a bunch of ground straps, and they all look fine. I haven't found one wire on this car that looked damaged.
'13 BMW X1 35i M-Sport
'99 S70 AWD/FWD - 198K - FOR SALE!

burnout8488
Posts: 504
Joined: 18 June 2011
Year and Model: 1999 S70 AWD
Location: Endwell, NY

Post by burnout8488 »

Fuel rail removed with injectors - cranked the engine and fuel sprayed out of all five in a sequence that looked correct.

Original ETM re-installed, no change. ETM ground on the block is clean and tight.

Knock sensors have been disconnected and checked, no change.
'13 BMW X1 35i M-Sport
'99 S70 AWD/FWD - 198K - FOR SALE!

burnout8488
Posts: 504
Joined: 18 June 2011
Year and Model: 1999 S70 AWD
Location: Endwell, NY

Post by burnout8488 »

Voltage drop test performed on the fusebox, 0 drop. 12.71v at the box and at the battery. Timing gears appear to be aligned properly.

ECU fault?
'13 BMW X1 35i M-Sport
'99 S70 AWD/FWD - 198K - FOR SALE!

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