1998 S70 Solving my CEL issue

[Mr. Detail]

Good day gentlemen;
Well a year has passed and it is once again time to try and get my S70 through annual emissions testing without a waiver. My CEL has been on since last year (no time) to address it myself. Let me explain and maybe someone can give me their suggestion(s) on turning this darn light off.

About a year ago I first took the car to a Volvo dealer. They did the following and wanted to charge me over $600 to fix it. Performed a smoke test on the intake and found the PCV o-ring leaking. At intake tube, recommend replacing the PCV housing o-ring and vacuum line and possibly the intake tube itself.
After above repairs emission system readiness will have to be reset to pass PA emissions testing.

Well I bought a new intake tube and o-ring and did this myself but no luck after the reset. Keep in mind when I use my own code reader, I keep pulling the P0133 code, which has to do with the oxygen sensors. I have already replaced both the front and rear O2 sensors last year. Still no difference.
Also so you know, there does not seem to be any real drop off in my gasoline mileage.
The reset part on this particular year car is a real pain in the you know what. I usually just drive the 100 miles or so because I don't have the patience to follow all those reduced speeds at 45 mph, hold it there, then stop the car and so on.

I read briefly the page you guys have here about that VADIS thing but not sure if that would help me at all. Wouldn't I have to have a laptop computer to use that properly?
I really am lost here and do not know where to turn. I don't want to go back to the dealer.
I am not a super technician when it comes to doing this myself but will make an attempt if I at least have some kind of photos showing the area and what I need to do.

Needless to say I was able to get a waiver last year but don't want to go thru that hassle again either.
Any suggestions or help at this stage would be greatly appreciated. Apparently this model year (1998)
is a real bear in diagnosing these kind of problems. Let me know what you think.

Thanks much!

[drgswede1978]

The O2 codes 9 times out of 10 are a vacuum leak. Try checking the vacuum elbow on the side of the intake manifold behind the thermostat housing. That was my problem.

[abscate]

You can pass emissions with up to two circuits not ready for a 1999 MY. Clear codes, drive 50 miles, check readiness, and inspect. Vacuum leaks are number one cause of O2 sensor codes, agreed.

[Mr. Detail]

Any pictures/photos for me showing that area "vacuum elbow on the side of the intake manifold behind the thermostat housing" ?
On a side note, my cheap code reader doesn't show all the readiness tests. Any other way I can know if I only have two readiness tests left?

[rmmagow]

Because of your previous info about the dealer and the P0133 code you have now I strongly suspect the above mentioned elbow. Look for jblackburn's PVC repair. I'm thinking the 0133 would toss for either end of the hose, the intake tube is one end, the elbow on the left is the other I think. Check that elbow thoroughly, replace it and see what happens. My p0133 was the easy to fix code and was that elbow.

[Mr. Detail]

rmmagow,
is the PCV repair by jblackburn on this "Matthew's site"? Sorry to be so anal.

[drgswede1978]

Loads of good pics on here.
https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... =1&t=28487
It's this elbow
https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... &mode=view
Taken from jblackburns guide.

[Mr. Detail]

Thanks much gentlemen!

[Mr. Detail]

So do I really have to completely remove the manifold to replace the PCV elbow?
Wow, I might have to get someone else to do this for me.

[Ozark Lee]

Removing the intake manifold sounds much harder than it really is. The secret to life is a long 1/4" extension and a swivel socket. The bottom bolts don't need to be removed all the way when removing the manifold.

The bottom bolt in the #1 cylinder end of the engine is tricky since you can't really see it but the rest of them are very easy.

...Lee