2002 V70 T5 auto problem

hcritz · Post by **hcritz** » 31 Dec 2015, 13:42

Hey folks...I'm stumped on a 2002 V70 T5 170,000 miles
A long post here so bear with me.
A good friend had a radiator failure and didn't notice the warnings...ran the car bad hot. I replace the radiator and got a steady stream of bubbles from the coolant return line...Warped head and leaking head gasket. In hopes of doing the repair quickly and having a good engine (not sure how much damage was done to the original one other than the warped head)...I ordered one from a salvage yard with low miles and the correct 6-7 digits for a T5. While the engine was out...I replaced front and rear camshaft seals, Front and rear crankshaft seals and torque converter seal... Timing belt, tensioner and water pump. A few things on the donor engine had to be replaced...the cam timing solenoid used a different plug and the exhaust manifold outlet was slightly different...so I just used those from the old engine. The swap went well...but when I tried to start the car...initially the tach needle jumped around while cranking...it did fire up and ran very smoothly. The new engine sounds good, but I'm still having the erratic starting issue...the tach needle jumps around and it eventually cranks ...settles into a smooth idle. As soon as it starts the tach reads properly. Sometimes it will even kick back or pop through the intake on starting...like the timing is off. I have replace both the crankshaft position sensor and cam position sensor. no difference. I've removed both the computers and reset them in case of a bad connection.
I've rechecked the cam timing...all that looks correct I'm going to put the camshaft lock tool back on and check the variable one again...it's the non spring loaded type. I did drive the car a bit and I went into reduced engine performance...but not getting any check engine codes.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. I'm TIRED and ready for this project to be finished!!!
THANK!!!
Ed

Post by **precopster** » 31 Dec 2015, 14:38

This sounds like a bend in one of the reference holes in the torque plate or some foreign matter caught in one of the square holes referenced by the crank sensor. When these motors get dropped in there's a space in the plate which should go to about 6 o clock position to aid the drop down.

Remove the starter and see if you can hand crank the engine to find any damage or foreign material. After having spent three days on a similar swap just this week I can say it sure is taxing to.the energy levels. Good luck.

hcritz · Post by **hcritz** » 31 Dec 2015, 18:57

Thanks Mike...I'll Check that..I inspected the flex plate pretty carefully before installation and was very gentle mating the engine and tranny, but at this point I'll look...sure sounds like it's not getting a good signal from the crank position sensor. Is the long slot there for installation or is it what the engine keys off for finding timing?
I'm not sure if the cam position sensor is even involved at cranking speed...but I went back and reset the CVVT on the exhaust cam...it was off just a little I think. I set it with the sprocket tightened where the sprocket is fully locked to the clockwise position and the belt is snug between the two sprockets. With the belt on and tensioned I can rotate the exhaust cam with the tool clockwise and it will move just a hair past falling into the intake cam slot...so I'd say I'm within a degree or two.
More on this Malady as it progresses.
Thanks!
Ed

hcritz · Post by **hcritz** » 31 Dec 2015, 19:00

LOL...no good dead goes unpunished!

hcritz · Post by **hcritz** » 01 Jan 2016, 09:51

It's New Years Day...maybe a new year for the V70!!! Gonna check all the connectors etc...and see if things improve!

hcritz · Post by **hcritz** » 01 Jan 2016, 15:27

A quick update...I haven't driven the car yet...but it seems the crazy tach and starting issues are fixed (I hope) maybe someone can shed some light on what seems to have fixed it. I suspected a crank angle sensor, since I think that's what drives the tach. I put the bracket and extra sensor on the old motor which is sitting on the work bench and there is quite a gap between the flex plate timing ring and the pickup. I took my spare sensor and machined about .020 off of it to get a closer fit to the ring...it seems to start up now with out any backfiring or kicking back..the tach now has an initial deflection but not spiking all around. Now the question...why would I need to do this??? Both the brackets seem to be the same. I didn't actually compare the flexplates before installing the new engine. I used the one that came with the new engine. As far as I know, all the flex plates have the same outside diameter. the new flex plate did have a bit of surface rust on it...but don't think that would really cause any issues like this.

hcritz · Post by **hcritz** » 02 Jan 2016, 19:53

Still crazy issues with the V70...seems like it's stuck in reduced power mode...no check engine light but reader is showing a couple of tps codes. the scan tool won't erase them either. That seems odd too.
I've checked ... double checked ... triple checked all wiring, connectors and grounds. Pulled the starter and check the timing ring...all good there. Even measured the timing holes to make sure they weren't different
I pulled the Throttle body and cleaned it ... including the carbon resistors and wipers inside.
I've even pulled all the air hoses to make sure my dumb ass didn't leave a rag in one of them. I'm starting to wonder if I have an ECM or Throttle ECM issue??? Anyone have a spare grenade...I'm about ready to blow the thing up!