98 V70 base P0400 error code

Post by **scot850** » 07 May 2018, 19:50

A friend of a friend arrived with her 98 V70 base today as she had contacted me to say her master door switch was faulty. She had been away in Edmonton and the drivers front window had opened and not closed again. She took it to a repair shop I think I have heard of and they diagnosed the switch, closed the window and removed the front window wiring connector from the master switch. All ok work. They charged $75 for this and said a new switch + fitting would be $400!

This was when I was asked by her friend if I could look at it and did I have a spare master switch (doesn't everyone have 4 or 5 kicking around??!). It was a straight forward swap out and all good and done on pay-it-forward MVS style!

She then asked about the Lambda light that kept coming on. She had had it to a Volvo specialist and the dealer who only switched it off and couldn't say what it was or why it came on!!

I don't have my new Autel 802 OBD2 tester broken in, but the basic tester I have pulled a P0400 code, minor emissions leak. That wasn't too hard. I am going to assume it is an emissions leak, possibly with the carbon filter area. I have not fixed one of these that I can recall on a 98, as all my P80's have had the carbon filter at the rear. This one is at the front LHS forward of the front wheel.

Q1) What do you have to pull to access the area to get visibility? Do you have to pull the LHS inner fender liner?

Q2) What are the likely root issues as if I have to take it apart to get into it I want to make sure I have the likely parts at hand to fix it as this is her only vehicle and she has 2 young kids.

Q3) I have repaired the infamous 'J' hose and vent hose on the rear carbon canisters but what do I need to look for at a front mounted one? I can check on Vida for parts.

Q4) Is there anything else on the 98 NA I should check for this issue.

Thanks folks,

Neil.

Post by **abscate** » 07 May 2018, 20:40

Neil, put her VIN into Volvo parts lisle and you can pull up the exact diagram of parts. It’s the same hoses, the canister shutoff And the rollover hose.

Post by **scot850** » 07 May 2018, 23:07

Ok that is great abscate. There is no need for the Vin as there is only one emissions option for the rectangular shaped carbon canister at the front of the car.

Looking at the pictures, there are 2 x elongated 'U' shaped hose connectors and then the pipe to the rollover/shut-off valve. The 2 x shaped hose connectors look to be about $10 each, and then a bunch of un-specified hose in diameters in different lengths totaling about 2.5 metres.

In total theoretically you should be able to replace it all for under $50 at the front of the car.

Hopefully you may be able to remove a lower support bracket for the carbon canister to drop it low enough tot see the pipes although access may still be limited without removing the LH inner fender.

Neil.

Post by **abscate** » 08 May 2018, 05:24

Wait a minute, does this car have EGR? I’m not sure 0400 is EVAP or something else in emissions.

On edit - yeah - its an EGR Fault - probably fixed by cleaning if you are up for it. A lot easier than messing under the liner.

Post by **erikv11** » 08 May 2018, 07:36

The last year for EGR on the P80 platform was 1996, and only a few had it that year. There is no EGR on any V70, so good news is it's not an EGR fault.

It does sound like a canister hose leak. You can access it by pulling the fender liner and drop it down as you suggest, kind of a PITA the last one I did (about 5 years ago).

Post by **scot850** » 08 May 2018, 08:19

Thanks guys for the input. Thanks Erik, that was what I thought. I prefer to use the plastic coated rivets for the liner and mudflap but they are now a stupid amount, something like $5-6 CDN each! There are 10 or 12 on each front fender liner! I have to repair the LH front mud-flap anyway as it has been dislodged from a few of the rivets already. Fortunately a couple of years ago I bought a large box of those rivets for about $25 from a supplier in US so it is now not quite so painful!

Oh, well onward and into the breach we go again.....!

Neil.

Post by **abscate** » 08 May 2018, 08:20

Dig into the P0400 code - don't trust the AUTEL translation. can you get an ECM code ?

Post by **scot850** » 08 May 2018, 08:26

Clarify what you mean by an ECM code? Do you mean an ECU as this is a 98 and doesn't have a ETM.

I did not use the Autel as I have not had time to get it set up and software updates done, so I have another unit I use, can't remember the brand but it has been useful on several of the Volvos and has been accurate on engine issues in the past. I will look further into the issue when time and vehicle are available, but it probably won't hurt to drop the carbon can and check the pipework anyway. Anyone know the diameter of the pipe used or are there different sizes?

Neil.

Post by **abscate** » 08 May 2018, 13:35

There are deeper MFG codes that your 8xx will read that map to P codes. Every google I do says P0400 is an EGR code so I suspect you have a ECM code that might tell you more about what is wrong.

Post by **scot850** » 08 May 2018, 16:57

Problem then is I will need to set up a laptop with Vol-FCR to see if it will pull a code as I don't currently use that with no 98 or older Volvo available to me. I have Vida/Dice but for a 98 we all know that is no use.

Again, what is an ECM? Is it the same as the ECU, or what is your base of reference for that?

Neil.