1998 V70 T5; problem hot starting & occasional brief power loss at speed

clifford06 · Post by **clifford06** » 17 Sep 2019, 14:48

Did a test drive today . Got the engine to normal temp . Wouldn't restart . Jumped the relay and still no start . Losing my patience !!

Post by **erikv11** » 17 Sep 2019, 17:41

There's also the gray fuel injection main relay up under the radiator - or maybe that relay is not used on a 98? My 98 is not here or I would check. Someone else will remember.

It's basically guaranteed to be an electrical/electronic part, that when it heats up the resistance gets too high. V = IR so currrent drops and the component stops working and the car stops working. Could be a relay, sensor, or a critical wire that is thin or poorly connected.

Did you yet check if the positive battery cable heats up under usage? Right at the positive terminal, common problem.

clifford06 · Post by **clifford06** » 18 Sep 2019, 16:58

If its the battery cable , would the problem be in the section that connects to the fuse box ? I do recall a good indy shop before this issue , saying positive cable had corrosion . Also, what does the smaller wire on the + cable connect to ? Thinking of picking up a cable from Autozone and see what happens. Thanks !

clifford06 · Post by **clifford06** » 18 Sep 2019, 17:15

I just looked in my main fusebox, and the end of the wire that is bolted down is covered with " white battery acid " . Is this where the four wire cable that is bolted to my positive battery connector runs to ? If so, couldn't I just replace it with section of battery cable ?

Post by **erikv11** » 18 Sep 2019, 17:19

On a 98 the problem is usually the main cable where it connects to the lug, the main cable that runs down to the starter. And you can feel the cable near the lug gets hot to the touch when you run the car, there is no mistaking it. I'd check it before buying a cable.

FYI you can't just remove the positive cable to the starter, as it is integrated into the wiring harness. You have to leave the old cable in the vehicle and run a new one. Lots of posts on this site of people making new positive cables by various methods, or some examples of just grabbing one from Autozone.

The smaller 4-wire cable connects to the fuse box. That cable is very problematic on 99-00 cars but much less so on a 98. Still worth checking out - it will get hot if it is corroding.

OK now I am seeing your most recent reply too ... you can replace that cable to the fuse box but accessing the lug in the fuse box is something of a PITA. I might start with cleaning up all the cable ends well, see if that alleviates the problem.

clifford06 · Post by **clifford06** » 18 Sep 2019, 18:39

The lug on my car sits on top . Putting a wrench on bolt the may be a PITA , just like owning this car ! I'll try tomorrow. If it solves my problem I no problem about rigging up a new cable.

Post by **abscate** » 18 Sep 2019, 18:56

Make sure you disconnect the negative cable first. If you touch the wrench to a metal surface, you can weld it to the metal, and then watch it burn up your car. Very unpleasant.

Disconnect negative
Tighten positive
Reconnect negative

clifford06 · Post by **clifford06** » 18 Sep 2019, 19:16

Will do ! Hooking up wrong would definitely leave a bruise ! Thanks

clifford06 · Post by **clifford06** » 19 Sep 2019, 17:25

Well , the fuse box + battery cable is pretty corroded . Bought a battery cable to replace it. I'll cut a notch to install into box. My question " What to do with the connection end of cable in fuse box ? " Tape it up , cut off ? Don't want to have a bare wire in the fuse box . There 's not much slack in it to pull it out of box . I'd appreciate if anyone who has replaced this wire to chime in on how you secured it .

Post by **abscate** » 20 Sep 2019, 03:47

Let's see a picture of this bad boy.

I'll show mine first.

1998 V70 T5; problem hot starting & occasional brief power loss at speed

Re: 1998 V70 T5; problem hot starting & occasional brief power loss at speed