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For anyone chasing a fluctuating idle problem, check what I discovered

Help, Advice, Owners' Discussion and DIY Tutorials on Volvo's stylish, distinctive P2 platform cars sold as model years 2001-2007 (North American market year designations).

2001 - 2007 V70
2001 - 2004 V70 XC (Cross Country)
2004 - 2007 XC70 (Cross Country)
2001 - 2009 S60
2003 - 2007 S60 R
2004 - 2007 V70 R

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renegade420
Posts: 35
Joined: 26 April 2021
Year and Model: 2006 s60r
Location: USA
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For anyone chasing a fluctuating idle problem, check what I discovered

Post by renegade420 »

After finishing up installing a brand new do88 IC, new radiator, blue timing belt, Snabb piping kit, a tune, and a various amount of other parts which cost me $thousands$ :oops: on my 06 s60R, to my disappointment, the car wouldn't run right. Started with a super high idle, and then drop super low almost to the point of dying. After awhile, the car would idle but would fluctuate bad, up and down, up and down. Well, that was 3 months ago and up until this morning, I've spent everyday since trying to figure out what's wrong. I even went as far as replacing the engine wiring harness thinking it was just a from old corroded wires. But this morning, I randomly decided to check something out after remembering something. What I remembered was while I was installing the IC, I broke one of the A/C lines. Not really caring about the A/C (as I have another 05 s60r with perfect A/C :) ),vI decided to just remove all the lines to the A/C as well as the condenser (Also I later found out that's it's pretty much impossible to have the condenser there if installing the bigger IC AND the piping kit because even without the condenser there's barely any room). On top of that, to keep the A/C pump from accidentally running, I removed the relay from under the hood fusebox that was marked for the 'AC'. So, earlier today I decided to quickly skim over some electrical documentation I had from the earlier job of the wiring harness, and thought I came across some sort of connection between the AC relay and the throttle positioning function. Thinking this was not possible, I decided to give it a shot and throw the relay back in. And what do u know!!! The car started right up perfectly, idles perfectly, and runs flawless like nothing ever happened. 3 months to find out it was a fuse. I was in a slump over this. Im better now tho :D . Anyways, thought I'd share this experience in the chance it might help someone else out who's out pulling their hair. Best wishes to you all and your families!!

volvodriver1
Posts: 4
Joined: 22 October 2020
Year and Model: 2004 S60
Location: ATLANTA

Post by volvodriver1 »

Very interesting....
But I am confused as to why this would be. When the AC is activated we all know that the engine's RPM will kick up a notch to compensate for the load but why would NOT having a fuse to the AC (which should prevent it from activating... which would eliminate the call for more RPM from the engine) cause the opposite effect? Unless the circuit is designed counterintuitively... as in the circuit is open (AC ON) and the RPM is high...then when the circuit Is closed/shorted (AC off) the RPM is low. Im sure there is a good reason for this design but a random blown AC fuse causing sporadic idling issues shouldn't be part of that design.

renegade420
Posts: 35
Joined: 26 April 2021
Year and Model: 2006 s60r
Location: USA
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Post by renegade420 »

volvodriver1 wrote: 21 Jun 2021, 14:38 Very interesting....
But I am confused as to why this would be. When the AC is activated we all know that the engine's RPM will kick up a notch to compensate for the load but why would NOT having a fuse to the AC (which should prevent it from activating... which would eliminate the call for more RPM from the engine) cause the opposite effect? Unless the circuit is designed counterintuitively... as in the circuit is open (AC ON) and the RPM is high...then when the circuit Is closed/shorted (AC off) the RPM is low. Im sure there is a good reason for this design but a random blown AC fuse causing sporadic idling issues shouldn't be part of that design.

I myself was/am very confused. But I can verify that, to this day, the car still runs just fine. All starting the second I put that relay back in. It honestly could be dumb luck tho. Again, I did do a lot of work with the engines wiring.

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cleven
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Year and Model: 2001 V70 T5
Location: Fort Smith, Arkansas
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Post by cleven »

Hell mine just cleared up out the blue.

Georgeandkira
Posts: 882
Joined: 7 April 2009
Year and Model: '07 V70 + '15 XC70
Location: Hudson & Champlain Valleys, USA
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Post by Georgeandkira »

Remove the fuse/relay and see if the problem returns.

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