99 Volvo S70-Turbo, 152000 miles. Sputtering at start

[youngsinauburn]

I have a 99 S70-Turbo that will hardly run at start. I can push the gas and it acts as if it is not getting any. It sputters and kinda hops down the road. If I left it warm up for approx 5 min it runs ok. I have also noticed that it has a puff of dark smoke when cranking. Does anyone have any ideas?

Thanks in advance.

Michelle

[VCA]

I have a 99 S70-Turbo that will hardly run at start. I can push the gas and it acts as if it is not getting any. It sputters and kinda hops down the road. If I left it warm up for approx 5 min it runs ok. I have also noticed that it has a puff of dark smoke when cranking. Does anyone have any ideas?

Thanks in advance.

Michelle

A friend's 99 S70 T5 did this...it was diagnosed as a wonky MAF sensor, and a new one cured it. If you have an OBD scanner handy (so you can clear codes after doing this), disconnect the MAF sensor cable and start the car--see if you note any improvement in cold start idle. If you do, it's safe to say the MAF is going bad...if you don't, it's on to other diagnoses.

[youngsinauburn]

Thanks! I unplugged the MAF sensor and drove it a little ways and it was driving like it should. It would act like it was wanting to stall when stopping but never did. Can I replace the sensor or do I need to replace the MAF itself. Would it hurt to ride with it unplugged until the new one arrives?

Thanks for your help.

Michelle

[MadeInJapan]

Michelle, I would try to unplug the MAF and spray it really good with MAF sensor cleaner that you can buy at your local auto parts store. Don't touch the element/sensor inside of it as this will mess it up...just let it drip dry really good. You can drive for short periods of time without it but it will set a check engine light and you will get terrible mileage not to mention no turbo boost. When you get everything working again, reset all of your codes.

Good luck!
MIJ

[VCA]

MAF sensor cleaner

Seconded...and if they have it, you want a can of "CRC MAF Sensor Cleaner" -- I've had very good luck with CRC's electronics cleaning sprays.

[youngsinauburn]

Well I have a clean MAF but it is still not acting right. I found another post on here that describes what mine is doing better than I did. This is the post Oct 05.

"When I first start my car (car details at bottom), wait a few seconds for it to stabalize its RPMs, then shift it into any gear, it chuggs, then dies. When you restart it and put it into gear the second time, its like nothing ever happened. So I back out of my driveway and go about 1/2 mile through the neighborhood, and try to get on the highway, but when you press the gas, it seems like you're not pressing on the petal, even if you're flooring it, and then a few seconds after sputtering around it will kick in and act as normal."

It was the fuel pressure regulator. I think I will check that next. Can anyone please tell me how to do this. Remember use layman terms please.

Thanks,

Michelle

[MadeInJapan]

It's beginning to sound like it's the ETM (electronic throttle module). You may be in for a trip to the dealer. If he reads an ETS/ETM code stored, then you're golden. He can do the ETM software upgrade for you which will be on their dime and most likely restore everything. If this doesn't work, the ETM is warrantied for the first 10 years or 200K miles. It will be important to get this taken care of this year if it is indeed the ETM because come 2009, your 10 years will be up.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

[wooded]

I intermitantly have this exact issue, I have a cel recently, with nothing that would trigger that; ie. air cleaner, vacumn leak, fuel filter, loose gas cap, etc. I did have a accelerator position sensor codex3, cleaned the connectors,and replaced the tps- $100 and the cel does not go away. It is perplexing