1998 V70 Base barely accelerating from stops

mghdi1120 · Post by **mghdi1120** » 06 Nov 2023, 09:47

Once going, she will fly along nicely but getting from a stop to going, pressing on the gas brings a slow weak response.
This began as not too bad. While being inspected my mechanic told me my clutch cable was broken. I've replaced it and adjusted it per Robert DIY. Felt a little better for a minute but-Symptoms remain.
Fuel pressure at the rail is 45. That to me (a plebe ) rules out fuel pump, filter, injectors. If cat was clogged, would the symptoms persist once up to speed ? as in not just in 1st and 2nd from a stop?
There is a subtle burning smell in the bay. I thought maybe the fan but its working fine. Little wisp of burning smoke and smell directly over the drivers side edge of the radiator????
Also more white misty smoke from tailpipe at start from a stop...
Texted my mechanic this am and he said it sounds like a clutch failure.
To note, I have zero shifting issues, shifter shifts smoothly into all gears. There is moderate pressure on the clutch pedal, stiff but not very, just normal. no noises., no grinding or rattling etc. so I am somewhat doubtful.
Not so sure I want to dump $$ into this anymore. She has 252K on the odometer. Replaced engine and clutch at 171K with a 70K motor back in 2017. Had the engine service and then some done in 5/2019 $1600.
Any recommendations of what to check? I was thinking maybe to pull the O2 sensor at the cat or front ( which one?) to see if it could be a plugged CAT. I haven't replaced that in a very long time... Is that a wise move?
Advice/ guidance is very much appreciated.
also: 5/23
Upstream O2 sensor-replaced
purge valve and hoses replaced
Just checked the brake fluid and it was about 1/2 way full. I will try a bleed.
Is this the bleeder screw? For the clutch?

Post by **abscate** » 06 Nov 2023, 11:41

This began as not too bad. While being inspected my mechanic told me my clutch cable was broken. I've replaced it and adjusted it per Robert DIY.

These cars use hydraulic clutches, which self adjust and have no cables?

Puzzled ....

mghdi1120 · Post by **mghdi1120** » 06 Nov 2023, 13:27

sorry, accelerator cable.

dikidera · Post by **dikidera** » 06 Nov 2023, 14:23

Do not for the love of God remove the o2 sensor and run it like that. I stupidly did this at the behest of a friend whilst disregarding my own better judgement and severely damaged the firewall insulation in a matter of 10 seconds.

yanga001 · Post by **yanga001** » 06 Nov 2023, 16:49

Does the car start strong or sputter for a few seconds then livens up.
The misty white smoke and struggle to get up to speed almost sounds like a head gasket failure (had it happen on my car with a very small pinhole leak. She would start like shit but once warmed up it would be good)
Take your coolant reservoir and position it so that the fluid covers the small hose at the top of the reservoir.
Then let it idle while it is up to temperature, you want to see if bubbles consistently come into the coolant reservoir. That may mean you have a small leak in the headgasket. These cars can somewhat run with these kinds of failures for years. Ran mine with it for about 1.5 years until it got bad enough to cause stuttering starts.

Can you get a scantool and report the fuel trims LT & ST here. That will let us know if its running lean or rich.

The misty start and stops did mimic my old car prior to the failure getting bad. I succsessfully used Blue Devil head gasket sealer pro for a few months until the mixture i left in their froze which eventually led to the violent death of the waterpump and timing belt.

If the body is good and you are parting ways then someone on here would likely pick it up.

mghdi1120 · Post by **mghdi1120** » 07 Nov 2023, 08:57

It starts right up, good strong start. No bubbles or expansion in coolant after warming it up to temp.

mghdi1120 · Post by **mghdi1120** » 07 Nov 2023, 09:05

am I correct that this indicates a bad downstream O2 sensor and could this be my problem?

mghdi1120 · Post by **mghdi1120** » 07 Nov 2023, 12:30

Also, just tested the TPS, no resistance. Opening the throttle made no difference...
Please help, I'm struggling!

mghdi1120 · Post by **mghdi1120** » 07 Nov 2023, 13:37

Maybe that's it??

yanga001 · Post by **yanga001** » 07 Nov 2023, 16:07

You have atleast 2 issues. You should not see exceptional amounts of white smoke coming out when stopped.

What is your long term fuel trim? LTFT

Ignore the kickdown i forgot this is not an auto. Post your LTFT. Also what is the max RPM your car gets too. If its high rpm no movement then usually its a trans issue, if its never getting to high rpm then maybe it could be your throttle. Do you have any foot floor protectors that are preventing the pedal from going all the way down?

Try some fuel injector cleaner maybe?