OK guys need your help!! Car stalling / bucking on highway

Post by **confused_al** » 05 Jan 2009, 16:27

Hope this one helps;
https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... sc&start=0

Post by **wheelsup** » 05 Jan 2009, 18:27

Yes that it perfect thank you! Reading thru it looks like it needed to be done anyway. Here's hoping a new MAF will fix my issues! If not I will work thru them one by one, at least I have another car to drive while I work on the 850.

-matt

smatt1079 · Post by **smatt1079** » 05 Jan 2009, 18:43

Did you ever figure out the problem? I think I have the same problem...

I have a 95 850 Turbo with 230,000 + miles. Today I filled up from about a quarter tank of fuel (premium as always) and within about 20 miles or so later the car - on the highway - was hesitating and even stalling - the best way I can explain it is I'd of thought I were out of gas if not for the full tank.

I was thinking maybe I got bad gas so I stopped and got some seafoam to put in the fuel tank. I put in a whole can and managed to make my way home with the same symptoms, even having to pull over a few times to re-start after stalling.

Thanks so much in advance...

Post by **wheelsup** » 05 Jan 2009, 19:01

No not yet I've ordered a MAF that should be here in the next few days. When I pulled my MAF connector the car idled rougher but didn't shut on/off quickly or stall.

Also it did this for a couple hundred miles before throwing a 1-2-1 from port A2 which is a MAF issue.

I've since cleaned the MAF with spray, now when I connect it the car pukes black smoke, and you can smell fuel. So I know my MAF is messed up. But it may be a secondary problem. My father-in-law was thinking bad gas as well or water in the tank so once I get the new MAF and there, and assuming the car idles fine, I will try some seafoam/water remover as well.

I wonder if the MAF could completely shut off fuel flow? Does it work like that? It really feels like the car is being completely starved of gasoline for a split second doesn't it? Either that or the ignition system completely cuts out for a split second. I'm thinking it's either fuel or spark related.

Next after the MAF and water removed is the cap/rotor. Next after that is to check fuel pressure. I'll let the car idle & stall and then see if there is fuel coming out of the valve at the end of the rail. These cars have a tendency to have a fuel relay failure so maybe it is spazzing out. Good luck keep me updated on your progress.

Interestingly enough my fuel tank was recently replaced by Volvo under a recall. They put gas back into the tank after pumping it out to a holding tank of some sort.

smatt1079 · Post by **smatt1079** » 05 Jan 2009, 19:31

Thanks for the reply. I realized just after I put in the message that your last reply was today so I should have realized it wasnt in yet. I too cleaned the MAF (just the electrical connections) so far. It kind of threw me how quickly it all happened after getting gas but it could be a coincidence seeing as how i'm at the damn gas station 3x a week.

I had the same thoughts as you, bad gas, tempermental fuel relay, coil (though mine is newer), fuel filter, havent had a chance to do much since I just got home and this started on my ride home today. I dd trace the turbo airlines to see about leakage because I have had those pop off before affecting how the car runs (p.s. you should check that if you havent already). disconnecting the MAF doesnt seem to make much/any difference. Mine seems to recover if I "floor it" rather than let i idle. My idle also dropped very low before stalling - around 500 RPM's but seemed to be defiant since once or twice it did this, wouldnt recover, but also wouldnt stall out. no CEL yet, no codes either. Unfortunately being without this car til the end of the week is really going to mess me up so I hope I can get it going in the morning.

bad plugs/wires seem out of the question since it came on so quick... My cap/rotor are new and I doubt moisture there could be the prob since it ran the first 20 miles of my trip without issue, any moisture should have burned off.

Or maybe it found out that I'm buying a new car this week. It shouldnt be so pissy though since we're keeping it and getting rid of one of the others...

Post by **wheelsup** » 07 Jan 2009, 20:02

Ok put the new MAF in there, car runs well, idles great, drove a few miles tonight and was happy with the performance. No black smoke, no codes, didn't skip a beat but the real test will be tomorrow when I drive 40+ miles roundtrip. Here's hoping it's fixed! I'll check the mileage on the next fill up.

IF this fixes the problem I can only imagine the MAF was cutting off fuel to the engine due to an error in it's "sensing" ability. It sounds plausible, at least until it starts cutting out again.

If not I needed the new MAF anyway the old one was completely FUBAR'd.

Now I have to deal with black particles in my tranny fluid. One problem down, one to go!

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 07 Jan 2009, 21:18

Mine did as yours did...new MAF immediately solved my problem. I would think you will have not problem tomorrow. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

smatt1079 · Post by **smatt1079** » 10 Jan 2009, 06:37

Hey guys, thanks again for this post. I was skeptical but couhged up 10 bucks for a can of MAF cleaner the other day and cleaned mine this morning. It seems fine now, but I only drove it 5 or 10 miles. I guess if the problem comes back I'll change out the MAF since it seems to be the problem.

p.s. the can of maf cleaner says to clean it whenever you change your air filter. Do you guys think this is a good idea, or are MAF's generally the "if it aint broke, dont fix it" type? I'm wondering if I should do all my cars...

Thanks again!

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 10 Jan 2009, 07:53

sure- can't hurt to clean the MAF occasionally as the can's instructions say- main thing is to never touch the sensor itself in the MAF housing. Eventually the MAF's fail on all of our Volvo's- sort of like an 02 sensor- I would say at least every 100K miles (maybe for some the 02 lasts a bit longer).

Post by **wheelsup** » 10 Jan 2009, 10:45

I'm still getting the intermittent rough idle, I put a can of seafoam in the tank and filled up with 93 octane, and have run around 120 miles thru the car. I also disconnected the battery for 10 minutes or so to reset everything. Seems to be running better after that. The idle is normally smooth as silk but there are times when it hunts around, or when I hit the gas and I feel it faltering. I'll run the full tank of gas and seafoam and see what happens.

I put my old MAF in there and it definitely is broken. Car runs like crap with the old MAF. Also the old MAF appears damaged I may have hit it with the MAF cleaner straw when cleaning it. So definitely do not touch the sensor!!

On a side note I did another drain/refill of the tranny and it is now back to dropping out of gear and into neutral at stops when hot. WTF!!! Ah...the joys of Volvo ownership. I will run it into the ground and then figure something out. As long as it gets me to work and back that is all I care about now

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OK guys need your help!! Car stalling / bucking on highway

Re: OK guys need your help!! Car stalling / bucking on highway