S70 sputtering, now won't accelerate over 20 mi per hr

DawnK31 · Post by **DawnK31** » 19 Sep 2010, 17:33

I recently purchased a 2000 Volvo S70 that had a blown engine. I had the engine replaced, with all new plugs, wires, filters, and such. After getting it back from the mechanic I put a full tank of premium gas in because it was sputtering a bit. Now it will not go over ten miles per hour. My husband replaced the fuel filter because we thought there might be water, sludge, etc in the fuel from sitting for so long but that did nothing.

Could it be, fuel pump, Mass Air Flow sensor, fuel relay?

There are not codes presently showing on the car, we had AutoZone scan it and it came up clean.

Thanks,
Dawn

Post by **jbo6924** » 20 Sep 2010, 08:57

I had a similar situation, which turned out to be MAS. I found that if I disconnect the MAS from it's connection that I was able to drive. I then ordered the part (ebay vendor, much less expensive) and replacement worked like a charm! Happy motoring ever since. Good Luck!
Jim
1998 V70 T-5

Post by **jblackburn** » 20 Sep 2010, 09:14

My guess would be either an air leak somewhere, such as a ripped air intake or throttle body hose, or the MAF sensor as suggested. I also had no codes when one of mine was loose.

DawnK31 · Post by **DawnK31** » 20 Sep 2010, 13:17

Thanks for the responses. Everything seemed O.K. today, Hopefully we do not have another problem. If we do I'm having the mechanic replace the MAS!

Skottynan · Post by **Skottynan** » 20 Sep 2010, 23:33

You're wasting money having a mechanic replace the maf. It's very simple and straightforward. With mechanics charging around $90 an hour for labor you can save the money and do it yourself. If you really are mechanically challenged then forget what I'm saying especially if u can afford it. Also, very important, check the intake hoses and vacuum lines. Very often on older cars the rubber hoses fall apart and leak pressure from the system usually around where they connect to a fitting. Inspect vacuum lines near the nipples they connect to and squeeze intake rubber hoses to feel for play. They should not move from their fittings and should not be "squishy". There seems to be a common hose that fails often and that is the top intake hose that feeds into the intercooler. Mine was shot a week ago and causing the engine to stall and was bleeding power from the engine. After replacing all vacuum lines the problem persisted until I felt the intake hoses and man was that top one blown! Replaced and all is well again. Good luck

Post by **jreed** » 21 Sep 2010, 03:42

Skottyman-- I want to check out my 97 855 GLT to see if they intercooler hoses are good... can you post a picture of your shot intake hose please? Thanks!

Post by **JRL** » 21 Sep 2010, 05:25

You are all forgetting the obvious.
(A 2000 does not have wires, BTW they have COIL PACKS)
Pull the codes.
Do you have a misfire code?
If you do, one or more of your coils may have failed.
This JUST happened to my daughter, in less than one minute TWO (2) coils failed and she was running on 3 cylinders!

DawnK31 · Post by **DawnK31** » 21 Sep 2010, 07:32

Thanks for the replies. My husband and brother (who is a mechanic) said they can get the MAS in if that is what it turns out to be. We just had a new engine installed about a week ago. Prior to the new engine the car had been sitting with a blown engine for about a year. I drove the car on the old gas and then when it got low is when it started acting weird and sputtering and not going over about ten miles an hour, even with the pedal to the floor. We changed the fuel filter, put in premium gas, and a gas cleaner to the tank and so far so good.

Just trying to be a bit preemptive in case it's the MAS.

Thanks

Skottynan · Post by **Skottynan** » 21 Sep 2010, 11:57

Jreed- I just posted on the hose but it got lost in cyberspace. Anyways it will be obvious if the hose is bad. It will give when you squeeze it and if it's torn you will see the tear. My tear was on the underside so I didn't notice it the first time around. I threw away the said hose when I replaced it but I definitely should have posted a pic cuz it was ugly as shit and apparently some of the rubber must have gone into the intake manifold where hopefully it melted away and didn't run thru the engine. Just do a visual inspection and if you're still concerned then take the hoses out and check that way. Good luck

nightc1 · Post by **nightc1** » 21 Sep 2010, 12:23

You have no codes... so it sounds to me like it's the fuel relay. Mine has failed but yet it didn't just die like other peoples had done. Pull the relay and use a paperclip to jumper between the front and back pins (87 & 15)... if the car runs fine, then there's the problem. If that's the case, then the relay is bad. the computer isn't sending the signal to the relay to fully engaged, or the wire for the signal has a weak connection.

Considering the car sat for a year... there's no telling if the fuel pump is even running or the condition of the gas in the fuel tank. My V70 will actually run for a while with my bad relay in place... but it won't go above 20mph as there isn't enough fuel being delivered to (or sucked by the) engine to allow for more than that.

But try disconnecting the power from Mass Air Flow Sensor as suggested and see if that helps anything out. These are pretty much free things to try and it could narrow down the problem quickly.

Adding some fuel stabilizer probably wouldn't be a bad deal either.