1997 850 Sedan Base Some Quirks

[davolvo]

Ok, as the proud new owner of this little baby, yesterday was the first day I actually got to take it out and feel it out. I absolutely love the way it drives and handles but I have a few questions about a few things that may be normal for this model but just different from my 1996 960 Sedan.

Is it normal for the engine to rumble while at a stop light? It almost acts like the idle is increasing while stopped in drive. If I move the shifter to park or neutral it calms down and sounds normal (not that I would know normal this early in the game.)

At 70 mph and up the steering wheel begins to shake, not crazy but definitely noticeable. I do have an appointment for new tires and alignment on the 23rd of Nov.

A mechanic told me yesterday that the "fuel emissions leak" code should not be simplified as a gas cap or pin hole in a hose that it could be something "huge" such as the evap system. Is the evap system so expensive that I may have regrets with my purchase?

Thanks for any and all input.

[rspi]

It is not "normal" for any car to "rumble" while sitting idle in gear.

Bad tires will likely make the steering wheel shake while at highway cruising speeds. Could be as simple as a tire being out of balance.

As for the idle and emissions code, have you watched the video I posted to you several times about the PCV or top 5 things to check?

[davolvo]

I have and I have a glove(s). Just waiting for my son to help me. We will do it today.

[davolvo]

So just to be correct, should the engine be totally cold when this test is conducted? Like right now, go out, pop the hood and do the glove test on the first start of the day?

[rspi]

With the glove test, it doesn't matter if the car is warm or cold. Just pop the hood, put the glove on the oil filler, start the car and see what happens. If the glove inflates, the system is clogged or in need of service.

I do believe the dip stick test requires the car to be warm or hot because it depends on the steam or hot vapor of the oil to show the smoke.

The video really explains the situation well, I think. Likely to drawn out for most people's taste but I wanted people with little or NO auto knowledge to understand and believe what I was trying to communicate.

Don't think you need any help. Matter of fact, you can likely send a 12 year old out to do it, as long as you trust that they won't try to drive off with the car.

[davolvo]

Ha, it just so happens my son just and I mean just turned 13. These videos are so helpful. So off we go to conduct the test.

[erikv11]

On the rumble, watch the tachometer and see if the idle is actually moving up at a stop light. From your description my first guess would be a worn out motor mount under the crank pulley, so you feel more vibration when stopped and/or just starting from a stop. In that case, the idle wouldn't be surging, the car would just be transmitting more vibration.

I would be a little leery of that mechanic. The "pin hole in a hose" would be a pin hole in the evap system, i.e. he is telling you "well, problem A could be problem A, which would make it huge." And on these cars, the fuel emissions leak codes are almost universally only a nuisance, not a serious issue.

[rspi]

Ha, it just so happens my son just and I mean just turned 13. These videos are so helpful. So off we go to conduct the test.

Ok, the test take about a minute and it's been almost 4 hours, what's the test results? LOL

[davolvo]

Ok, we did the blue glove and it just laid there like a lump on a log! Yeah...

[difflock54]

LoL.
Suction is best.
Limp is OK.
Blowing out is bad.