1994 850 Turbo sportswagon can't get air

mlh1404 · Post by **mlh1404** » 08 Feb 2014, 10:22

Went to drive my wife's 850 today (after sitting for a few days at -30). Had major trouble starting (turned over but wouldn't catch). It reminded me of a frozen gas line so I slammed the gas down until it caught. After it started it would only idle. I could not get the engine to rev at all. So I popped the hood. The air intake coming out of the intercooler was collapsed so I pinched it to return it to its regular shape where it would stay for idle. But if you try to open the intake at all the intake hose collapses. This tells me that there is something restricting air flow up stream from this line...Anyone have any pointers as to where to start. Does the intercooler have any known issues of clogging or freezing?

Also the reason I was driving my wife's car is because the coolant light was coming on...The coolant looks normal (in color) and is in the proper range.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Matt

drgswede1978 · Post by **drgswede1978** » 08 Feb 2014, 10:45

Probably frozen up intercooler. Put in a warm garage if you can for a few hours and then clean out the weep hole under the intercooler to get the crap out so it can drain itself.

weird beard · Post by **weird beard** » 08 Feb 2014, 15:12

I have had the same thing happen twice this winter. Car wouldnt rev over 2500 rpm without the hoses collapsing. I limped the car to a self wash and used the power washer to thaw out the intercooler so it was driveable. let it sit in the shop at work with the lower hose off and let it drain.

Post by **erikv11** » 08 Feb 2014, 15:46

mlh1404 wrote:Went to drive my wife's 850 today (after sitting for a few days at -30). ... It reminded me of a frozen gas line so I slammed the gas down until it caught....

Just FYI: the 850 is fuel injected so the accelerator pedal in these cars controls the throttle. The ECU decides how much gas to push through the fuel injectors. With cold start issues the best move is indeed to just keep cranking until it catches, but not because the fuel isn't getting in, rather likely because there is too much getting it.

Frozen intercooler for sure, good advice from those guys ^^ up there.

Post by **JDS60R** » 08 Feb 2014, 16:41

Once you get it started ( if stuck in middle of nowhere). Keep the defrost ( uses AC) off and just let it idle. The heat of the rad next to the inter cooler will melt the ice in the inter cooler.
Then hop in the car,turn on defrost and go. If it freezes up again put anything that can block air in front of 1/2 of the ac condenser (front most radiator) and then drive.

Although it can't be avoided completely you should check the intercooler drain and replace the "diaper" under it as needed. Its supposed to be inspected/cleared every oil change.

I moderated your title as forum rules dictate against the use of all caps.