98 V70XC Engine Skips a Beat

jmana · Post by **jmana** » 01 Aug 2014, 07:30

I've had 2 V70's and both had this same problem (never had this issue with any of my 850's). What it does is the engine will be running fine, and then just skip a beat, like it misses temporarily. It does this both at idle and while driving. It's very erratic, sometimes going 10 minutes or so before it does it again, but it's really annoying and considering that I've changed the plugs, wires, cap and rotor I really am at a loss as to what can be causing it. Anyone have any ideas?

Post by **mecheng** » 01 Aug 2014, 09:49

My 98 S70 does it at idle once in a blue moon only and I've already done a full tune up. I've heard ppl point to 1)ECU software upgrade 2)O2 sensor 3)igniton switch

It doesn't bother me as it only happens very rarely, at idel and doesn't stall. But try above

Post by **cn90** » 01 Aug 2014, 09:59

Put in the NGK Iridium spark plugs, and if your car has cap/rotor, get new Bosch cap/rotor.
You will never see the skip beat again.

Post by **erikv11** » 01 Aug 2014, 10:06

To clarify: brand of plugs definitely matters but they don't have to be NGK iridiums. Volvo brand, Bosch coppers, etc. there are several choices. Bosch only on the cap and rotor. Only. Bougicord only on the wires. Only.

Sounds very similar to a MAF problem. You can check that by unplugging the MAF and taking it for a drive (be prepared to reset the CEL for a MAF code). But since it is on both of your cars, these are good suggestions that it could be something systematic, like the brand of ignition parts you are installing.

jmana · Post by **jmana** » 01 Aug 2014, 11:23

cn90 wrote:Put in the NGK Iridium spark plugs, and if your car has cap/rotor, get new Bosch cap/rotor.
You will never see the skip beat again.

I tried the NGK Iridium, but the problem seemed worse (might have been my imagination, but it definitely didn't go away), so I went back to the NGK V groove plugs. I put in a Beck Arnley cap/rotor. I won't buy Bosch anything, it's all the cheapest chinese crap that they throw into their fancy boxes and sell for three times the price. After I had a Bosch water pump disintegrate inside my BMW 3 months after I installed it, I vowed to never buy anything carrying that name again. Especially after I called them and one of their top level CS people admitted to me they have no idea where their parts come from, he said they used to, but now they source from wherever they can get it cheapest and that changes day to day.

jmana · Post by **jmana** » 01 Aug 2014, 11:24

erikv11 wrote:To clarify: brand of plugs definitely matters but they don't have to be NGK iridiums. Volvo brand, Bosch coppers, etc. there are several choices. Bosch only on the cap and rotor. Only. Bougicord only on the wires. Only.

Sounds very similar to a MAF problem. You can check that by unplugging the MAF and taking it for a drive (be prepared to reset the CEL for a MAF code). But since it is on both of your cars, these are good suggestions that it could be something systematic, like the brand of ignition parts you are installing.

I'll give that a try. I did clean the MAF sensor and that didn't seem to do anything though.

Post by **mecheng** » 01 Aug 2014, 12:36

jmana wrote:
cn90 wrote:Put in the NGK Iridium spark plugs, and if your car has cap/rotor, get new Bosch cap/rotor.
You will never see the skip beat again.
I tried the NGK Iridium, but the problem seemed worse (might have been my imagination, but it definitely didn't go away), so I went back to the NGK V groove plugs. I put in a Beck Arnley cap/rotor. I won't buy Bosch anything, it's all the cheapest chinese crap that they throw into their fancy boxes and sell for three times the price. After I had a Bosch water pump disintegrate inside my BMW 3 months after I installed it, I vowed to never buy anything carrying that name again. Especially after I called them and one of their top level CS people admitted to me they have no idea where their parts come from, he said they used to, but now they source from wherever they can get it cheapest and that changes day to day.

The Cap/Rotor from Bosch is made in Spain, I replaced it. I think it is very well made as it had 220,000km (it was the original) and it ran perfectly. The cap/rotor should be replaced much sooner than that.

I think I have a different issue than you as it only does it at idle. Bosch either makes great parts or soemewhat crappy. For ignition, ECU, they are very good.

jmana · Post by **jmana** » 01 Aug 2014, 13:08

mecheng wrote:
jmana wrote:
cn90 wrote:Put in the NGK Iridium spark plugs, and if your car has cap/rotor, get new Bosch cap/rotor.
You will never see the skip beat again.
I tried the NGK Iridium, but the problem seemed worse (might have been my imagination, but it definitely didn't go away), so I went back to the NGK V groove plugs. I put in a Beck Arnley cap/rotor. I won't buy Bosch anything, it's all the cheapest chinese crap that they throw into their fancy boxes and sell for three times the price. After I had a Bosch water pump disintegrate inside my BMW 3 months after I installed it, I vowed to never buy anything carrying that name again. Especially after I called them and one of their top level CS people admitted to me they have no idea where their parts come from, he said they used to, but now they source from wherever they can get it cheapest and that changes day to day.
The Cap/Rotor from Bosch is made in Spain, I replaced it. I think it is very well made as it had 220,000km (it was the original) and it ran perfectly. The cap/rotor should be replaced much sooner than that.

I think I have a different issue than you as it only does it at idle. Bosch either makes great parts or soemewhat crappy. For ignition, ECU, they are very good.

Well, I bought a cheap set of plug wires a long time ago from a company called "Standard", and a month later when I went to replace the plugs I went to pull off the wires and they fell apart (despite putting dielectric grease on the plugs), so I bought a set of Bosch "Premium" wires, and they were the same exact wires, just had the bosch name stamped on. So I don't trust them for anything. Maybe you got lucky and got a good part from them, but that doesn't mean if you were to buy it today from them it would still come from Spain.

Post by **erikv11** » 01 Aug 2014, 13:34

Bosch wires are not good, I agree with you there. If you do some searches on this forum you will find that experience echoed. The Bosch cap and rotor are tried and true over and over for these cars, for what it's worth. I bought a set in June and they were made in Spain, I still have the boxes so I just checked.

Beck/Arnely is a reboxing outfit, they don't do, or contract, any parts manufacturing. They make boxes, buy parts, box 'em up and ship them back out. You never know what make you will get, and it will not be the same for purchases separated in time. The only way to know the make with Beck/Arnley is to look for manufacturer markings on the part.

Please continue to post up if/as you figure out the stumble, this is a puzzler.

jmana · Post by **jmana** » 01 Aug 2014, 14:55

The thing about Beck Arnley is they seem to have higher standards for what they rebrand. Everything I've gotten from them has been really high quality stuff. I am going to look at all the vacuum lines, maybe something is losing vacuum? I don't know.