1996 Volvo 850: Diagnostic?

vtguy84 · Post by **vtguy84** » 03 Dec 2015, 12:12

On my way home from the interstate yesterday, I noticed that my car started to jerk when I would get off the gas pedal. When I would press it again, it would jerk....almost like a person who can't change gears on a stick shift.

When I came to a stop, the car started to putter and eventually stalled out. When I attempted to start it, it would act as if it was going to turn and immediately shake and cut off. I thought maybe it was the fuel pump since that's what happened to me 5 years ago; however, Firestone has had my car all day and they are still unable to determine what the problem is.

It's a non-turbo 96 Volvo 850. Anyone have an idea of what it might be based off of the above scenario?

Post by **tryingbe** » 03 Dec 2015, 12:15

Checked any code?

Check for vacuum leaks?

vtguy84 · Post by **vtguy84** » 03 Dec 2015, 12:32

I'm not sure what Firestone has done. I think I may have steered them in the wrong direction by saying "it must be the fuel pump"....so it must not be.

Post by **abscate** » 03 Dec 2015, 13:40

Whats the maintenance history on the car? When is the last time plugs cap rotor wires were replaced?

vtguy84 · Post by **vtguy84** » 03 Dec 2015, 13:47

Just came back. They stated they are doing a full blown tune up. They were able to get the car started but it was running rough. I took it to the Volvo guy a few months ago and he stated only the spark plugs needed to be changed at the time. Obviously that wasn't the case....

Post by **abscate** » 03 Dec 2015, 18:05

You have got to learn to maintain these cars yourself or they will eat you out of house and home.

Post by **RussB** » 03 Dec 2015, 21:06

vtguy84 wrote:Just came back. They stated they are doing a full blown tune up. They were able to get the car started but it was running rough. I took it to the Volvo guy a few months ago and he stated only the spark plugs needed to be changed at the time. Obviously that wasn't the case....

What codes did they pull? What was actually the diagnosis?

What's included in a "full blown tune-up? What parts do they use?

Sounds to me like you're going to get taken out to the woodshed

Post by **bmdubya1198** » 04 Dec 2015, 08:13

RussB wrote:
vtguy84 wrote:Just came back. They stated they are doing a full blown tune up. They were able to get the car started but it was running rough. I took it to the Volvo guy a few months ago and he stated only the spark plugs needed to be changed at the time. Obviously that wasn't the case....
What codes did they pull? What was actually the diagnosis?

What's included in a "full blown tune-up? What parts do they use?

Sounds to me like you're going to get taken out to the woodshed

Sounds like typical Firestone to me!
Do you know how long it's been since the distributor cap and rotor have been replaced? I'm sure that's what they mean by "tune up," and I think that could have something to do with this.

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 04 Dec 2015, 09:42

Be very careful with a tune up. The stuff that works great in a Chevy will barely run on a Volvo. The spark plugs must be a single electrode and they must be gapped at 0.028 or slightly less. The multi prong spark plugs like the Platinum +2 or +4 versions will do nothing but cause misfires. The +2 / +4 versions do not have an adjustable gap and it is typically about 0.040 to 0.045.

The distributor cap and rotor must be Bosch.

The ignition wires must be Bougicord.

Don't let them put an oil filter like a Fram on it or the lifters will clack like crazy. The filter needs to be a Mann or a Mahle although I have heard that the Napa Gold filters are OK.

While I have problems with the Firestone and Goodyear service centers in general they work primarily on domestic and Japanese cars all day and they usually just don't know how finicky a Volvo is when it comes to parts.

...Lee

Post by **bmdubya1198** » 04 Dec 2015, 14:02

Ozark Lee wrote:Be very careful with a tune up. The stuff that works great in a Chevy will barely run on a Volvo. The spark plugs must be a single electrode and they must be gapped at 0.028 or slightly less. The multi prong spark plugs like the Platinum +2 or +4 versions will do nothing but cause misfires. The +2 / +4 versions do not have an adjustable gap and it is typically about 0.040 to 0.045.

The distributor cap and rotor must be Bosch.

The ignition wires must be Bougicord.

Don't let them put an oil filter like a Fram on it or the lifters will clack like crazy. The filter needs to be a Mann or a Mahle although I have heard that the Napa Gold filters are OK.

While I have problems with the Firestone and Goodyear service centers in general they work primarily on domestic and Japanese cars all day and they usually just don't know how finicky a Volvo is when it comes to parts.

...Lee

Great information, Lee. I plan on getting a Bosch cap and rotor for mine when I do the job, anyway, but I wasn't aware about the filters. I plan on getting a Mann filter next oil change anyway, but my lifters are making lots of noise. I have some cheap filter on right now that leaks because the morons who did the last oil change put it on wrong. That could be causing the problem!