1998 v70r sputtering and dying when wet

[Bren]

When it rains the car feels like it's running on fewer cylinders and under load wants to die. Also, the Lambda light starts flashing and then stays on when this happens. After it runs for a while it then smoothes out and no more issues.

Thoughts?

I've just tried spraying the cool and dist cap with some silicone spray - not sure yet if that had helped.

[xHeart]

When it rains the car feels like it's running on fewer cylinders and under load wants to die. Also, the Lambda light starts flashing and then stays on when this happens. After it runs for a while it then smoothes out and no more issues.

Thoughts?

I've just tried spraying the cool and dist cap with some silicone spray - not sure yet if that had helped.

How old is air-filter, what make?

[kahl]

How old are your plug wires and rotor cap?

[theWIFES_S70]

Has to be water getting into the intake somehow, no? Is the air filter housing clamped down all the way? Have you cleared out the drain tubes on the liner (above the cabin air filter)? Maybe you're getting a whole bunch of water pooling up there and causing all sorts of drama...

[scot850]

Follow the last suggestion. If you park near trees the drains in the area infront of the front windshield can get clogged and eventually water can get into the area around the fuse box.

To access the area you need to remove the torx screws from around the black plastic cover over the windscreen wiper motor. If you are careful you can lift it high enough to get a hand in to remove debris. Check the 2 drains at the front of it running down the firewall are also clear.

Kahl also made a good point on how old are the plugs, plug wires, rotor arm and distributor cap? ?Use Bougicord wires, Bosch Cap (make sure the plastic shield is under the rotor arm), Bosch Rotor arm and Volvo Plugs (for Turbo) set to 0.028".

If all parts are worn or tired damp can cause chaos.

Neil

[theWIFES_S70]

When it rains the car feels like it's running on fewer cylinders and under load wants to die. Also, the Lambda light starts flashing and then stays on when this happens. After it runs for a while it then smoothes out and no more issues.

Thoughts?

I've just tried spraying the cool and dist cap with some silicone spray - not sure yet if that had helped.

Hey Bren, what'd you find? Did you find any moisture around the fuses or relays? Plugs, wires?

[Bren]

When it rains the car feels like it's running on fewer cylinders and under load wants to die. Also, the Lambda light starts flashing and then stays on when this happens. After it runs for a while it then smoothes out and no more issues.

Thoughts?

I've just tried spraying the cool and dist cap with some silicone spray - not sure yet if that had helped.

Hey Bren, what'd you find? Did you find any moisture around the fuses or relays? Plugs, wires?

Just had a chance to get out there and look at it. So the wires are definitely bougicord and don't look that old but who knows...I'll probably replace those along with the plugs in the coming months just in case.

But I poked around the wiper tray and fuse box area, and it definitely looked like the one drain right in front of the fuse box on the engine side of the firewall was nice and plugged up! Plus, check out the fuse box door in the pic below...no clip so it really doesn't seal shut...between these two things I'm pretty sure that's what was doing it.

Thoughts on what I should do to secure the fuse box door down?

[theWIFES_S70]

When it rains the car feels like it's running on fewer cylinders and under load wants to die. Also, the Lambda light starts flashing and then stays on when this happens. After it runs for a while it then smoothes out and no more issues.

Thoughts?

I've just tried spraying the cool and dist cap with some silicone spray - not sure yet if that had helped.

Hey Bren, what'd you find? Did you find any moisture around the fuses or relays? Plugs, wires?

Just had a chance to get out there and look at it. So the wires are definitely bougicord and don't look that old but who knows...I'll probably replace those along with the plugs in the coming months just in case.

But I poked around the wiper tray and fuse box area, and it definitely looked like the one drain right in front of the fuse box on the engine side of the firewall was nice and plugged up! Plus, check out the fuse box door in the pic below...no clip so it really doesn't seal shut...between these two things I'm pretty sure that's what was doing it.

image.jpeg

Thoughts on what I should do to secure the fuse box door down?

Bren, if you look closely, the Bougicord wires have a date of manufacture stamped on them. I'd say anything under 5 years old would be alright. They're pretty solid.

Make sure you open up the clamps holding down they drain pipes and clean them out. Mine were almost solidly full of pine needs, leaves, and small branches.

If I were you, I'd tape fuse box down with some Gorilla tape. It's not something you have to open up frequently. Though, I'm sure you could get a new used PnP part.

[Bren]

The clamps holding down the drain pipes? What do you mean exactly? Where are the 'clamps'?

[theWIFES_S70]

The clamps holding down the drain pipes? What do you mean exactly? Where are the 'clamps'?

Bren, I don't have a picture but I just found this on the web. (It's from rspi's webpage. http://www.atthetipwebs.com/technologyi ... filter.htm He's one of our gurus.)

Open up your hood and try to find these tubes. Follow the green arrows. There are clamps holding the tubes to the liner. If you loosen the clamps and separate the tubes, you can see inside them. My guess is that yours are pretty clogged. I'd try to clean them as best as possible. I used a coat hanger, being careful not to poke a hole through the tube.

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