1998 V70 wagon died TWICE

misspixel · Post by **misspixel** » 26 Jan 2018, 18:34

Car was overdue for a tune and died. Got a cap, rotor, wires, and plugs. Was told there was oil in the cap. Car died again. Shop says a clogged breather box is forcing moisture into the distributor.

Any thoughts?

(I love my car.)

Thx,
-b

Post by **abscate** » 26 Jan 2018, 19:06

Put a glove on the oil filler cap at idle and see if it inflates.

Crankcase pressure will push junk into the distributor and crap up the ignition System

misspixel · Post by **misspixel** » 26 Jan 2018, 19:11

The cap was replaced after the first death for that very reason. Oil had flooded the works. Everything was replaced, including the cap. Then it died again. Should I check to see if the new cap is leaking air?

Post by **abscate** » 26 Jan 2018, 19:15

If your crankcase has positive pressure, it will keep on contaminating the distributor cap.

Search here for the glove test video on the procedure

misspixel · Post by **misspixel** » 26 Jan 2018, 19:19

I'll check it out. Thanks.

Post by **rspi** » 26 Jan 2018, 19:42

Post by **rspi** » 26 Jan 2018, 19:43

Post by **rspi** » 26 Jan 2018, 19:46

If oil is leaking into the distributor it will keep filing out the ignition system until the cam seal is replaced. Leaking oil into the cap.

misspixel · Post by **misspixel** » 26 Jan 2018, 20:39

From my authority, who has repaired Volvos at his shop for decades:

"The distributor is bolted to the outside of the motor. How does moisture get from the crankcase to the distributor."

The shop where my car was towed said the distributor had moisture in it, not oil. They cleaned out the oil and replaced all relevant parts when the card died the first time. The second time, they told me it was the same problem, but it was water and not oil to blame.

Post by **FLXC90** » 26 Jan 2018, 20:53

Inside your motor, combustion processes produce large amounts of pressure, some soot, and lots of heat.
MOST of that energy is contained by your piston rings, so that the force drives the crankshaft and turns the motor.
SOME of that energy leaks through various gaps, into the crankcase. Also the air inside your motor, beneath the pistons is forced all around the inside of the engine. This swirling, hot, pressureized, oil-vapory atmosphere is the reason for your PCV system. As it clogs, the pressure finds other places to push the oil vapor laden air. The rear cam seals are a notorious weak point for this oil to go. It pushes right past the dried plastic edges of old seals, seeping into the distributor, and the cam sensor.

Any moisture introduced will settle out in the relative cool of the distributor also. Probably just moisture introduced in there from changing parts.

Yes, your Volvo Yoda is right, it is bolted on externally, but with potential airgaps, and pressure voids. It is not at all unheard of. I've had it happen.