'99 V70 Auto, Base -- Hard Start -- ECT or ?

Post by **E Showell** » 23 Apr 2018, 09:10

So I have had a hard starting condition on the '99 V70 for a bit now. It strikes me as a typical bad engine coolant temperature sensor, but my sense with this car is that I've gone through quite a few of those sensors (Volvo only) and the problem eventually recurs. I have no check engine light and no stored codes. The car will start when cranked excessively with the gas pedal fully depressed. Any thoughts as to alternative causes before I throw another ECT at it?

I should add that fuel pressure at the rail appears good -- no numbers-- but forceful squirt from fuel rail, battery is in decent condition and coil packs and plugs don't have more than 20k miles on Bosch coil packs and Volvo three prong plugs.

Temp gauge on dash reads steady 3 o'clock.

B+ cable was replaced on this car. Starter does not seem bad and I believe all engine grounds are clean.

Massive vacuum leak possible?

Post by **scot850** » 23 Apr 2018, 15:47

If replacing the ECT/IAT sensor fixes the issue and the car then starts ok, then it would appear to be the sensor, the question though is why are they failing so quickly. Being an NA it is less complex than the turbos in terms of leaks, but they usually throw codes.

Can't now recall if you have had the ETM replaced/rebuilt on this car?

Neil.

Post by **E Showell** » 23 Apr 2018, 15:52

ETM is Xemodex rebuild. Those Canadians do good work, eh?

Post by **E Showell** » 24 Apr 2018, 09:10

Mechanic says starts fine now and he can't really see a problem. I guess it's fine 'til it isn't.

WhatAmIDoing · Post by **WhatAmIDoing** » 24 Apr 2018, 09:22

E Showell wrote: 24 Apr 2018, 09:10 Mechanic says starts fine now and he can't really see a problem. I guess it's fine 'til it isn't.

Which really means "I can't find what's wrong, so I didn't fix anything, so the problems still there. Thank you for your money... I mean business."

Post by **E Showell** » 24 Apr 2018, 11:32

Didn't charge me a thing.

Post by **erikv11** » 24 Apr 2018, 12:30

How about the ECT connector - give it a good physical and chemical cleaning, make sure the wires are in good shape.

Post by **E Showell** » 24 Apr 2018, 14:08

Good call Erik. I asked my mechanic to check it. I have seen corruption in there in the past and didn't even think of that as a possible cause.

Post by **abscate** » 24 Apr 2018, 17:27

Evan. Search on the part number plus resistance to check the resistance can vw spec, it’s in a thread in this forum.

I’ve also linked to this thread in my 1999 maintenance log, too