Help needed with Volvo 850 engine popping noise Topic is solved

hunterhuni · Post by **hunterhuni** » 28 Aug 2019, 13:08

Dear community

Recently my car's engine started to produce a strange popping, crackling, clicking noise, whenever I start it. After a while the engine just stops, especially if the air conditioning is also turned on. This noise kills the engine. I'm really not sure what's causing the problem. But the car is in no condition to travel anywhere like this.

I would appreciate any help to figure out the cause or a solution to fix the problem.
My car is a Volvo 850 Sedan made in 1993.

Thanks in advance !

Here are two videos to show the sound I'm talking about:
Starting up the engine:
With air conditioning turned on:

Post by **Clemens** » 28 Aug 2019, 13:34

Sounds horrible. could it be bad ignition components? when did you replace the wires, plugs, rotor etc.? Also, the startup sounds creepy as well. Which would make me think of the ignition as well.

Post by **abscate** » 28 Aug 2019, 14:06

Try removing the serpentine belt and seeing of the noise stops. It does not sound good, but could just be a bad accessory

callahanoffroad · Post by **callahanoffroad** » 29 Aug 2019, 06:28

Look at how the engine vibrates when it makes the noise. Is that knocking/misfire? Burned valve? It doesn't sound like piston slap. Could be a weird sounding rod knock.

The serpentine belt is long and it takes several rotations of the engine for it to hit the same point in the belt.

Does the noise go away if you rev the engine? Does it go away when the engine is warm?

hunterhuni · Post by **hunterhuni** » 29 Aug 2019, 09:56

Clemens wrote: ↑28 Aug 2019, 13:34 Sounds horrible. could it be bad ignition components? when did you replace the wires, plugs, rotor etc.? Also, the startup sounds creepy as well. Which would make me think of the ignition as well.

Well, to be honest it's been a while since I replaced the components. But the ignition is working fine I checked it. It feels more like if something is jamming the engine.

hunterhuni · Post by **hunterhuni** » 29 Aug 2019, 10:03

abscate wrote: ↑28 Aug 2019, 14:06 Try removing the serpentine belt and seeing of the noise stops. It does not sound good, but could just be a bad accessory

I will try it on the weekend, thanks for the suggestion. Hopefully it's just a bad accessory somewhere.

hunterhuni · Post by **hunterhuni** » 29 Aug 2019, 10:10

callahanoffroad wrote: ↑29 Aug 2019, 06:28 Look at how the engine vibrates when it makes the noise. Is that knocking/misfire? Burned valve? It doesn't sound like piston slap. Could be a weird sounding rod knock.

The serpentine belt is long and it takes several rotations of the engine for it to hit the same point in the belt.

Does the noise go away if you rev the engine? Does it go away when the engine is warm?

It feels more like something is jamming the engine when it tries to roll. Sometimes it goes away when reving, but it comes back in idle every time. First I'll try to remove the serpentine belt this weekend, let's see if that helps.

Post by **Clemens** » 29 Aug 2019, 14:39

hunterhuni wrote: ↑29 Aug 2019, 09:56
Clemens wrote: ↑28 Aug 2019, 13:34 Sounds horrible. could it be bad ignition components? when did you replace the wires, plugs, rotor etc.? Also, the startup sounds creepy as well. Which would make me think of the ignition as well.
Well, to be honest it's been a while since I replaced the components. But the ignition is working fine I checked it. It feels more like if something is jamming the engine.

At idle a bad sparkplug or wire can actually lead to heavy cutouts in these cars. they usually start cutting out in humid conditions, but not necessarily. almost like the engine wants to stall.

but then, maybe it is something with one of the accessories. before you remove the belt, look up on all the creative super cheap serpentine belt tools members of this forum came up with.

greg850r · Post by **greg850r** » 31 Aug 2019, 21:58

That sounds like crossfire to me. Cap, rotor, wires and plugs to get you to where it can be diagnosed. You may find that it went away when you do a tune up.

hunterhuni · Post by **hunterhuni** » 02 Sep 2019, 08:57

Okay, I managed to figure it out. I changed the head gasket, and two of the wires that go to the spark plugs. Two of the engine cylinders weren't working because of that. Now it runs like butter.

Apparently it wasn't that big of a problem. Thanks for the help, and suggestions. Drive safe