2004 V70 NA limp mode and codes

[Herb Goltz]

Hi all:

I am looking at a 2004 V70 normally aspirated with 172k km that is on a VW dealer's back lot.

The car has an obvious misfire and a corresponding PO304 code, and the cat has holes in it, with a PO420 code.

I drove the car around a bit, got a flashing CEL and it went into limp mode (no flashing warning symbol on the dash.

I couldn't find the ETS light when switching to KPII. Maybe a burnt bulb? I don't know these P2s, I have had a 2000 V70 for the last 8 years.

I don't have VIDA/DICE, so I can't see proprietary codes, and the dealership is VW and don't know anything about the car.

Is a single cylinder misfire enough to put the car into limp mode? I worry about the CEM module...

I don't want to pass up a good buy, but I don't want to buy a bill of goods either-- let me know what you think!

[oragex]

Very surprised for a cat to have holes at 170K km. Mine was still good at 200K km in Quebec. Perhaps they drove the car with a misfire for long time, threw gasoline inside the cat to the point of making holes in it. If the car was driven with the misfire for a while, it may also cause damage inside the cylinder/valves. Flashing CEL means a real problem, not just a coil. May have faulty injectors

Yes, the CEM got soaked in 2004, can look for water traces with a flashlight.

It is not a good buy, would not pay over $1000 in such condition, actually even less. Being a main dealer, they will surely ask much more.

The timing belt, a PCV and some shock absorbers are also on the list