1997 V70 loss of power; no acceleration possible.

[giovannibianco]

Hello All,

Update to my previous update... plugged the upstream O2 sensor hole with a
bung and re-tested. Now she barely had any power to get outta the driveway and
up the road (moderate slope). So there has to be an issue with the exhaust.

We have a car club at CERN, where I work, about 20 km away. There I have access
to full 4-post lifts etc. Need to drive her there next week. Either:

* I drive with front O2 sensor hole open and limp mode(?)

* or drill a few holes in the front of the cat and re-install the O2 sensor? Avoid limp mode?

* Other?

Cheers, John.

[RickHaleParker]

We have a car club at CERN, where I work, about 20 km away. There I have access
to full 4-post lifts etc. Need to drive her there next week. Either:

* I drive with front O2 sensor hole open and limp mode(?)

Leave the O2 sensor out. Look for a slow route to the destination. Then drive it there like a little old lady from Pasadena.

[abscate]

A lot of cats have plugged since you guys started spewing out those Higgs Bosons.

[RickHaleParker]

A lot of cats have plugged since you guys started spewing out those Higgs Bosons.

Higgs boson particles would not clog up a cat but Dark matter would. If you need proof, cut open a clogged cat and see what you find.

[misha]

I have never seen clogged cat on these cars.
Cats with ceramic honeycomb on other brand of cars...sure...but these cars have metal honeycombs.

[abscate]

The first Higgs boson made at CERN got loose and ended up,stuck in a church. The priest told the Boson he had to leave , but s/he laughed and told the Priest....

You can’t have Mass without me.

Tip your waitress.

[Empigt]

I stick with the plugged cat converter. My cat just plugged up on my 97 850 turbo. This B.S. of that they never plug up on a "these cars" is BS! They can build up just like any other car ceramic or not. It also helps to know what causes the build up. On my car it was the turbo blown. It was blowing oil right into the exhaust. It plugged the cat rather quickly. It ran but blew smoke pretty bad until the cat plugged and wouldn't rev quickly and bogged down with any acceleration.

[RickHaleParker]

I stick with the plugged cat converter. My cat just plugged up on my 97 850 turbo. This B.S. of that they never plug up on a "these cars" is BS! They can build up just like any other car ceramic or not. It also helps to know what causes the build up. On my car it was the turbo blown. It was blowing oil right into the exhaust. It plugged the cat rather quickly. It ran but blew smoke pretty bad until the cat plugged and wouldn't rev quickly and bogged down with any acceleration.

You keep on driving it when it was obvious there was a serious problem but, it is not you, somebody lied to you.

The catalytic converter did not fail, you destroyed it.

[giovannibianco]

Hello Everyone,

Update on the "blue bomber"... our '97 V70 20v. I changed the cat and exhaust last week and have made 100km-ish
worth of tests. She's back to life better than ever! Pulls like a train and revs far better than before. Even no more engine light! We've had this car for seven(?) years or so and I've always had a feeling that she's always been a bit "woolier" than our '94 850 (2.5 10v) that feels far zippier with more bottom end torque.

Maybe the cat has been in slow decline over the years and with a huge "collapse" at the end.
She went from acceptable performance to barely struggling to get over 30 km/h. The definitive
diagnosis step was to remove the front O2 sensor and notice the immediate ability to rev beyond
2500 rpm. OF course, driving without front O2 sensor was not very indicative as the engine was
still not happy.

I installed the following for the exhaust:

WALKER: 18275
BOSAL: 290-517

I can confirm that the Bosal box givs a much "sportier" sound than the standard
Volvo muffler that I removed (and have not junked yet as it may be in better shape than
that on our '94 850).

Cheers, John.

[Empigt]

I stick with the plugged cat converter. My cat just plugged up on my 97 850 turbo. This B.S. of that they never plug up on a "these cars" is BS! They can build up just like any other car ceramic or not. It also helps to know what causes the build up. On my car it was the turbo blown. It was blowing oil right into the exhaust. It plugged the cat rather quickly. It ran but blew smoke pretty bad until the cat plugged and wouldn't rev quickly and bogged down with any acceleration.

You keep on driving it when it was obvious there was a serious problem but, it is not you, somebody lied to you.

The catalytic converter did not fail, you destroyed it.

Nope didn't drive the car but a block with the turbo seals blown. Just in the driveway testing out the newly installed rebuilt head. Point being the cat on these cars can clog. They do what are supposed to do until they build up too much. Evident by the original poster to this thread. His was clogged as well. You say I destroyed a catilitic converter that "can't be clogged" by clogging it up.... Some people!