P0442 - Minor Evap leak - ideas? 00 V70R

[scot850]

We have dug the old 'R' out of storage and I have done some work on the brakes and other stuff to get it back on the road.

Car has pretty much not moved in close to 2 years other from front to back of the house and back.

I have had random faults show up on the car over the years that when reset do not re-appear at all or sometimes don't come back for months or years (perspective, car has only done about 12,000km in 10 years).

The 'boss' was driving it today when the engine check light came on.

I checked it with my generic scanner which gave a P0442 - minor evap leak code (generic).

I forgot this scanner can do brand specifics on engine stuff so dug down to the Volvo settings. Can't recall the number but the code was for the TCV. This is an IPD unit which has been ok for about 8 years of low use. I have a bunch of OE used ones I can swap in if the issue continues but they don't work well above about 14psi and my car runs at about 18+ psi.

Are these 2 codes possibly related or are they separate issues?

I have reset the check light for now and will continue to monitor to see if these are random waking up issues or on-going need to do more in-depth issues.

Any thoughts/suggestions?

Thanks,

Neil.

[Eddystone]

Neil,

I had a persistent EVAP code, and literally the only rational and logical way to troubleshoot those things is with a smoke test. I went to the canister and pumped smoke one direction and then the other, and it was immediately apparent where the problem was. That's assuming that there is a leak and not some purge valve that's not working. You might have seen my post with the YouTube video for making a smoke tester. It works. I'll re-post the link separately.

For what it's worth...

[scot850]

That is very useful. I will be pissed if it is anywhere at the rear as little of the evap system is accessible without dropping the whole rear subframe..................Been there and done that. Never want to do that again!

Neil.

[abscate]

Are you just getting that one code? I’ve found most scanners don’t map Volvo code text correctly , the best way is to get the Volvo Ecm-xxxx code then look it up in Volvo lit

Definitely clear that code and see if it comes back first. Prayers that it isn’t in the rear axle subframe. At least your bolts are good

[Eddystone]

That is very useful. I will be pissed if it is anywhere at the rear as little of the evap system is accessible without dropping the whole rear subframe..................Been there and done that. Never want to do that again!

Neil.

It seems odd to me that Volvo had so many variations of things like the evap system. I get the impression that a lot of people posting here seem to think that their car is representative of all P80s, and unless you have worked on several cars from different years, you might not realize how many production changes they made. My 1998 V70 has the evap canister in the left front fender. To get at it, you really have to remove the fender liner and then put in all new plastic rivets when you put it back together. But then, the stuff in the back is pretty accessible, except for what's right on top of the tank, and even that is marginally (marginally) accessible.

I note one of your cars is an XC70 with the two tanks. I have passed on several of them that were quite nice except for a bad fuel pump. Just about every evap leak thread talk immediately points at the J-hose. I have two of them that I bought to do as preventive maintenance on my two cars, and I don't think either car has one, so they sit in the parts box.

That smoke detector I posted the link to does the job. The one I built doesn't put out as much smoke as you see in the video, but it only takes a little smoke to show you where the leak is. I just use baby oil (mineral oil) in it. Some dedicated smoke solution might produce more smoke. It's worked on my Volvo and on a 2005 BMW that I had to find a leak on. You do need a second person to pump while you are at the far end of the car, but my trusty mechanic's helper/spouse is always at hand and a REALLY big help.

[scot850]

Well it came back again. Why am I not surprised with this PITA car??

I'm thinking the smoke test is the way to go. Hoping it is not a mouse been eating the new hoses installed when the subframe was out 4 years ago or so as some have now gone extinct. That and to replace any requires dropping the rear sub-frame/fuel tank again.

On AWD cars, has anyone found a common place for the hoses to fail for minor leaks? I guess I will start at the front where the small plastic hose starts at a valve on the radiator/slam panel and work back from there.

Neil.

[scot850]

Gave up. Choices were:

1) Park it in the old garage, put its' cover over it and see if it would just go away.
2) Set it on fire and claim insurance!!
3) Take it to the dealer to smoke the system and see where the leak is.

Decided to go with option # 3. Dropped it off at the new dealer today. Just got the call. The @#$%ing 'J' hose from the carbon canister to the roll over valve. They said it was a challenge to find (I know as on the AWD and FWD 99-) the hose splits on the top side so hard to see even when up on a hoist. I am still in shock!! How can that hose have failed again as I only replaced the hose less than 6 years ago. Original OE hose. Car has been garage stored apart from about a year when we moved here when it was under a car cover in the yard. Car has barely done 5000km in that time. If I had even thought that could have failed again I could have saved myself $350 CDN for the repair (that includes diagnostic time and part).

I guess I will just have to try to enjoy the new XC60 'R' design in a similar blue to my laser blue 'R'. Seats are quite good compared to Gen 1 XC90/P2/P1/P3 seats (not 'R' design seats though). Have to say. Lots of gizmos. Driving experience....Meh!

All my families and my/our Volvos over the last 45+ years have had what I would call a soul. From the roar of the 123GT twin carbs to the 5 cylinder howl on my 00 'R'. The new XC60 just feels like our old Kia Sportage but at more than twice the price and a smaller trunk. It fails the 2 golf bag test with seats up.

Maybe it will grow on me as they said to keep the loaner until the car is fixed. Part is on order but unlikely to be here by the weekend. How we suffer......!

Neil.

[abscate]

Come on , that’s an easy repair….just pop it off…

[scot850]

Those who have worked on AWD P80's will understand our view of this type of issue.

I was amazed. Thought I might be running around in the loaned new (329km) XC60 over the weekend. Got a call from the dealer at 2.30pm to say car was ready to go. Why amazed? Yesterday lunchtime the part was in NY distribution center! Got here this morning and fitted just after lunch.

With a hoist, this part is not too bad to fit even on an AWD. It is the 'J' hose from the charcoal filter to the roll-over valve. The pipe is just behind the fuel filter on a 99-00 AWD. Still not impressed that it lasted such a short time. At least now with my pocket lightened by $385 CDN for the diagnostic and part replacement, I can now rest easy in the knowledge the repair is a lifetime warranty for the same owner by Volvo.

Neil.