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ok,i have never used one of these sites so i hope i am doing this right. I have a c70 2001 convertible volvo. the check engine light came on in november, i drove it like that for 2 months got it fixed; it was an oxygen sensor.. but from waiting for 2 months i inherited a hesitation problem. the mechanic advised that i had been dumping fuel into the engine and to use an engine cleaner in my gas which i did. but to my dismay after a month the hesitation has returned.. only when i am doing around 30mph not highway speed. i have read some of your messages regarding this ecm software upgrade but my car does not fall into the factory/ chassis #. So I am unsure if this applies to me.. But if anyone else has this car and has had this problem it would be a huge weight lifted off my shoulders to know i am not the only one... The car itself freaks me out because it is so quick, I dont want something else to be worried about.
tks MG~
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MG,
The terminology used on this board is not very complex. FWIW = for what its worth. The letter K after a number indicates 1,000.
As for hesitation at 30mph, you will have forgive us for being slow to respond. Are you asking about putting you foot to the floor at 30mph, or just gently giving it more gas?
At 30mph your car could be in 4th gear and trying to figure out if it needs to down shift to 3rd gear or stay in 4th. Your electronic throttle module (computer based) is supposed to "learn" your driving habits. But it doesn't know that there is a new driver. I have a hard time driving my wife's car because I like to ease the gas pedal down and she floors it. The computer expects me to floor it also, so it doesn't do anything when I ease the pedal down until I hit a certain threshhold - then it goes!
I would suggest, while driving in the city, you drive with the transmission in 3rd gear instead of drive. Putting the car in Drive will not save you any gasoline in stop and go traffic, plus the slightly higher rpm will help your engine oil itself and be easier on the transmission with fewer shifts.
Spark plugs. Your engine has 5 of them, and you neighbor can easily change them for you. I suggest buying them at a dealer or FCPGroton.com (OEM plugs cost about $40) if you want to spend less money.
BTW (by the way) OEM = original equipment manufacturer. Welcome to the board. And it is not required that you respond to every reply to your post.
Klaus
--
(V♂LV♂s 1975 164, 1995 854T, 1998 V70R)
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MG,
My car has the same engine as yours. FWIW, I start to run into minor starting problems (and barely-perceptible performance problems) once I get to around 20k miles on a given set of plugs. This is in spite of the fact that the owner's manual calls for new plugs at 30k miles. I just replace the plugs at 20k (or whenever I start noticing that reluctant starting), and it seems to be fine.
So try replacing the plugs. That may turn out to be the fix, and it's a fairly cheap one at that!
--
Jim Rothe, '99 S70 T5M,
http://www.jimrothe.com/volvo/index.html
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Jim,
Thank you, I just need to put into words that I understand and sort of reiterate what you said. What is FWIW? Also I have had no starting problems or any performance problems at least I dont think so.
So Let me see if I understand your car lingo.. I should replace my plugs. I just purchased the car in the end of October & it was at 44,748 miles; I am at 47,5 miles, pls note the individual I purchase the car from was very anal & did EVERYTHING at the dealer the car is in AMAZING shape, seriously brand new! I think I read in the manual that it did indeed say certain things need to be changed once i reach 47,000. When I purchased the car there was NO hesitation; that happened after the check engine light was on for 2 months. But just to reiterate I am not having any "reluctant starting problem".
Also can my mechanic, who lives next door (works for mta as a mechanic)do this or do I take it to a diagnostic place who changed the sensors back and front or do I take it to the dealership..Pls know there is no warranty on this vehicle. Also, pls excuse my ignorance, I am unsure as to what you mean when you say 20k.. I see by your web page you are a car guru, I am sooooooooo not. Turn key & go! But I will print this out and give it to whomever you tell me I should spk with.
Thank you for your help, sorry for the lenghty response...
Mandy
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It looks like Klaus has the web lingo covered, so I just want to add one thing.
If you drove that car around for 2 months with the check engine light (CEL) on and, ultimately, they replaced an oxygen sensor to fix the problem, then it's very possible that the spark plugs fouled a bit during that two months of driving. I won't go into any discussion of fuel mixtures and fuel injection systems for you, but suffice it to say that this wouldn't cause any permanent damage, but *might* still require replacing the plugs, even if the previous owner did take care of them at the regular service interval. Realize as well that, at 47k miles, if the previous owner replaced your plugs at 20k miles (or less), then your car is just under the 20k miles that I mentioned for my own spark plug change interval.
None of which is to say that Klaus's "adaptive computer" explanation is not possible or even likely. I'm just suggesting one more possibility.
Share it all with your neighbor. I'm sure he'll be able to help.
--
Jim Rothe, '99 S70 T5M,
http://www.jimrothe.com/volvo/index.html
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