Hi all,

Issue; car runs good except it stalls when comes to stop after fully warm up. And the car starts right away and able to drive.

This is my friend's car. Her mechanic is unable to find the problem. Her mechanic replaced following. There is no code.

new spark plugs and wires
cap and rotor
fuel filter
air filter

I asked about the trans fluid change, she doesn't think it was done. Thank you as always.

About 120,000 miles. White Marsh, Maryland

Hi All,

OK, she wants to sell it to me for around $500. Should I buy this? For all this times, she didn't bring the car so I couldn't really take a good look.

Thank you.

You can part it out for $500. Wheels have got to be worth $100 apiece. A driver for $500? That's worth the gamble. IMHO

Hi SBranscom,

I decide not to pursue it. Her Smog inspection sticker expires tomorrow. Only if she brought the car last summer. . . She told me her car didn't passed it. I don't have time. Just too bad.

I guess if you couldn't get it to idle you couldn't pass the smog test and that can be a big and/or expensive problem. A wise decision, especially if you have other hobbies.

Hi all,


Finally, I was able to test drive her car for about 10 minutes and nothing happened...

She tells me I have to drive more than 30 hour. ?

I checked the trans fluid, it's redish brown but not burnt.

I will let you guys know how the car runs after trans fluid change (drain/refill method) & throttle body cleaning.

Thank you as always.

clean the iac

Hi 740madness,

I am "still" waiting for my friend to bring her car to me. :-0 I will let you guys know the outcome.

Thank you as always.

Happy New Year to all FWD/AWD members!

Check the color of the ATF, I would bet it is brown and need a flush. It almost sounds like the lockup for the torque converter is not letting go when she reduces speed. Ask her to watch the tach when she slows down for a stop, it should never get below 800 rpm. If it starts to get lower than that, tell her to shift to N and then back to D after she stops.

A 'tune up' never hurts, at least she has an honest mechanic. To bad he doesn't know anything about Volvos.

Hi Klaus,

I think she can't shift to N and then back to D.... I will do that when I am down there. If the car doesn't stall, we can assume that her trans fluid is no good. Very smart and easy test!

He might be honest but I can't believe he sent her home like that. According to her, he's a Volvo guy and he had her car for two weeks at the shop.

Do you recommend just drain and fill or complete flush using a hose?

Thank you!!!

I taught my 16 yr old daughter to do that! In case she starts sliding on the ice/snow, very simple and you don't even need to push the lock button on the shifter.

As to flushing? If it is really dirty, buy 4 quarts and an aluminum crush washer (same size as the oil drain plug) and with a cold/unstarted engine, dump what is in the sump first. Then fill back to where it was. Drive the car a little and see if things improve. If not, dump it again or flush with a hose/bucket and at least 6 quarts of ATF.

You will need a tranny funnel. And be careful with the yellow dipstick handle, the plastic does not want to bend and breaks easily.

EDIT: Of course, it could be a very dirty throttle body...

Hi Klaus,

She's only in her 60 which is prime time of her life. I am happy that she can pump gas, be able to drive and go to work.

Thank you for flushing recommendation. It will take some time but I will let you know how it turns out...

Thank you.

You might want to clean the throttle body and check the TPS. Very good videos on your tube for checking the TPS. Also check the temp sensor, you can get weird idle problems went it begins to fail!!!

Hi hf63,

I am planning to do following when I am down in MD next time. I don't know when but I will clean the throttle body and check the TPS. Just watched the video.

Her children are trying to have her sell the car. This car has sentimental value to her. Thank you!!!


1. Fill up with good gas and gas treatment, drive it like a stolen car for a half hour.
2. Check, sand & apply dielectric grease on all negative ground point on the main battery terminal, fuel pump & relays
3. Check air intake system including MAF, idle control motor, throttle plate, throttle plate switch and more...
4. flush transmission fluid
5. permanently fix that grill!!! Either someone is keep stealing or they don't know how to install it.