Volvo RWD 700 Forum

INDEX FOR 10/2025(CURRENT) INDEX FOR 1/2018 700 INDEX

[<<]  [>>]


THREADED THREADED EXPANDED FLAT PRINT ALL
MESSAGES IN THIS THREAD




  REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

Rough Idle - Valve Adjustment?? 700 1989

My '89 740 GL has had top maintanence and care, it is a show quality car for 15 years old. It has 225,000 on the clock and has developed a slight mis-fire at idle.
I replaced all the plugs, wires, dist. cap, rotor, removed & cleaned the throttle body, and timing belt all with Volvo O.E.M. parts. Performance and mileage is great, but I hate the rough idle and I can hear a mis-fire at the tailpipe while idling.
Only thing I have not done in many miles is a valve adjustment. What do you think, can this be the reason?
Thank you Brickboard and your great subscribers! I always received great answers that worked.
John








  •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

    Rough Idle - Valve Adjustment?? 700 1989

    In addition to what has already been mentioned I would say the injectors themselves may be due for an overhaul.

    Shifted
    --
    '87 745t 214,000; '93 Toyota MkII; '73 Suzuki Jimny (Brute) LJ20 360cc








  •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE Replies to this message will be emailed.    PRINT   SAVE 

    Rough Idle - Valve Adjustment?? 700 1989

    if you had a bmw, i'd say start with the valve adjustment first. a volvo-nah. i've checked probably 50 or so cars and have adjusted 3 valves total. 1 car had a loud tick, so it was easy to tell it needed a valve adj. the other changed to a k cam and he got 2 shims. unless you have a loud tick under the valve cover, i would look elsewhere for the miss.

    all the new items SHOULD be-bosch or ngk plugs, no platinums, ever. bosch cap and rotor, but NOT wires. those should be bougicord or oe only, nothing else will do. i've had customers do their own tuneup and use the cheapest parts on sale, then bring it to the shop 'cuz it wasn't right. many a time, i've just installed the right stuff and the car was happy. i've also had bosch wires bite me right out of the box, bad coil wire, etc. if that's ok, then look for vacuum leaks and run some injector cleaner through it. good luck, chuck.








  •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

    Rough Idle - Valve Adjustment?? 700 1989

    I would suspect a leaky injector seal or vacuum leak first. Have you done a compression check on all cylinders? This will give you some indications as to the health of your valves & rings.

    Good luck
    Danny Mac








    •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE Replies to this message will be emailed.    PRINT   SAVE 

      Rough Idle - Valve Adjustment?? 700 1989

      With the engine running (dont try this on a hot engine) - spray carb-cleaner on each injector and see if the idle smooths out temporarily (due to the leak getting briefly blocked). Do this around all vacuum hoses and manifold gaskets too. Again - DONT do this on a hot engine.

      Noel








      •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE Replies to this message will be emailed.    PRINT   SAVE 

        An alternative vac leak test 700 1989

        I've had good luck using Propane to test for vacuum leaks (less messy than carb cleaner or other sprays). Take the nozzle tip off a propane torch and replace it with some snug fitting rubber hose about 2 feet long. Practice with the valve to get a moderate gas flow (not a roaring blast).

        With the engine at a warm idle, open the gas valve and poke the end of the hose around each injector for a couple of seconds. If the seals leak, you should hear an RPM change when the propane gets sucked in and burned.

        Do the same around any other suspected areas, like hidden vacuum hose ends and the intake manifold gasket itself.

        To block the breeze from the fan, lay a piece of cardboard from the fan shroud to the engine.
        --
        Bruce Young
        '93 940-NA (current) — 240s (one V8) — 140s — 122s — since '63.







<< < > >>



©Jarrod Stenberg 1997-2022. All material except where indicated.


All participants agree to these terms.

Brickboard.com is not affiliated with nor sponsored by AB Volvo, Volvo Car Corporation, Volvo Cars of North America, Inc. or Ford Motor Company. Brickboard.com is a Volvo owner/enthusiast site, similar to a club, and does not intend to pose as an official Volvo site. The official Volvo site can be found here.