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Air Pump Noises V70-XC70 1998

posted by  someone claiming to be Adam Rosenfeld on  Sun Dec 24 00:49 CST 2000 [RELATED]

there seems to be a lot of talk about engine noises these days. You may recall I had one and brought the car in to the dealership to check it out before my warranty ran out.

My noise was intermittant and sounded muffled. Perhaps fuel injectors I was told.

Dealer said it was the air pump and he tightened the belt up a bit. I still hear it. But I do believe it's the air pump because the noise seems to be cycling.

Questions:

Is it normal to hear the air pump? Or could it be leaking?

What is the pump doing? Is it like the old air pumps in the 70s that put air in the exhaust manifold to held reduce emissions at the tailpipe? (alwasy sounded like a patch fix way of reducing emissions, to me)

General advice requested. :-)







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    Re: Air Pump Noises V70-XC70 1998

    posted by  someone claiming to be John O on  Sun Dec 24 02:29 CST 2000 [RELATED]

    First, it's electric and not belt driven. It only runs for about 2 minutes when the engine is cold and its purpose is to then help burn a rich mixture before the cat conv gets to its peak efficiency, by then the air pump is no longer needed.

    When it's healthy, it'll sound like a mini-hand held vacuum cleaner (under the battery) but when its bearings are begining to go, it'll get very loud in comparison and that's when most customers hear it. It doesn't sound at all like an "engine noise" but then many customers also hear bad headlight wiper motors and say that sounds like an engine noise to them too.

    When the shut off valve to it starts sticking (something you can't do anything about), excessive condensation forms ALOT of water that flows down the air hoses and into the air pump (where it can't escape from) and eventually the pump then siezes.

    We replace many of these with weather changes when cold weather and/or alot of wet weather comes.







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      Re: Air Pump Noises V70-XC70 1998

      posted by  someone claiming to be Adam Rosenfeld on  Tue Dec 26 07:53 CST 2000 [RELATED]

      How would one know his pump is or has failed other than excessive noise? If it's electric, won't it just stop working?

      Or will the check engine light come on and then the `puter will tell all?







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      Re: Air Pump Noises V70-XC70 1998

      posted by  someone claiming to be Adam Rosenfeld on  Tue Dec 26 00:54 CST 2000 [RELATED]

      So if I can hear the pump operating, and the dealer said the noise was in fact the air pump but that they adjusted a belt, do you think it's ok?

      I'm hearing a cycling, sucking noise from around the area between the head and the battery. Almost sounds like air leaking out of a small compressor motor, so I would accept that it's a normal air pump sound. However, I can't be sure it's gotten louder or not as I've only had the car since sept and noticed it shortly after buying it.

      My ONLY concern right now is that if it is collecting water due to a sticking valve and it lasts until NEXT year, I'll be out of warranty by then (I'll be out in 1,000 miles, actually).

      Perhaps I should go back and have them replace the air pump. I could complain it's gotten louder and that I've researched the air pump problem and don't want to get stuck paying for it. At the very least, they could note it and cover it next year as good will if need be.

      Comments?

      Thanks.







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        Re: Air Pump Noises V70-XC70 1998

        posted by  someone claiming to be Steve F. on  Tue Dec 26 04:41 CST 2000 [RELATED]

        Adam, At least get it all down on a work order....the noise and your thinking its getting louder, this way they can(if they want) call it a existing problem, IF it goes south with in the next year or so......no?

        You will need to have a good relationship with your volvo service dept. for them to "good will" you things, but I found that if THEY are the ONLY people you let turn a wrench on the car your chances of getting a "good will" repair are much better.......

        Good luck,

        Steve F.







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          Re: Air Pump Noises V70-XC70 1998

          posted by  someone claiming to be Adam Rosenfeld on  Tue Dec 26 04:47 CST 2000 [RELATED]

          Yea, problem is I hate service depts! I like to do as much service work as I can myself. And I have a local mechanic that I trust with my wife's benz. And best of all, I think I've got him to the point where he'll let me get the discounted parts cheap and he'll install them. Plus, I get to be in the bay if I want (I love that! Nothing like a lift for a good look-see.)

          But my first two encounters at the dealer were VERY good.

          Hey get this, I asked them to program my alarm to flash on unlock as well as lock (I have the TSB) and they couldn't get in to the alarm because my code is apparently changed. So, they're ordering me a new alarm brain box to fix the problem!

          They also gave me a new stereo because one of my bulbs was out!!!!

          I've got almost 49k on the car, so I said to go over it with a fine toothed comb. So far so goo.

          That's why I'm surprised they didn't replace the air pump if it was going bad. It's not costing them anything.







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    Re: Air Pump Noises V70-XC70 1998

    posted by  someone claiming to be Doug on  Sun Dec 24 02:27 CST 2000 [RELATED]

    The air pump can make noises, but they can get water deposited in them from a bad check valve too. This tends to freeze up and kill the pump, thus propmting a warranty repair.

    As you surmised, the air pump injects fresh air into the exhaust during warmup to heat up the catalytic convertor faster and reduce emmissions.






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