Volvo RWD 900 Forum

INDEX FOR 10/2025(CURRENT) INDEX FOR 11/2021 900 INDEX

[<<]  [>>]


THREADED THREADED EXPANDED FLAT PRINT ALL
MESSAGES IN THIS THREAD




  REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

Stumble under boost 900

My daughter came home from UGA yesterday complaining that the '94 945T wasn't accelerating well and was getting worse. She also complained of it being hard to start, hot or cold.

First problem I found was a hole next to the O2 sensor. I patched it until I have time to drop the DP and weld it closed.

I drove it and noticed it only bogged when entering boost. Ah hah, I say, thinking there is a hole in an intake hose. So I follow my own advice and remove every hose between the turbo and the TB. No holes. Even check the IACV hoses. Everything is firm and unblemished, inside and out. Cr*p. So my first question is...is it likely the intercooler has developed a hole?

After buttoning everything back up, I test drive it again. It acts considerably better but still bogs. Details follow... upon entering boost, it acts alright up until about 2 psi, at this point, my A/F meter indicates a sudden drop in voltage (lean condition) and it begins to bog. It does not smooth out unless I back off the accelerator. Keeping it below 2 psi boost seems to be OK but only since I ran through the hoses. Fuel pressure issue? I register 40 psi at the rail but haven't been able to check it under load. FPR doesn't leak, could it have a stiff diaphragm? Could that produce these symptoms (don't forget the difficult starting)? Car has 225k mi. and most items/sensors are still original. Engine is stock w/a not so recent head gasket change (done about 25k mi. ago).

I poke around to see if I can find the Radio Suppression relay to reflow the connections (where is it anyway?) and find the power stage connector may not be fully seated. I remove it and reseat it (one side of the retainer spring is not locking). The screws holding it to the fenderwall are stripped and do not hold it on tight. Fatter screws are in its future.

Third test drive and everything is the same except I can now maintain 5 psi boost instead of only 2. But I still cannot floor it or go over 5 psi w/o it bogging.

O2 sensor? It is original. Could the hole next to it (crack around bung) have finally killed it? I checked the waveform with a 'scope and it looks a little funky. It is varying between about .2V & .9V but the waveform isn't smooth, it has short jagged spikes at its peaks. High & low peaks vary in amplitude but the varying is not random. Doesn't look right. Not sure what the frequency is but suspect it is slower than it should be.

I think I hear an exhaust leak around the EX manifold but cannot pinpoint it.

I'll stop now. Any ideas are appreciated.
--
Bob K








  •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

    Stumble under boost 900

    I got the new check valve and installed it. She is still bogging but it seems a bit less pronounced which may just be wishful thinking. I'll drive it a few days in case the bog is a result of some bad habits the 'puter picked up because of the bad c-valve, then I'll do more fuel delivery tests. It is still registering lean when it bogs so I'll assume fuel until proven otherwise. I guess I'm down to the FPReg or a clogged pick-up sock on that count.
    --
    Bob K








  •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

    Stumble under boost 900

    For the first time, my 945 left me stranded. It wouldn't start this morning. This is what I noticed and I'm thinking power stage module. It coughed once. The tach would register a signal only intermittently, sometimes bouncing as I cranked but sometimes just sitting on "0" rpm with no movement. Since I was in a hurry to get to work (for a meeting that had been cancelled!), I didn't do any voltage tests on the coil, etc. but will when I get home.

    So, is power stage a likely culprit? The RPM sensor is less than 1 year old.








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

    Stumble under boost 900

    The lean condition says NOT an intake hose. I'd bet money that if you check fuel pressure on the road (not at idle), you'd find it dropping off gradually as load goes up until the point you can feel the engine lose power. It is the classic symptom of a clogging fuel filter. Unless it is fairly new - make it #1 suspect. Fuel pump is #2 (after confirming that you do not have less than battery voltage across the two wires at the main pump (failing relay or bad ground). Lastly, the intank filter sock could be clogged.

    If you don't find the fuel pressure dropping off (it should be rock solid under ALL conditions) then you have a secondary ignition breakdown such as rotor or plug wire. A misfire will load the exhaust with fuel, but all that unconsumed oxygen is present too.








  •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

    Stumble under boost 900

    bump
    --
    Bob K








    •   REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

      Stumble under boost 900

      Under normal, unboosted acceleration, my '94 945 is fine. But it bogs badly under boost and does not recover until I drop out of boost. It acts as if there is a hole in an intake hose but after close and careful checking (all hoses removed and inspected), there is no hole. BUT, if I sneak up on boost slowly I can enter and maintain as much as 5 psi of boost without a bog. Car has a hard time starting.

      The good:
      Fuel filter is fine, no restrictions,
      O2 sensor is new,
      FPReg seems OK, pressure is 38-40 psi @ idle and increases about 7-8 psi when I pull the vac. hose
      Injectors were cleaned and balanced 6 mos. ago
      Both pumps work
      No intake or exhaust leaks detected (I plan on testing the I/C tomorrow)
      MAF/AMM checks out OK and was just cleaned w/CRC MAF cleaner & connectors were deoxidized

      The bad:
      fuel delivery check valve is BAD

      I know the hard starting is directly traceable to the bad check valve, but would it also manifest the bogging symptoms? Or do I have another problem?

      Car has 225k mi. Head was freshened 1.5 years ago. Most sensors are original as are the ECU & power stage.

      I'll be checking the secondary components tomorrow.

      Anyone have input?
      --
      Bob K








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

        Stumble under boost 900

        Dear Bob,

        Good p.m. I don't have any "input", but I do have some advice. Could RPM/Crank sensor wiring harness deterioration contribute to difficult starting? If this sensor is original, it likely doesn't owe you a nickel.

        One way to test the RPM/Crank sensor harness is to get the engine running, and then to wiggle the sensor's harness. This branches downwards, at the center of the the 1"-diameter black corrugated wiring harness, in the engine bay, on the firewall, just below the hood.

        If wiggling the RPM/Crank sensor harness disrupts engine function, then the sensor should be replaced, because the insulation has failed, allowing the wires to touch each other and/or a ground. That kills the signal, causing the fuel pump to shut down.

        It could be that when the car enters "boost", the engine move just enough to wiggle the RPM/Crank sensor harness, disrupting the signal, and cutting-off the fuel supply.

        Hope this helps you to get things into good order.

        Yours faithfully,

        spook







<< < > >>



©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.