Volvo RWD 900 Forum

INDEX FOR 10/2025(CURRENT) INDEX FOR 11/2008 900 INDEX

[<<]  [>>]


THREADED THREADED EXPANDED FLAT PRINT ALL
MESSAGES IN THIS THREAD




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

multiple cylinder coils failing 96 960 900 1996

My 1996 960 wagon with 225,000 miles started misfiring three months ago and the check engine light began flashing like a beast. Took it to my mechanic who read the code and replaced the #4 cylinder coil and plugs (coil had oil on it). Then a month later the check engine light is on again and flashing - this time it's the #1 cylinder coil that's bad. Mechanic says it's clean, however. Another month goes by and the check engine light comes on steady, but the car is misfiring like it's about to stall any second. Now it's the #6 cylinder coil. And again, the mechanic says it's clean. Just started driving it again yesterday and I'm feeling the occasional tiny misfire still... Does anyone have any clues as to what might be going on? (My worry is that once I get through replacing all 6 cylinder coils, the car will start eating the new ones as well!) Thanks.








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

multiple cylinder coils failing 96 960 900 1996

Another possibility is the Power Stages that control the coils. The front PS controls cylinders 1,3 & 5. The rear PS controls cylinders 2,4 & 6. They can easily be swapped to see if the offending cylinders switch. If you install new ones, make sure you use the grease that comes with them to put on the back, it acts as a conduit for heat to be transferred away from the PS and to the intake manifold. Power stages can drop out cylinders intermittently when they first start going bad, but they are typically the same cylinder, and then as it gets progressively worse, it will start dropping out a another cylinder.

This is all assuming the wiring to the coils is in decent shape as well.

DEWFPO

--
1998 S90 077,400 and 1995 964 154,100








  REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE    PRINT   SAVE 

multiple cylinder coils failing 96 960 900 1996

that usually happens when 1 coil gets replaced at a time. truth is they are all the same age and should have all been replaced at once. tough to swallow the price but it happens. i'd be suprised if those are the coils that left the factory when the car was new. generally, 100k is the life of them, give take 10k or so. make sure the plugs are what volvo says are for the car, not some generic thing, and especially platinums. and replace when you're supposed to, 30k i think-might be wrong. 1 more thing-i forget if the coils come with the extensions on them. if not, then replace them also. the extra resistance in the worn plugs and extensions will draw more amperage from the coils and kill them early. good luck, chuck.







<< < > >>



©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.