Hey all,

My volvo's been gradually getting worse and worse at running. It starts fine everytime, basically, but, when a cold start is done (left overnight) if you drive off straight away (i never do), it runs well for about 20 seconds then starts hesitating, and the idle starts dropping off a bit, (i.e. if you rev it a little and back of the throttle the car *nearly* stalls...if you floor it again just as it reaches idle, the car basically splutters really badly, then jumps up again), now, i have done about 15,000k's since getting this car, i've done: - Dist. cap, rotor, spark plugs, cleaned/serviced IAC, cleaned throttle body several times, checked for as many induction leaks as i can, cleaned flame trap, air filter, removed thermostat in airbox with a hacksaw(!), and a few other small maintence items (base idle, etc). Now, it appears to be getting worse and worse, gradually over time. It *seems* worse after i let the car warm up for AGES (i.e. till it's basically 12 oclock on the temperture!)....Now i pulled the plugs today with some hope of finding some important info on them!! The tips/electrode are greyish-tanish (which is right) but what i've got around the base and on one side of the insulator is black, carbon (not BAD, but, none of this is GOOD), and it is on the same location on each plug. I am running bosch plugs of whatever is the recommended... i haven't done the wires (i've done the coil to cap wire), but they all look in reasonable condition, but the spark plugs had oil on the threads (not lots of wet oil, just sorta something that looks like a small build up over time), thinking of blow by on the plug holes, i retightened them tighter (i like to make them as tight as i feel comfortable with, ie. not too tight), but the car still runs the same, it really hates running when cold now...(it is not unusually cold or anything).....I've noticed that when labouring up hills now that it doesn't do it *quite* as smooth as it used to........Please help, i've chekced the archieves and can't find much, it's 1am so i'd better get to bed!

Thanks all

Az

Aaron,

I'm far from an expert or DYI in the true sense but can provide some feedback on a problem that is similar (not exact all the way but..)

I have an 89-740 Turbo Wagon 𖑁K) that has a problem with the cold start. She starts fine but the idle quickly becomes unstable after a few seconds of run time (the problem is not always but most of the time). She will almost always stall once in gear if I do not lightly feather the gas. Once in gear she seems to be fine, kind of...

Have not yet experienced probs once driving (yet)as once I get her in gear she moves along and the idle stabilizes. I have always (since buying four months ago) given the baby treatment on the first few miles out until warmup & on the last few miles home because of the turbo warmup & cooldown

(great board advice that I am living by).

The prob I have is a pain in the a## & cannot be great for the engine as I cannot always provide adequete warmup or oil spread to all the necessary parts when having to engage gear within such a short time to keep from stalling.

Sorry for the long story. Details had been posted before while I await a "backordered" throttle body kit to my mechanic. He says the prob is within the throttle body and "rebuilding" is the way to go. Cannot remember all the specifics of what in fact was breaking down inside but he seemed to make sense.

He has treated me well so far & since I am not yet at the level of repair knowledge to tackle this on my own....I trust others for now (with help from the board of course).

Point of the long story & with no intention to insult your mechanical knowledge & experiance (seems you have covered the bases), could it in fact be an internal prob with the throttle body that cleaning will not fix?

Everything regarding your problem sounds like mine, except the road problems while driving. Hope this helps somewhat.

Best of Luck

Regards

Mike