I HAVE JUST INHERITED A PERFECT 1993 965. IT HAS 80,000 MILES - GOOD SERVICE HISTORY, BUT IT WASN'T NOT DONE YEARLY - IT WAS DONE BASED ON MILES. NOT A LOT OF HIGHWAY MILES.

THE PROBLEM IS.....

WHEN THE FUEL GAUAGE IS READING ABOUT 1/8TH OF A TANK, THE ENGINE WILL SEEM TO SURGE, DEVELOPE DEAD SPOTS IN THE POWER BAND, AND EVEN STALL. THIS CAN HAPPEN AT HIGHWAY SPEED (65-70) OR CITY SPEEDS (20-30). I FIRST THOUGHT THAT I HAD OLD OR BAD GAS - I PUT 10 GALLONS OF 93 OCTANE INTO THE TANK AND RAN IT. AGAIN, AT JUST BELOW 1/8TH OF A TANK – OR JUST ABOVE THE RED LINE ON THE FUEL GAUGE THE CAR STARTED TO LOOSE POWER SPERATICALLY. I DECIDED TO FILL THE TANK – THE TANK TOOK JUST UNDER 13 GALLONS. THIS SEEMED SOMEWHAT SHORT – THE TANK DOES NOT LOOK DAMEGED i.e. NO DENTS. COULD THERE BE WATER IN THE TANK? FUEL FITER PROBLEMS? SLUGE FROM LACK OF DRIVING OVER THE PAST 11 YEARS? CAN ANYBODY HELP? I LOVE THE CAR – WHEN THE TANK IS ABOVE 1/8TH THERE ISN’T A BETTER CAR, BUT BELOW 1/8TH IT’S NOT GOOD.

Welcome to the club. My car does the exct same thing ever since I bought it at 70k miles. It runs out of gas just under 1/8th of a tank full. The problem is a pick up tube extending from the fuel pump to the bottom of the tank. The tube basically falls off. My 94 960 has the exact same problem. I tried to fix it but I can't access the fuel tank without droping it out of the car. The design is unique to 92-94 960 wagons. The access cover behind the back seats is at a 45 degree angle relative to the fuel tank terminal. I can't even get my hand in there. I eventually gave up and learned to live with it. Just get in the habit of filling up at 1/4 of a tank. I have never seen the little low fuel warning light go on. The most gas I have ever been able to put into my 19.8 gallon tank is 14.5 gallons. Don't run the car under 1/8th. At that point the engine will run very very lean for a few minutes before it runs out of gas. Also the fuel pump will eventually over heat and die.
Congratulations on the new car. Don't sweat the little things.
Justin.

just reading through the faq yesterday and came across the faq regarding tank access here:

http://www.brickboard.com/FAQ/700-900/InteriorTrimandPanels.htm#RemovingRearFloorPanelsforAccesstoFuelTankandPrePump

wondering if that would apply to your situation or not.

gkl
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1991 940w Turbo

That’s good news. It makes since. There’s probably 4 gallons of fuel below the fuel pump pick up at any given point. I have access to a lift - I will have my tech look at the fuel pump. Thanks. It’s an awesome car. I just drove it 700 miles yesterday. This car was made for 70-80 mph and long trips.

Dear flatsix,

Good p.m. and may this find you well. At the risk of annoying you, I'm going to ask a question, about an issue that you didn't raise in your post.

Do you have records (the actual invoice) that shows when the timing belt on the car was last changed? I ask this because on a 960 series car, timing belt failure almost always ruins the engine. When the belt breaks, the valves are hit by the pistons. Valves get bent and piston tops get dinged. The result: head or engine replacement. It's costly.

If you do not know when the timing belt was changed, change it (see the FAQs) or have it towed to someone, who can do this key job.

Then, many, many happy miles!!!!!

Yours faithfully,

spook

I had not thought about the timing belt, but I am having the local Volvo dealer change the rotors and pads next week – they’re now replacing the timing belt.

Thanks for the good advice

EXCELLENT point Spook!

DEWFPO
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1998 S90 070,050 and 1995 964 153,010