|
It's rather surprising to find this in a car as new as yours, but I've heard that it's more apt to happen if you've used gasohol (gas and alcohol, or gas and MBTE) mixtures. I've only had it happen on two cars that were almost 20 years old.
Anyway, you've got a leak (a split, usually) in a short piece of rubber hose (the rubber doesn't like the alcohol) between the in-tank pre-pump and the metal fuel line. When the fuel level drops below the crack, you will start to lose fuel flow (it's squirting out of the crack), whereas when the fuel covered it, the surrounding pressure kept the fuel inside better. [some say that air is being sucked into the line, but the pre-pump should be keeping the inside of the hose at a higher pressure, so I don't buy it.]
And you have only one solution -- you have to open your fuel tank and pull out the pre-pump and fuel gauge sendor assembly, and replace the hose. It's also a great time to change the pre-pump and the sock or strainer at the bottom, too (chalk it up to preventive maintenance). And use two good clamps on the hose ends -- Volvo tends to be "cheap" in this area.
Finally, viz. the "sparking" possibilities that the others have mentioned, remember that it is possible to buy the special wrench (for the gas tank cover plate) from your Volvo dealer (and it isn't too expensive) -- it makes the job a breeze!
Good luck.
|
