cb11acd
Part of things
Posts: 132
Club RR Member Number: 122
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Its 00:01 on Saturday the 27th of Febuary 2021, and my new daily transportation has yet to arrive on the back of a trailer, bought sight unseen from ebay Facebook Marketplace. The car was picked up at 10:00pm (yes, pm) from the south coast and is being delivered to my door in the midlands. I am bored this evening, waiting, so have decided to start writing this post tonight.
I didn't pay a lot, infact it would fit quite nicely in the "sub 2k" thread, as really my money should be being spent here. This car will be put to good use though, and much more practical than what came before (modern Ford Fiesta ST). So far, at the time of writing this I only know a few htings about the car, the registration number, the colour, the engine size and that "the engine sounds fine, exhaust sounds like its blowing a bit" (which was feedback recieved at roughly 10:00pm from the driver picking up the car.
This car though I know will be remembered for a long time, because the first journey I am going to make tomorrow this morning will be to a local vaccination clinic to get my first COVID jab, and then on Monday I am picking up some steel chassis components for my other project (yes, other project, I don't expect this car to be faultless).
I will post pictures tomorrow later today, when, you know, the car is on my drive and I have actually had a look around myself.
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What times it due to arrive today
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cb11acd
Part of things
Posts: 132
Club RR Member Number: 122
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Feb 27, 2021 12:11:47 GMT
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Well...
It arrived at 1am, ONE A M! but it arrived. I t was parked on the drive quickly and I went to sleep.
This morning I thought I would take a look around at what I bought, go get some fuel, a phone holder (so I can satnav my way to the vaccination clinic) and drive it back before setting off.
It drives quite nicely, very comfortable, slight squeeking from the rear suspension but nothing to worry about. The car shifts nicely through all of the gears and is overall quite a nice comfy place to be. A few issues I noticed quickly. The exhaust is blowing (but I knew that) and the steering felt like there was a bit of play but not enough to be of any concern. The sunroof has been sealed with tape and the electrics can cut out if you turn the key to far (the seller left me a note about that). For the price paid it is about what I was expecting.
I made it all the way to morrisons (where I got out and took some pictures).
Then it all went wrong.
The gearbox wasn't very happy, stopping at a light with the footbrake on it kept wanting to lurch forward, I had to put it into neutral to stop it. This was annoying but still drivable, so I carried on, about 500 yards when I lost my speedometer. uh oh. Then I seemed to loose power steering and engine power. Hazards on and limp to a layby/service station. At this point I was about a 3 minute drive from home, then 20minutes to the vacination clinic. my appointment was in half an hour.
A quick google of the flashing upwards arrow on the dash showed that it was in limp mode, the gearbox lights where cycling through W,S,E so I assume there is some sensor issue with the gearbox, computer got scared and put the car in limp mode.
I decided to drive it home, not far but all 50mph main roads with roundabouts. I managed to limp it to the home, parked on the road and borrowed my wifes (rather more modern and reliable) Kia. I made it to the clinic about 1 minute late. phew.
So, OBD2 reader ordered, and let the googling commence and Volvo forum joinging begin!. Good job I don't need a car right now and I have time to fix it.
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Rich
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 6,339 
Club RR Member Number: 160
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Feb 27, 2021 12:19:16 GMT
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Looks a tidy car! Although I hate to be the bearer of possible bad news but a generic OBD2 reader probably won’t scan for gearbox codes. And on a P is it even new enough to have a DL16 socket? Hopefully you get the issues sorted, these really are getting rare!
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cb11acd
Part of things
Posts: 132
Club RR Member Number: 122
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Feb 27, 2021 12:24:29 GMT
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Looks a tidy car! Although I hate to be the bearer of possible bad news but a generic OBD2 reader probably won’t scan for gearbox codes. And on a P is it even new enough to have a DL16 socket? Hopefully you get the issues sorted, these really are getting rare! Good point.
I know it has an OBD2 port next to the gear selector (because theres a little plastic cover that says OBD2) whether it will read gearbox codes I don't know.
Apparently a common issue, engine stuttering is a little concerning though. Nothing that wont be unsolvable.
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Rich
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 6,339
Club RR Member Number: 160
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Feb 27, 2021 13:42:15 GMT
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Looks a tidy car! Although I hate to be the bearer of possible bad news but a generic OBD2 reader probably won’t scan for gearbox codes. And on a P is it even new enough to have a DL16 socket? Hopefully you get the issues sorted, these really are getting rare! Good point.
I know it has an OBD2 port next to the gear selector (because theres a little plastic cover that says OBD2) whether it will read gearbox codes I don't know.
Apparently a common issue, engine stuttering is a little concerning though. Nothing that wont be unsolvable.
Well it’s definitely worth doing if it is OBD2 compliant, nothing to lose doing it at least  |
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cb11acd
Part of things
Posts: 132
Club RR Member Number: 122
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So the car runs like... well it doesnt really idle, so it doesnt really run like anything. Cheap OBD2 reader to the rescue!!  Older Volvo owners probably have their hands in their heads looking at that picture. Of course, a generic ebay special OBD2 won't work in this Volvo, maybe because it was one of the first cars to have OBD2 or because modern bluetooth OBD2 readers only really work on more modern cars? The OBD2 scanner saw nothing wrong with the car. Annoying. The car was running rough and not idleing so I thought I would start by checking the spark plugs, air filter etc. The spark plugs could have exhibited in an Anish Kapoor instalation (They were pretty sooty), so they were changed and while I was at it I changed the air filter too although that looked mostly OK.
The car still didn't really sit happily at idle, and cut out.
After reporting my greivences with gryphon, he suggested that I unplug the MAF sensor as it would revert to a default tune and could identify where the issue is (if it ran right).
And it did! I even drove the car around the block!
Ok, but is there an issue with the gearbox, any other sensor (engine or transmission) that contributed to my first ever breakdown (10 years of driving with 1 breakdown is not bad going, and I got it home so not really a breakdown). Well my OBD2 reader didn't work, and after a bit of digging on Volvo forums and Facebook groups I found that a few brands had Volvo specific OBD2 readers that importantly could also read the transmission ECU. So I reluctantly bought one.
In all honesty it will be a useful tool to have, as it covers both Volvo and Saab, both brands that I really like.
And voila, I have fault codes!
Four to be precise. MAF sensor (I could predict that one). Vehicle speed sensor (I beleive there is a vehicle speed sensor on the transmission), Rear H02S Control and Compensation. I am guessing those last two are related to the MAF not being plugged in?
Anyway, to celebrate a mostly working car I took it for a 20 minute drive, to a tube bending place to pick up some chassis parts for my other build
Next step is to complete the service, patch the leaking exhaust (I have found a stainless one for free, so happy to patch the minor leak for now) and carry on fault finding. Rear suspension feels a little worn, and I am not sure if it has Nivomats in which case a new damper and spring will be needed. The steering also feels a little wooly, not dangerously so but it removes some of the engagement (or maybe I am just used to a modern Fiesta ST).
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Paul
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,014
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Something about these old Volvo barges really appeals to me...there's definitely a Volvo Estate on my 'one day list.
I hope you get yours sorted ASAP.
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Rich
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 6,339
Club RR Member Number: 160
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I’d be getting the MAF sensor fault repaired along with the VSS and then do a pre and post lambda data live reading to see what’s going on with the sensors and see that they are or aren’t reading correctly |
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xfu990
Part of things
Posts: 78
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"Four to be precise. MAF sensor (I could predict that one)" Don't forget if you've unplugged the MAF you may have induced this fault, you need to clear the fault with the MAF plugged in, run the car and re-diagnose the fault, give it a clean if it comes up as a fault again before replacing it, it sometimes workd, please accept my apologies if I'm teaching you to suck eggs, just trying to be helpful |
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Ive got a Bosch MAF for one of these on a shelf, Ive had 3 960s, great cars, Id still have one if they were able to pull my 3.5t plant trailer, had to buy a Range Rover for that, scrapped my last 960 after the engine blew up but saved the worthwhile parts from it, Ive gradually sold off most of it, I skipped 2 mint radiators last week as they were taking up too much space but the MAF is small so still there. Get i touch if you need it...
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72 MGB GT
88 Daimler Double Six
89 Rover Mini
91 Nissan Figaro
95 Lotus Esprit S4S
18 Discovery
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