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YACT: Stupid Volvo is acting up!

D

DurocShark

Lifer
1984 Volvo 244GL
Engine: 1985 B230
Original intake/exhaust/sensors/electrical.

When I swapped in the engine a few months ago, I had to replace the timing belt and lower pulley on the "new" (200k) engine. Ran fine except for the pinging I posted about before that was present in the original engine as well.

Apparently this has been happening for a while, and my wife didn't tell me until I tried to drive the car yesterday. At idle it surges really bad, and when accellerating it will lose power and feel like it's stalling until it backfires and then it goes fine. This happens most when cold.

The plugs look a bit sooty, but ok. I haven't checked the timing yet, and that's all I can think of to check now. That or the cat's starting to back up.

Anything else to consider?

 
Originally posted by: aircooled
200K.?? yikes.... Did you break open the case and look at the cam lobes???
Click to expand...

No, but there's little if any valve noise, so it didn't occur to me to pop the valve cover off. If all other possibilities test ok, I'll try that.

As for the mileage, the car it came from had 200k. Just like mine. My old engine had 250k miles, and was running great until I had a coolant leak and overheated it. Cracked the head and a rod. 🙁 But these old Volvo engines run for friggin ever... heh

The initial compression test when I got the engine was fine. I'll have to do another one and see if something changed. Didn't think of that. Now I gotta find my compression guage.
 
Unfortunately, I have not dealt with any Volvo engines, so I am surely wrong, but any other used engine I have purchased with over 200k needed the cam replaced due to wear on the lobes.
Usually burning oil and seeing blue smoke from the exhaust was also evident, which doesn't sound like you are experiencing...

Where is Roger?? 🙂

 
Originally posted by: aircooled
Unfortunately, I have not dealt with any Volvo engines, so I am surely wrong, but any other used engine I have purchased with over 200k needed the cam replaced due to wear on the lobes.
Usually burning oil and seeing blue smoke from the exhaust was also evident, which doesn't sound like you are experiencing...

Where is Roger?? 🙂
Click to expand...

Prolly still in bed. 😛 I wish I was. Stupid 3am internal alarm clock waking me up. :|

No burning oil, no oil leaks of any kind (woot!).

I don't think worn lobes would cause issues that are affected by engine temp, would they? Seems to me that whatever symptoms are evident would show in all driving conditions...
 
Well, you have to remember that there are only a few main systems to an engine..

Backfiring and surging would sound fuel system related. So probably a sensor or vacuum line somewhere.
 
Originally posted by: Eli
Well, you have to remember that there are only a few main systems to an engine..

Backfiring and surging would sound fuel system related. So probably a sensor or vacuum line somewhere.
Click to expand...

Ya know, you're right. 😱

I'll have to start checking vacuum lines and fuel filter. Thanks!
 
Originally posted by: DurocShark
Are you kidding? These older Volvos rock. Darned near bullet proof.
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😕 The '86 volvo my parents owned was nothing but problems, and my friends volvo was pretty much a hunk-o-junk also.
 
Originally posted by: rbloedow
Originally posted by: DurocShark
Are you kidding? These older Volvos rock. Darned near bullet proof.
Click to expand...

😕 The '86 volvo my parents owned was nothing but problems, and my friends volvo was pretty much a hunk-o-junk also.
Click to expand...
He's right.. I don't know about the rest of the car, but the cast iron engines in those older volvos are bulletproof.

That's why you see so many older Volvos still on the road.. at least I do, heh.
 
Originally posted by: rbloedow
Originally posted by: DurocShark
Are you kidding? These older Volvos rock. Darned near bullet proof.
Click to expand...

😕 The '86 volvo my parents owned was nothing but problems, and my friends volvo was pretty much a hunk-o-junk also.
Click to expand...

My friend loved his '85....especially when he was t-boned. Bought a '91 with 200k on the clock and it runs great.
 
Just taking a shot in the dark but you may want to investigate the mass air sensor. Naturally its about the most expensive piece of the puzzle😛
 
Originally posted by: Chadder007
Two words.... Chevron Techron. 🙂
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yeah, actually my mom's volvo simply will not run smoothly on anything but chevron gas. if she's forced to fill up somewhere else, she has to make a beeline to the nearest chevron to get a bottle of techron. but that to do with the fuel injectors, i think, and i'm sure an 85 engine is carberated.
 
Originally posted by: thomsbrain
Originally posted by: Chadder007
Two words.... Chevron Techron. 🙂
Click to expand...

yeah, actually my mom's volvo simply will not run smoothly on anything but chevron gas. if she's forced to fill up somewhere else, she has to make a beeline to the nearest chevron to get a bottle of techron. but that to do with the fuel injectors, i think, and i'm sure an 85 engine is carberated.
Click to expand...

Nope. FI. I won't buy a carburated car ever again. I love fuel injection.

The only carb I'll mess with is an aftermarket Holly or Edelbrock. The stock carbs installed after 1965 or so in general sucked (yes, there are exceptions). I have a particular hatred for late 70's early 80's Japanese carbs. LoL
 
Volvos are good (maybe not the new ones as much)
but my friends 82 Volvo 240GLT and his GF's 81 Volvo GL seem to run just fine for their age... pretty cool.
 
Originally posted by: CraigRT
Volvos are good (maybe not the new ones as much)
but my friends 82 Volvo 240GLT and his GF's 81 Volvo GL seem to run just fine for their age... pretty cool.
Click to expand...

What's really amazing about the old B23 and B230 engines is that they even manage to pass the smog test at 200+k miles. 😀
 
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