Engine Light Woes.. Again..

[Kent Canary]

Hi,

Im Kent Canary, you might remember me from previous threads such as 'My Engine Light's on', 'My Engine Lights still on' and 'Ive replaced my o2 sensor and now its come on again.. Arrgh!'. Shortly followed by my TV appearance in 'Im a Volvo Owner get me out of here..'.

Quotations over, you may have gathered Im still having EMS light issues. I spent out on a new O2 sensor during my £575 service (ouch, new caliper and pads too, plus some other things). The light went off and all was fine.

Admittedly I have been making rather short journeys to work, but kept it to Optimax and now the damn things on again.

I cant see any perished hoses and I really hoped the O2 sensor would clear it. I know without the codes being read its hard to diagnose but does anyone have any other ideas of things I can check in the meantime? MPG is down to 25.8 or so (though its not had a good run out recently).

I never thought Id hear myself say this, as I love my car to bits, but its costing me a stack and needs must when economy is an issue.. I really dont want to have to let it go!

Thanks for any help.

Andrew (Cardwell) did you get your OBD computer? I would be interested in borrowing it for the nominal fee..

[hamish]

Hi,

Get your codes read by a competent diagnostc expert, and go from there !. You are near Norwich ?

Regards,
Hamish
Chip Tuning Ltd
01527 577710

[Kent Canary]

Hi Hamish,

Im in Kent, but have my codes / servicing etc done at Wrights Volvo in Attleborough when I am up that way.

Code wise I have gone to Main dealer down here but of course they charge half the time.

The mechanic who is doing my track rod end Saturday uses another mechanic who has an OBD tool but he isnt available when I am.

As such I was trying to perhaps borrow Andrew's for the meantime, if not Ill have to get them read somewhere down here.

Cheers

KC

[izzysnan]

Hi
I've had the same problems with my warning light, O2 sensor etc and we only do a very short journey to work too. I'm convinced this is half the problem (more than half), but I recently had starting problems due to a faulty startermotor causing a flat battery etc, AND the Lamda light had come on for a few days - now normally I NEVER touch the accelerator when starting, but this day it would not start, so I jammed the pedal down while turning the engine & it fired up & revved like the clappers - AND the Lambda light went out and hasn't been on since! Can't understand it as I really give her some stick when I get the chance, but if the light comes on again I'm going to give it some welly again and see what happens. I'll let you know.
Frank

[Kent Canary]

Thanks Frank, I appreciate the input. Im going to try the revving thing in a minute (rather than first thing in the morning!) and will post back in a bit.

[Kent Canary]

Nope.. worth a try though!

[LeeT5]

Hi
I've had the same problems with my warning light, O2 sensor etc and we only do a very short journey to work too. I'm convinced this is half the problem (more than half), but I recently had starting problems due to a faulty startermotor causing a flat battery etc, AND the Lamda light had come on for a few days - now normally I NEVER touch the accelerator when starting, but this day it would not start, so I jammed the pedal down while turning the engine & it fired up & revved like the clappers - AND the Lambda light went out and hasn't been on since! Can't understand it as I really give her some stick when I get the chance, but if the light comes on again I'm going to give it some welly again and see what happens. I'll let you know.
Frank

Let me explain...from what u have just said it is clear to me that the engine had flooded (fuel). Trust me , i know cos i see this prob every day, im an AA patrol. So when the car wouldnt start you had 2 options. You chose to override the throttle position switch thus foolin the fuel ecu into thinking the car was not being started from cold and so not injecting lots of fuel also allowing lots of air into the engine (lean mix) and thus overcoming the borewash problem, regaining compression and finally allowing the car to start.

The other option is much simple..just pull out fuel pump fuse so no more fuel is injected. the result is the same but better and garanteed to get it going.

Therefore to conclude this has absolutely nothing to do with your management light being on. a seperate fault altogether.

While we are on the subject...some early 850s suffered from loss of compression on cold start due to hydraulic lifters sticking - a pig to get going when this happens. i think vovlo cured the prob on later models using the same engine.

You need your codes read. Try S.W.Autos in Biddenden Nr Maidstone!!! Very good. Stuart is a Volvo specialist and other mechanics there too r ex Volvo techs. :)

[nuffer]

obd2 readers can be bought on e bay for around thirty quid save yourself a fortune

[vt5]

Light on, poor fuel consumption, O2 sensor replaced, went off but come back on...= MAF sensors duff.

I battled this for 2 years and won in the end.

Second hand MAF sorted it for me at £60 fitted.

Volparts Preston - 01772709221

If your MAF is duff then it will soon knacker your O2 sensor and CAt is left long enough, (though i did 30K miles on mine with the light on with no problems)

If you doubt my advice, then bear in mind that this was diagnosed by Volvotuning in Birmingham and hey presto they were right.

It took about 15 minutes to change the MAF and the O2 sensor which incidentally i got for £10 at the same place.

Give them a call if you want re assurance before buying a MAF.

Ps. dont listen to "you cant put on a second hand MAF it should be a new one" as this advice is only ok if your a lottery winner and have about £270 to flush on parts alone. :)

[Kent Canary]

Thanks for all the advice guys. The MAF sensor has previously piped up before when the engine started hesitating briefly, it was reset and there were no more problems from it, its always been the O2 sensor.

Ill have a look at s/h sensors I dont doubt its certainly worth a try if I can avoid shelling out for a new part.

Ill also check out the garage recommendation.

Ta.

[Kent Canary]

Spoke to SW, seem helpful, going to see them in a week or so. There is a charge not far off Volvo cost but hey, youve got to pay for these things..