S70 T5 misfire

[Doingitsideways]

So, seeing that York is next weekend, the S70 has started playing up.

I cleaned the engine bay today with my favourite pound shop cleaner of choice, followed by a quick swill with hot water, being careful around anything sensitive like MAF etc.

Left for a few hours drying out in the sun, then started, all fine.

Idled for a few minutes, then started missing, so thought I'd take if for a quick run. Something's probably got wet was my thinking.

Got progressively worse to the point of being almost undrivable, prob only firing on two cylinders, managed to nurse it home.

Started pulling things off, found the dizzy cap a little worn and dirty, same with rotor arm, so cleaned them with contact cleaner, then found three spark plug chambers full of water, so mopped them out and it started fine.

Took it for a run, seemed fine, had a go with a Merc C320 CDi, neck and neck, then started missing again, but maybe only on one now.

Later on It started and ran fine, until giving it some welly when there was a definite cough at high revs, but no misfire this time.


So, I'm going to change the cap and arm, but has anyone else got any ideas?
The coil is reasonably new.

Car's pre ME7, obviously, MTE mapped, 16T blah, blah...

[Doingitsideways]

Oh, I pulled the plugs out and all look normal - nice light brown deposits on the electrodes, no signs of running lean, etc.

No idea if it's been doing this for a while as Mrs Sideways has been using it as her daily for a few weeks.

She assures me she's been putting super unleaded in it, although I did catch her out putting regular in the 460 Turbo once...

[deathrider311271]

coil on its way out? how do spark plugs look? or it could simply be some damp still in the electrical system

[Doingitsideways]

Coil's pretty new, genuine jobbie.

Plugs look good.

[jamesy12345]

Yeah the coil is pretty recent Volvo item

Hopefully whatever it was that got wet will dry out & all will be good!

[Orca2]

Do they have that wee tiny condensor in the dizzy, they are a bit sensitive to water if my mini days are anything to go by and they cause all sorts of misfires if they are knacked.

[Doingitsideways]

Do they have that wee tiny condensor in the dizzy, they are a bit sensitive to water if my mini days are anything to go by and they cause all sorts of misfires if they are knacked.

Nah, think you're showing your age there, Orca.
They went out with points, I think!

[jamesy12345]

I can't remember changing those plug leads mate, might be those

[Orca2]

Hehe I am a very old whale, I assumed you had points cos you had a distributor, i liked points, I understood how they worked.

[Doingitsideways]

I can't remember changing those plug leads mate, might be those

Could have a point there.

Hehe I am a very old whale, I assumed you had points cos you had a distributor, i liked points, I understood how they worked.

Yeah, colis and dizzys use whichcraft.
Coil-on-plug uses the force.

[jamesy12345]

If it is ££££ey leads, maybe there will be arcing/sparking visible in the dark with the plug cover off

[Doingitsideways]

If it is ££££ey leads, maybe there will be arcing/sparking visible in the dark with the plug cover off

Aye, probably. Didn't need to look for it though on Ray the 460, I got a big old belt when I touched the king lead!

Tbh, these looked pretty good. No cracking or anything, but i take your point.

Also, difficult to test with the bairn asleep in the front bedroom!

[jamesy12345]

Also, difficult to test with the bairn asleep in the front bedroom!

Inconsiderate aren't they!! (Kids and French engined 460's)

[960kg]

So, seeing that York is next weekend, the S70 has started playing up.

I cleaned the engine bay today with my favourite pound shop cleaner of choice, followed by a quick swill with hot water, being careful around anything sensitive like MAF etc.

Left for a few hours drying out in the sun, then started, all fine.

Idled for a few minutes, then started missing, so thought I'd take if for a quick run. Something's probably got wet was my thinking.

Got progressively worse to the point of being almost undrivable, prob only firing on two cylinders, managed to nurse it home.

Started pulling things off, found the dizzy cap a little worn and dirty, same with rotor arm, so cleaned them with contact cleaner, then found three spark plug chambers full of water, so mopped them out and it started fine.

Took it for a run, seemed fine, had a go with a Merc C320 CDi, neck and neck, then started missing again, but maybe only on one now.

Later on It started and ran fine, until giving it some welly when there was a definite cough at high revs, but no misfire this time.


So, I'm going to change the cap and arm, but has anyone else got any ideas?
The coil is reasonably new.

Car's pre ME7, obviously, MTE mapped, 16T blah, blah...

You really surprise me after good posts that i have read of yours.....who in there right mind would put hot water or a hose pipe under the bonnet just to say to others isn`t it clean.

Volvo actually tell owners not to do this because of all the sensors and connectors .......so if all the normal failings have been replaced which connector do you then check if you still have the problem?

Also how on earth can you tell if a plug is alright by just looking at it?........you can tell if your mixture is ok and if the heat range of the plug is ok for your engine but that is all...they may be breaking down under pressure?

My bet is to give it a treat to new Volvo plugs...

Oh......i only answered because of the C320CDI .....having owned a remapped V70 18T etc. and my own Mercedes C320CDI go pick on a good one to race as you would only see the rear of it.....Lol


Good Luck

[Doingitsideways]

You really surprise me after good posts that i have read of yours.....who in there right mind would put hot water or a hose pipe under the bonnet just to say to others isn`t it clean.

Volvo actually tell owners not to do this because of all the sensors and connectors .......so if all the normal failings have been replaced which connector do you then check if you still have the problem?

Also how on earth can you tell if a plug is alright by just looking at it?........you can tell if your mixture is ok and if the heat range of the plug is ok for your engine but that is all...they may be breaking down under pressure?

My bet is to give it a treat to new Volvo plugs...

Oh......i only answered because of the C320CDI .....having owned a remapped V70 18T etc. and my own Mercedes C320CDI go pick on a good one to race as you would only see the rear of it.....Lol


Good Luck

Hmm...

I only "washed" the engine, as I have an oil leak from somewhere and these are a fair bit easier to trace with an engine that's not caked in crap.
Even then, I only did it because I was already doing the same to the 460T, as I'm taking the gearbox out of that. Not something I relish doing when it's filthy. Dirt + auto gearbox = broken gearbox.
In short, clean engines are easier to work on. You ask anyone that knows me, I'm FAR from a bufty!

My comments about the plugs were to indicate that there's no sign of lean running. A dodgy injector, for example, would make that cylinder run lean. Was more a general observation of general health of the engine more than anything.

As for the Merc, yes it was quick and I expected it to be.
I ran out of space so had to back off before there were injuries, then it started misfiring again.
A youngish lad in a Corsa spoke to me further along the (private) road. After asking what the hell I had under the bonnet, he said he didn't think I stood a chance, but then I just took off and that it sounded epic and went like stink.
Credit enough for me, also Jamesy who did all the work, as a standard T5 would have been left standing.

[Saaamon]

Change the cap and arm as you said and would also change the plugs, all for genuine parts, patent stuff is ££££.

[jamesy12345]

It isn't a very fair comparison - the cheapest C320 CDI on Autotrader is about 4x the value of an S70 T5

0-60 of a C320 is 6.7, that is pretty quick
0-60 Steve's car around 7 secs I would have said, maybe a little quicker quicker with some effort

[Doingitsideways]

Gonna phone PRF tomorrow for prices on some bits.
Not into the eBay "genuine" plugs after seeing Colin's!

Aye, biggest problem is traction off the line, same as any powerful FWD car that's carrying a bit of excess timber. The Merc would dig in off the line being RWD, plus it's epic torque would launch it well.
That's what happened tbh, but once the S70 came on boost it started to regain ground.

[jamesy12345]

Gonna phone PRF tomorrow for prices on some bits.
Not into the eBay "genuine" plugs after seeing Colin's!

Aye, biggest problem is traction off the line, same as any powerful FWD car that's carrying a bit of excess timber. The Merc would dig in off the line being RWD, plus it's epic torque would launch it well.
That's what happened tbh, but once the S70 came on boost it started to regain ground.

sticky tyres, change the timing on those NA cams...you can get him next time

[Jamest5r]

Gonna phone PRF tomorrow for prices on some bits.
Not into the eBay "genuine" plugs after seeing Colin's!

Aye, biggest problem is traction off the line, same as any powerful FWD car that's carrying a bit of excess timber. The Merc would dig in off the line being RWD, plus it's epic torque would launch it well.
That's what happened tbh, but once the S70 came on boost it started to regain ground.

Getting your excuses in early for York I see, if you need anymore just ask I've used every one and it all comes down to the same thing I'm crap