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S/V/C oscilating idle speed

J

Janspeed

Active member
Joined
Sep 5, 2005
I have a V70 T5 geartronic my2001.
When it's cold it idles just fine. But once warmed up it starts to oscilate between 600rpm and 900rpm when idling. R, N, D, P makes no difference.
I have VIDA but OBD2 says everything is OK... no engine related errors stored.
It drives OK (except when manouvering at slow speeds or in traffic jams) it gets reasonably good mileage and it pulls hard.

things i did to try to fix this annoying problem (and to do some pre-owner :roll:neglected maintenance) :
- new oil and filter ( was 1000km over due)
- new sparkplugs gapped at 0.75mm. (old ones were Bosch... put in some cheap copper core NGK's, no change )
- cleaned many mass connections on the engine and to the body, including those on the coils, head, alternator. no change
- checked the timingbelt. It is installed correctly
- the engine does not seem to have excessive blowby
- oil consumption is low.
- Turbo has a new CBV membrane and spring (i installed them last summer)
- I installed a new IPD boost control solenoid.
- the electronic throttlebody has already been replaced (yellow sticker, Magneti Marelli?) and it does not trigger any errors in OBD2

What the funk am i overlooking here????:???:
Anybody have any pointers before this annoying problem drains all my motivation to keep this car...? :-(
 
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Vacuum leaks, check any and all vacuum lines and connections.
PCV system, could be plugged up, this can cause all kinds of issues. Oil leaks being the number one problem but I have seen them cause drivability issues like you have. Remove the oil filler cap while it's idling funny and check for changes or noises.
Throttle body may have been replaced but with a new one or off another car? How old, maybe needs to be cleaned? May need to be replaced again.
Spark plugs, I have seen plenty of cars come in with odd issues that were corrected simply by replacing cheap plugs with proper Volvo plugs. You changed them with no difference so I don't think this is your problem but when you get things sorted out, change them out to the proper Volvo plugs.
Software, the car may just need the adaptives reset and/or software updates. If you have VIDA or access to it check that.

Without codes I am led to believe it's something simple like vacuum leaks or the PCV system. Something is happening that the ECM is trying to correct and just can not get there. I'm actually surprised there are NO codes at all.
 
PCV PCV PCV PCV These engines clog PCV box within 100K normally.

Clean ETM and get a SW update on it. ETM cant be swapped car to car without SW reload ( reload is different than a upgrade)
 
satanburns1 said:
ETM cant be swapped car to car without SW reload ( reload is different than a upgrade)
Click to expand...

I've seen it done. I deal with a few cheap/shady used car dealers that didn't want to pay for the replacement throttle body from me (dealer). Wouldn't you know it, they called me up after swapping in a junkyard one plug-n-play and drive it away with no software. They like to rub it in like that. :lol: But, they only have to guarantee the car for 30 days.

Which is why I asked about the history of the throttle body.
 
496truck said:
Vacuum leaks, check any and all vacuum lines and connections.
PCV system, could be plugged up, this can cause all kinds of issues. Oil leaks being the number one problem but I have seen them cause drivability issues like you have. Remove the oil filler cap while it's idling funny and check for changes or noises.
Throttle body may have been replaced but with a new one or off another car? How old, maybe needs to be cleaned? May need to be replaced again.
Spark plugs, I have seen plenty of cars come in with odd issues that were corrected simply by replacing cheap plugs with proper Volvo plugs. You changed them with no difference so I don't think this is your problem but when you get things sorted out, change them out to the proper Volvo plugs.
Software, the car may just need the adaptives reset and/or software updates. If you have VIDA or access to it check that.

Without codes I am led to believe it's something simple like vacuum leaks or the PCV system. Something is happening that the ECM is trying to correct and just can not get there. I'm actually surprised there are NO codes at all.
Click to expand...

PCV, that seems to be something i did not think about, good point!
I will do that 'remove oil filler cap test'.
The throttle body was replaced in summer 2012 (by a pre-used one that was claimed to be OK) and reprogramming was done (or so the non-dealer workshop told me, they are Volvo specialists/breakers and they do have Vida)
Vac lines: i will check all of them again
 
satanburns1 said:
PCV PCV PCV PCV These engines clog PCV box within 100K normally.

Clean ETM and get a SW update on it. ETM cant be swapped car to car without SW reload ( reload is different than a upgrade)
Click to expand...

Judging by your post my best bet would be PCV?:-P:lol:
I will buy and install a new one and see if that will fix the problem.

Thnx for the input!
Jan
 
Don't just replace and hope for the best. Check the oil passages in the block while the box is off. They can get just as plugged up as the box and hoses. I've seen them bad enough that the oil pan has to be removed for proper cleaning.

Don't forget all the small parts that go along with the breather box like the hoses and seals as well as an intake gasket as you will want to remove that to get it out of the way.
 
Pull the small hose off the intake nipple and make sure its clean as well. I see the block ports were mentioned. Ive also had to remove pans to finish the job properly. You should be able to blow in the lower port and hear it gurrgling the liquid oil. Plan for an oil change and use solvent and some mechanics wire/ coat hanger to dig thru the muck. Spray solvent and keep diggin. Once its clear drop the oil out since its full of chunks and solvent. Ive weighed the old vs new PCV bov and found 12 ounces of sludge in the old one.
 
496truck said:
I've seen it done. I deal with a few cheap/shady used car dealers that didn't want to pay for the replacement throttle body from me (dealer). Wouldn't you know it, they called me up after swapping in a junkyard one plug-n-play and drive it away with no software. They like to rub it in like that. :lol: But, they only have to guarantee the car for 30 days.

Which is why I asked about the history of the throttle body.
Click to expand...

It would set DTC tho. No CEL but cem codes for sure. But the OEM remans are JUNK these days. They went from $750 to $400..... and every one has come back in approx 3 -4 weeks either dead short, blade sticking/ jumping vs smooth or with the usual potentiometer DTC stored but passed the test in Vida. $hit in $hit out. Oh and they are back to white labels again.. Great.

And ive also been bitten by customers bringing their own JY etm in. I reckon there are different PN for X/70 and P2 ETM IIRC. and it wont load.
 
Software for Electronic body is protected by Volvo, and having VIDA isn't enough, only licensed Volvo dealerships/services can do the reprogramming of the software/instal new software, it's heavily guarded software so I don't think that indy shop could reprogrammed it, and it smels to me like ETS
 
satanburns1 said:
And ive also been bitten by customers bringing their own JY etm in. I reckon there are different PN for X/70 and P2 ETM IIRC. and it wont load.
Click to expand...

Well, they only used 2 ETM part numbers throughout their 99-02 existence (without getting into all the original part numbers/replacements/supercessions/etc).
36050564 (latest reman number) used on 01-02 S60/V70 NA cars only
36050563 (latest reman number) used on EVERYTHING else T or NA (S40 not included, obviously)
I've been a Volvo parts guy since these throttle bodies and the cars they were on were new. They were junk when they were new and have not gotten any better over the years.

I've heard xemodex is a good rebuilder, worth a shot anyways, before spending big $ at the dealer for their reman.
 
Ive spoken to the Volvo reps and they have told me that anyone who is willing to cough up the bucks can buy the rights to use Vida & program modules/ updates. But for a outisde shop i cant imagine it being worth it unless they service a LOT of newer Volvos.

And the reason i mentioned different PN for the ETM so IF it is an ETM fault he looks for a Yellow label first of all and tried to get the closest thing possible to his car.. Model year, engine ( n/a vs turbo) etc . But from what he says im deff goin with PCV as first guess. Ive never used a Xemodex unit but i cant imagine it being WORSE than the OEM reman units. They were $hit in 99 and are just customer pay $hit now.

Pcv can clog from pushing oil changes past the already to long serice interval. My dad has a 06 S60 turbo. I replaced his upper PCV hose @ 60K due to it being broken & he does a LOF every 5K even with all highway driving. I recommend that my customers change their oil every 5k at most. We use Castrol Syntec edge. Short drives, abuse, cheap gas/ oil and longer that recommended svc intervals all contribute to PCV issues. When you take the nipple out of the intake and see how small the passage is you will understand why it clogs so quickly.

If the PCV is clogged it'll normally set ECM 120D Mass air flow signal faulty. Spec for a turbo car is 12-14KG/hr N/A is 4 G/s The PCV is a calibrated vacuum leak basically. It pulls from the crankcase. If its blocked the MAF wont read properly.

If you pull ur pidstick out and smoke comes out like a cho choo train you have PCV issues. @ idle PCV should be pullin from the crankcase due to the high manifold vacuum. Clogged PCV can foul an ETM in short order. PCV is a can do @ home job. ETM can be bolted on then towed to a dealer for reload.
 
professor245 said:
Software for Electronic body is protected by Volvo, and having VIDA isn't enough, only licensed Volvo dealerships/services can do the reprogramming of the software/instal new software, it's heavily guarded software so I don't think that indy shop could reprogrammed
Click to expand...

This is one hundred percent incorrect.
Anyone can have access to programming with VIDA, if they have an active subscription ($130-$9,000 based on duration). And a GENUINE Volvo DICE unit. However, successfully performing a Reload on a used ETM is definitely hit or miss, most of the time being the former. Check your Crankcase pressure, if it's within spec, replace ETM with one from XEMODEX. If PCV is plugged, fix it. And replace ETM at soonest convenience, because the OEM ones are trash, and used OEM is even worse.
 
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