S60 Bi-Fuel 2003 - LPG issues
 

Hi. Can anyone help me with my 2003 Volvo S60 Bi-Fuel factory fitted LPG conversion and the current mileage 142k? I have a problem with LPG cutting off while driving on warm engine mainly (but not always). I have replaced: LPG filter as well as the LPG solenoid and nothing has changed since then. While driving on autogas the car begins to lose power (mainly warm engine) and, despite pressing the acceleration pedal the power goes down, until finally extinguished. It only allows me to drive when I immediately switch to petrol. I try to start the engine in LPG mode again and it starts but immediately revs go down and the engine goes off. I have to stop the car, switch off the engine and wait a few moments to start it in petrol mode and then I can switch on LPG again. Has anyone ever came across this issue?
I can only add a clue that it starts ok when the engine is cold and starts cutting off the LPG when becoming warm so it must have something to do with the temperature (but I'm not sure) whether it is going through reducer or somewhere else I don't know.
Please help me if you can. Thanks in advance.

Mine would have occasionally done this if I had run out of gas and refilled, it would switch over and then after a minute of 2 get on as if it had run out of gas, switch off and restart and all way well again, but only done it very occasionally after refuelling.

The car shouldn't start on LPG unless warm, even then I think it starts on petrol and switches over instantly. Only common issues with them are the gas distributor and regulator. The regulator doesn't have a temp sender in it as far as I know, it take the temp off the engine sensor and changes over at 15 degrees iirc.

It sounds very like a distributor problem for cutting out when driving if you take the loosing power out of the symptoms.

It's a Necam system, so if you search that on ebay you should come up with a new distributor or they can be rebuilt by LPG specialists for around £60.

£500 says you need a new stepper. It is NOT the dizzy per se. Common issue that Koltec/ Necam are well aware of but don't fix because it's good business.
Exchange from me at £180 + my tech support. Better than a new one for reasons I've explained many times. Leave Volvo dealers well alone. With the exception of one in Thirsk, leave most LPG specialist alone too. Me? I'd fix it myself. Very simple job.
Read the threads on this.

Then keep the dizzy clean/ fit a filter... Read the threads on this.

If you are lucky you have the the cheaper Stepper motor and don't need my Volvo only, £180 version. £48 on ebay, and you're done. Read the threads on this.

In fact... read the threads on this. Do this , and you'll soon be running fine.

Yup - I'll double it, a £1000 says it's the stepper.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/STEPPER-MO...qjIMj0RZ4LJgoQ

48. Not suitable for S60 Bi-Fuel.

OK, I assume you have looked at your stepper. On some S60 & S80 you are able to use the £48.00 Stepper. Some early and some 2003 cars have this. The first 850 & V70 Bi-Fuels also ahd the cheap stepper. Have you checked? If so, you are unlucky.

You are left with the 'Volvo only' version. Identified by the flat top. It sounds like you know what they cost (usually 5-6 times the price).

I know these systems well. If you buy an unmodded (used or new) stepper from Koltec/Necam, you will see the same issues in repeat maybe 25-50,000 miles later. If not kept clean or left unfiltered, much sooner. Do NOT buy the complete dizzy, unless you are lazy and don't want to clean it, or rich. Yours will only need cleaning.

My steppers require you to pay a 'core' charge set deliberatly high to be sure I get your old stepepr back to allow me to recondition and fix the Triac that ails these. You also get my tech support (very useful when it all goes awry) and a guarantee that should my diagnosis and info be wrong, your money less couriers, is returned. You will not get this last point with other suppliers because they are 'box-shifters' only. My background is 35 years in electronics. If you blow a stepper I can usually repair quickly and easily. I am sure I knwo more about the Necam system that anyone in the world outside of Necam. LPG specialists just mindlessly swap modules and components until something works. [Where might you think I get my supply of so called 'no good' parts from?;)]

For added compliation, (read expense) the £48 stepper is not matched with the ECM in your car. The stepper motor is at the route of most of the bad-mouthing of what is otherwise a very simple system that works well, gaining a poor reputation undeserved. Clean it, correct the stepper and all works.

I don't know how to get access to the stepper/distributor. It's in really inaccessible place (bottom between engine and cooler) and has no marks to identify.

But are you sure my only need cleaning, no replace?

Clearly you want a quick-fix, one where you neither pay money or do any work. But one one where you're gleefully happy to prey on other's time? I'm afraid you're due a boll*ckin'.
So you've not gone as far as to check what you have fitted? Or where it is? Or understand too much, and certainly not act on it? We have to smile, but this doesn't bode well does it?

Happy to help... those that help themselves. You're asking questions and making points which make it clear you've not really ready to put your own effort into this, even though it comes spoon-fed via posts by me and others.

It's not been you that has to really find out the facts. Only read and understand them.
And still you don't? Can you see how you're rapidly losing anyone's sympathy?

You messaged me to say, and I quote, this is 'Important to me".

Is it?

Is it?

Really?

It'll take you an hour or two. Time well spent if you're happy to do the work yourself. Else, pay someone to do it for you.


Read the threads...

That will get you to a point where you will be in a position to make headway. Or as I said, pay someone else to take the headache from you.


Turns out, these words came out of your rectal passage. You have absolutely no idea if this is true. Instead you wasted my time?

When it is evident you've at least done some work, come back to me. Then I'll help you.

Hope is fading fast.

Good luck.

I asked about that and seller asked me for pictures of my distributor. After that, he told me "Unfortunately, you need a stepper motor type B. The stepper motor from this auction not fit for your Volvo-distributor".

Here is ONLY ONE auction with stepper motor type B to Bi-Fuel:

450? Definitely too expensive for me. Have you still got your stepper motor? If yes, how much you want for it?

It's not important where the pipes for the injectors go as it's a constant feed, remove the fan shroud from the rad and you'll have enough room to access the dizzy, held on with 2 x 10mm nuts on a bracket mounted to the engine