Help needed(Glasgow)drove through a flood my car won't start
 

Dear Volvo drivers,
i kindly ask for your help.

First of all I would like to introduce myself.
I am Michel from Germany, driving a Volvo V70 since 2007.
Love my moose, it is a 2.5 10V with 144hp, build end of 1997.
I am travelling to the UK since 1992.
Was on the way to friends in Scotland, but now stranded since Saturday in Glasgow.
Hope my English is good enough.

Which Volvo specialists in Glasgow do you recommend?
The search gave me following results:

• Volvomax (Dougie)
• Central Garage Johnston (Kenny)
• CS Autos in Renfrew (Chris Hall)

Do you agree? Other suggestions?


Reason why I am searching:
Yesterday i drove on the M8 through a flood. Did not have the chance to change the lane due to the traffic.
But just the left tyres went through it.
The 4 miles to the fuel station have not been a problem, car was running normally.
But after having refueled the Volvo it does not start since.

Yesterday I fortunately got my German specialist on the phone, so I was able to check some maybe rootcauses. I checked

Petrol pump: is okay
ignition distributor: dry outside, also all cables and connectors
Camshaft sensor: cable and connector seems to be dry
Pulse generator crankshaft : ?
Having done the tests, I assume the ignitioncoil gets no power, thats why I need help.

After four hours waiting time, the roadside assistance picked my car up.
Unfortunately they are not able to store my car in a dry place where it could be dry out.

My insurance said I have to find a repair garage by my own to get the problem solved.

Will highly appreciate your help in finding a Volvo specialist in Glasgow who is able to solve the problem.

hi welcome,i cannot help with garages but surely if it drove after the water episode to the fuel station then went wrong its very unlikely to be the water,is there any chance you have put the wrong fuel in? how are you checking spark? at worse you got some water in the electrics but most is well protected on these cars but wouldnt hurt to use a water repelant spray around all the visible wiring and fuse box etc.i hope you can fix it,peace

Good afternoon, 'Michel'; I am sorry about the predicament in which you now find yourself. Having once broken down in Sweden with my 340 I know well that it is no fun breaking down in a foreign country.

Are you sure that the two events are related. Volvos are robust cars and would normally not be adversely affected by driving through surface water - I'm assuming that it wasn't a flood of Biblical proportions!

The fact that the car drove normally to the fuel station would lend weight to that, I would think. I think the WNS is more likely to be fuel related. No disrespect, but might you have accidentally mis-fueled? Alternatively, have you inadvertently filled up with some bad fuel? If the garage storage tanks were very low and / or they had just had a delivery it is possible that you may have taken sediment or water on board with your fuel.

How low was your own tank when you refueled? How much fuel did you take on board? You've carried out checks and ruled out the most common causes, so I would be inclined to look elsewhere, especially if your car normally runs well.

I'm afraid that not living in Scotland I can't personally recommend a garage, but I understand that Volvomax are well thought of among forum members.

I hope that you are able to quickly and successfully resolve your problem and can continue with your journey.

Regards, John.

Edit: Posted before I read 'duke1's post above. We were clearly thinking along the same lines ... :regular_smile: J.

when your broken down any garage will do. it would be a bonus if it were a volvo specialist the basics of most cars have great similarity so you should soon get fixed and enjoy the rest of your trip.

I refuled my car with E10, as always.
The fuelnozzle of Diesel normally do not fit.

Once I've seen a XC90 with a british number blade stopping on a German motorway, couple of hundret meters after a fuel station. So i stopped and asked what happend. The driver showed me the receipt of the fuel station.He unfortunately filled his Diesel with petrol. In the end I pulled the XC90 with the whole family to the next exit and village with a hotel.


Holdung the connector close to the mass. Then you should see it, as also hear it.
I had this issue two times. In both cases the isolation of one of the spark plug connectors was broken. And the engine was not able to get over 2000rpm.

I hope so too!
Thank you for your comment!


Thank you for your empathy. It is really a challenge.

Good question. I got the same question in the Germany Volvo-Forum.
I would be a strange coincident. Anyway the rootcause has to be find and fixed.

Hmm, I hope the ASDA in Gorvan has no bad fuel.

In suche a case, wrong or bad fuel, I would expect a normal start and then after couple of hundred meters those problems. Or am I wrong?

Around 15 litres were left in the tank.

Additional 25 litres.My main fuel is LPG.

Thank you, John!

I just checked. The depot of the raod assistance is only 1.5 miles away from Volvomax. I pray that Volvomax has some time tomorrow for my moose.

Another thought; does the starter crank the engine strongly but does not start, in which case, I would suspect the CPS, although sudden complete failure is unlikely in my experience. Or does it not crank at all, or only very slowly? If so, that might suggest a failed battery. How old is the battery on your car? Modern batteries can fail very suddenly, my wife once had one die completely on her 740 in the time that it took for her to dispense and pay for her fuel - 10 minutes max.

If you had 15 litres remaining, it is highly unlikely that you have sucked anything up from the bottom of your own tank, so that is something else ruled out.

While it is generally OK, supermarket fuel can sometimes be problematic. Chances are that it is OK, but wherever possible I always buy branded fuel, even though it costs a little more. One way to check is to look at Facebook or similar social media to see if others in the area have experienced problems.

You are of course quite right that fuel related problems normally arise after a couple of hundred metres or so, I was just thinking out loud given that you had already eliminated the more obvious possibilities.

Whatever it is, I'm sure that you will get to the bottom of it. Good luck - I'm sure Volvomax will be able to help you out given the circumstances.

Regards, John.

Did the water come over the bonnet/hood? Just a guess but perhaps a saturated air filter restricting air flow?

It was higher then the bonnet, but did not fell onto it.

During the dissambly of the air filter I did not remark a wet filter. The air intake was also dry as far as i remember.

But good question.

The crank sounded as normal. I even started the engine during a phone call with my German meister. He said ist sounds normal.

Battery is relatively new. And it survived many starts after the refueling.
So I would exclude the battery.

Yes I agree.

This is similar in the UK and in Germany....

Thats absolutely fine! Sometimes the most obvious reasons are not seen.


Thank you. I hope so too
Regards
Michel

Hi Michel, have you had any luck with getting the car started? I have a few hours available tonight and tomorrow and could have a look at it if you want