Volvo 440 Engine trouble?

volvo_pete · Mar 29th, 2006, 14:37

Hi everyone!
Its my first post, so bear with me please.
Basically, I used to have a 460SXi, which I crashed, but bought a 440Li as a cheap run around....4 months later it passed its MOT so I became attached to it.
Over the winter months, it started to act funny, when cold the engine used to idle roughly, and sometimes cut out. I took it into the garage and was told that it is running rich and misfiring and by the looks of things one of the cylinders is having low compression (was told a headgasket replacement should cure it). Also after say 20min driving, the catalitic converter (where it joins the mid section) glows red!

So it porbably is overfuelling/misfiring/having serious engine problems.
Then the pipe going into the back box worn out, so the car was making nasty a noise.However, I replaced the mid section and the back box last week and now the car seems to run well, apart from the cat still glowing red.
Basically I would just like to know if anyone else has experienced such problems and how did you cure them? I am not a mechanic, but isnt it possible to replace a headgasket yourself with the aid of tools, mr haynes and a garage? Its a nice car, and I dont want to scrap it just yet.
Thanks.
Pete.

sandythecaddie · Mar 29th, 2006, 15:39

1) do compression test first to see if all cylinders are @ the same
if yes,
2)check manifold gasket for leaks
let me know how you get on, and we'll take it from there.

volvo_pete · Mar 29th, 2006, 17:27

Thanks for the quick response,
I am going to look for a compresion test gauge, as I do not have one, but this might take a few days....as I understand you just plug it into a space where the spark plug is supposed to go. However, how would I go about checking the manifold gasket for leaks? Sorry to ask such stupid questions, but I do not have great knowledge of cars, but I am trying to learn, as I am very much interested in all the mechanical aspects.
Thanks.
Pete.

sandythecaddie · Mar 29th, 2006, 17:56

see if a friend or a local garage will lend you a tester or do it themselves and if there is a difference in the readings ask for a cost of repairs if it's too big a job for you. while your at it replace the timing belt.
a tin of wd40 with the tube attached and spray lightly under the heat shield (at the rear of the engine) if the revs drop you have a leaking gasket. please be careful as wd40 is flammable or you can use a water spray if you prefer.
it's just a process of elimination to find the real problem before you spend lotsa dosh on anything unnecessary.
see this post as well by 440man
http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=14694

volvo_pete · Mar 29th, 2006, 18:50

Thanks for that...I will try to do all that and let you know how I get on...incidentally, I had the cambelt changed about 3 months ago (about a month after it passed its mot, didnt want the car to die since it passed) and when they changed the cambelt, they did an emissions test too, because one of the guys at the garage thought I wanted an MOT doing on it, even though it had one done with them recently (basically they had some paperwork confusion) and he told me that the car is missfiring at low revs. Another point you might be able to advise me on is the steering...basically about a month ago, when there was a really cold patch and there was snow in many parts of England, I was unlucky enough to have a small bump. What happened was that I was coming over a small bridge at about 25mph and as I went over, I saw ice up ahead, so i hit the brake to get the speed down before I hit the ice. I slowed the car down to about 10mph before letting go of the brake and hitting the ice. The car skidded, as expected and started to veer left, I s pun the wheel to the right and the car wen right....unfortnately the ice was in a chicane, the type the use to stop lorries going into residential areas, so i hit the car against the chicane. It seemed to drive fine and the only damage was a scratch to the bumper and the alloy wheel...however, the steering wheel seems to be a few degrees off to the right...and the car seems to be handling differently to how it did before the bump....I was wondeting whether it could be just the tracking or do you think it could be more serious..Obviously it is a good idea to take the car to a garage to get them to have a look, but I would like to see if you have any thoughts on it first.
Thanks again and sorry about the length of this post.
All the best.
Pete.

sandythecaddie · Mar 29th, 2006, 19:11

check both front springs after a bump, could be something simple as a slightly bent track rod but get it checked using a laser alignment setup. @£30 at a wheel fitment centre.
check the dizzy cap and rotor arm for cracks and splits, ensure plugs are clean and gapped correctly.
cheers for now

Mar 29th, 2006, 14:37	#1
volvo_pete New Member Last Online: Jun 22nd, 2020 13:27 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Manchester	Volvo 440 Engine trouble? Hi everyone! Its my first post, so bear with me please. Basically, I used to have a 460SXi, which I crashed, but bought a 440Li as a cheap run around....4 months later it passed its MOT so I became attached to it. Over the winter months, it started to act funny, when cold the engine used to idle roughly, and sometimes cut out. I took it into the garage and was told that it is running rich and misfiring and by the looks of things one of the cylinders is having low compression (was told a headgasket replacement should cure it). Also after say 20min driving, the catalitic converter (where it joins the mid section) glows red! So it porbably is overfuelling/misfiring/having serious engine problems. Then the pipe going into the back box worn out, so the car was making nasty a noise.However, I replaced the mid section and the back box last week and now the car seems to run well, apart from the cat still glowing red. Basically I would just like to know if anyone else has experienced such problems and how did you cure them? I am not a mechanic, but isnt it possible to replace a headgasket yourself with the aid of tools, mr haynes and a garage? Its a nice car, and I dont want to scrap it just yet. Thanks. Pete.

Mar 29th, 2006, 15:39	#2
sandythecaddie not so new member Last Online: Nov 14th, 2017 16:18 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Dundee	1) do compression test first to see if all cylinders are @ the same if yes, 2)check manifold gasket for leaks let me know how you get on, and we'll take it from there. __________________ '' How to line up your fourth putt ? ''

Mar 29th, 2006, 17:56	#4
sandythecaddie not so new member Last Online: Nov 14th, 2017 16:18 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Dundee	see if a friend or a local garage will lend you a tester or do it themselves and if there is a difference in the readings ask for a cost of repairs if it's too big a job for you. while your at it replace the timing belt. a tin of wd40 with the tube attached and spray lightly under the heat shield (at the rear of the engine) if the revs drop you have a leaking gasket. please be careful as wd40 is flammable or you can use a water spray if you prefer. it's just a process of elimination to find the real problem before you spend lotsa dosh on anything unnecessary. see this post as well by 440man http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=14694 __________________ '' How to line up your fourth putt ? ''

Mar 29th, 2006, 18:50	#5
volvo_pete New Member Last Online: Jun 22nd, 2020 13:27 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Manchester	Thanks Thanks for that...I will try to do all that and let you know how I get on...incidentally, I had the cambelt changed about 3 months ago (about a month after it passed its mot, didnt want the car to die since it passed) and when they changed the cambelt, they did an emissions test too, because one of the guys at the garage thought I wanted an MOT doing on it, even though it had one done with them recently (basically they had some paperwork confusion) and he told me that the car is missfiring at low revs. Another point you might be able to advise me on is the steering...basically about a month ago, when there was a really cold patch and there was snow in many parts of England, I was unlucky enough to have a small bump. What happened was that I was coming over a small bridge at about 25mph and as I went over, I saw ice up ahead, so i hit the brake to get the speed down before I hit the ice. I slowed the car down to about 10mph before letting go of the brake and hitting the ice. The car skidded, as expected and started to veer left, I s pun the wheel to the right and the car wen right....unfortnately the ice was in a chicane, the type the use to stop lorries going into residential areas, so i hit the car against the chicane. It seemed to drive fine and the only damage was a scratch to the bumper and the alloy wheel...however, the steering wheel seems to be a few degrees off to the right...and the car seems to be handling differently to how it did before the bump....I was wondeting whether it could be just the tracking or do you think it could be more serious..Obviously it is a good idea to take the car to a garage to get them to have a look, but I would like to see if you have any thoughts on it first. Thanks again and sorry about the length of this post. All the best. Pete.

Mar 29th, 2006, 19:11	#6
sandythecaddie not so new member Last Online: Nov 14th, 2017 16:18 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Dundee	check both front springs after a bump, could be something simple as a slightly bent track rod but get it checked using a laser alignment setup. @£30 at a wheel fitment centre. check the dizzy cap and rotor arm for cracks and splits, ensure plugs are clean and gapped correctly. cheers for now __________________ '' How to line up your fourth putt ? '' Last edited by sandythecaddie; Mar 29th, 2006 at 19:13.

Mar 29th, 2006, 17:27	#3
volvo_pete New Member Last Online: Jun 22nd, 2020 13:27 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Manchester	Thanks for the quick response, I am going to look for a compresion test gauge, as I do not have one, but this might take a few days....as I understand you just plug it into a space where the spark plug is supposed to go. However, how would I go about checking the manifold gasket for leaks? Sorry to ask such stupid questions, but I do not have great knowledge of cars, but I am trying to learn, as I am very much interested in all the mechanical aspects. Thanks. Pete.

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