S60 Biofuel LPG 53 cutting out

[Mitch98]

I have a Volvo S60 2.4 Biofuel.

It starts perfectly and runs on petrol. It switches over to LPG and can sometimes run for a hour or two then cuts out and needs to be switched to petrol quickly and then runs fine. If you try put LPG back on it cuts out.

I took it to the Volvo dealer who ran a diagnostic check and it returned no faults at a cost of £77. They said that when this happens it is normally the LPG regulator or distributor which will cost +£1000. I only just bought the car for little over double that. They didn't sound very convincing though.

Can anyone help on this. This is my first LPG car and hope I haven't bought a dud....

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[capt jack]

Factory fit bi-fuel systems don't seem to fare as well as the after-market kits - you only have to have a meander through these pages to find many stories just like yours.

Track down a local LPG specialist rather than the main dealer. The dealers don't see many of these cars and seem to be a bit frightened by them.

Better still, get a message to Dai Brace (Classicswede on here). He'll be able to point you in the right direction.

It does seem as though Volvos make great LPG cars - except for the LPG bit!

Good luck

Jack

[Mitch98]

Can anyone help with this issue.

[classicswede]

I can repair these systems to get them working again for a while. Sometimes they last weeks, months or maybe a year if you are very lucky. The long term solution is to pull out the Volvo front end parts and then refit with new updated parts.

[humphrey999]

I suspect you need a new stepper motor, depending on where you go it will probably cost you £200 and you could probably fit it yourself. The symptoms you describe are identical to mine and it is apparently a common fault. I almost fitted a new front end ut when the cure was so straight forward I was glad I didn't. John at Autogas2000 in Thirsk sorted mine out, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend him. I'm sure others could also help you though...

[glider]

Mitch- I have had a 2003 S60 BIFuel since 2007 and had the same problem. I had the gas distributor cleaned without success in 2008, then had it replaced, but two years later the problem was back. I then tried Stenhouse Motor Engineers in Edinburgh in summer 2010. They are experienced in Volvo LPG, and it was well worth the trip from Bearsden. It has run perfectly since then. They say that after some time, which could be 20 to 30 thousand miles, the distributors do gum up with deposits, even if you change the filters at recommended intervals. In their opinion the system is good; it just needs a periodic clean. The trick is finding someone competent to do it. I have no connection with them, I'm just glad to recommend them.

[Lmason]

hi im new to having problems with my lpg.
it is an old aftermarket system with two adjustment screws.
im not new to volvos, but just discovered the lpg forum on here.
my lpg kit is actually on my jeep grand cherokee (my winter car) my volvo t5 is my summer car.
i dont know if yours has an evaporator,? but if it does. they need servicing every 6 months to 12 months depending on mileage.

ive been reading up and there is a drain plug at the bottom of the evaporator which you need to unscrew for the deposits to drop out. i put a tray underneath so i can see what comes out of it.

from some info i got on here, there is adjuster screws for the mixture, running an idle.

also,the diaphram can deteriorate and youll need a service kit for it which costs pennies from ebay or somewhere like that.

its worth giving it a go, cos some places will charge the earth and thats all they do to it, if that.

this info may be useful, maybe not, but thought id post it anyways