440 Hates Water

joszjak · Nov 4th, 2013, 21:23

Hi, I'm hoping someone could shed some light!

My 1997 440 1.6i hasn't enjoyed the rain for a while. It struggles to start, and when it does, it chugs for a while, and can even sometimes cut out. It will usually start again after a few attempts.

I have meant for a while to check it out, but it always seems to work in the end, and then I just forget about it!

But tonight I drove though a relatively deep puddle, and 10 feet later, the car cut out, and wouldn't start. After 5 minutes of trying it kicked up, then a mile down the road cut out again, and refused to start. After an hour and a half trying, and with a friends car to jump off, I gave up.

Does anyone have any idea what could be causing this?

Thanks,

Dane

TurboZutek · Nov 4th, 2013, 22:51

Crank sensor wiring maybe? On my 480 the connector would get damp and cause all manner of oddities in running.

Chris..

joszjak · Nov 4th, 2013, 23:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by TurboZutek

Crank sensor wiring maybe? On my 480 the connector would get damp and cause all manner of oddities in running.

Chris..

ah I'll check it out, thanks chris! any other possibilities? I might as well make sure, winter is coming!

Anadinolin · Nov 5th, 2013, 11:27

My 460 has similar troubles. A bit of WD40 round the spark leads helps, or replace em, same for dizzy cap and rotor arm.

I havent found a solution for puddles yet, but ill let you know. My 460 did the same when it was torrential downpours in the lakes district on holiday.

Is the car normally ok once its hot? Then I think it will be ignition.

volvoid · Nov 5th, 2013, 12:27

Is it time to consider a replacement ? Im selling my 440 with 28,000 miles from new, lovely condition, drives like a 3 year old car etc, year + mot

joszjak · Nov 7th, 2013, 00:49

Volvoid, its a great thought, but I am living in Finland at the moment. Thanks anyway!

Anadinolin, I replaced the plugs, leads, rotor arm and dizzy cap a few weeks ago, thinking that might be the problem. No change. It does get better when warm yes, although on the odd occasion it does chug still...

Also in my zeal to get the thing going, it now wont even try to start. Is it possible I could have burnt out my starter motor or something?

Anadinolin · Nov 7th, 2013, 10:05

you could also investigate the rubber seal around the fusebox.

as i say the puddles i have a problem with too, the plugs, leads, arm and cap helped significantly with damp, but not puddles.

i think you may have fried the starter, they get hot if you keep em going for too long. did you check that the air filter is still dry?

doingitsideways · Nov 7th, 2013, 21:35

The puddles COULD have busted the Lambda, that could explain rough running after hitting the water.

But my money would be on the crank sensor as already suggested, as a faulty Lambda wouldn't prevent the car from starting, just idle terribly and generally run like a bag of spanners.

Definitely worth checking all the earths though, especially the braided one from the battery to the body if you're having problems even turning it over now. And the lives from the battery to starter, alternator etc too of course.

How old is the alternator?? Just curious because they can give some very odd behaviour when playing up, usually on 480s though with their rediculously over complicated wiring, but maybe worth a punt as if it gets damp after ploughing through the water...??

Steve

joszjak · Nov 14th, 2013, 17:44

Well I went to pick it up the other day, still wouldn't start, so I towed it to a friends round the corner.

I set about changing the starter motor. Why on earth is that so fiddly by the way! And it started! I then changed the ignition coil, and its been running fine ever since.

There's been some pretty heavy rainfall, and no problems as yet...I have avoided big puddles though! It seems fine, but if it plays up again, I will take a look at the crank sensor.

With these little bits I still saved over half of the quote from the mechanic.

Thanks guys!!!

steve w hebburn · Nov 23rd, 2013, 23:30

hi, i had the same problems in the rain ! with my 95 1.6li, when it did fire up ,it would run on 3 cylinders. sometimes even two. i ran the battery flat trying to start it.. i sent off an email to car mechanics mag to ask advice, and was told to change the original ignition leads for a new set. ( £ 11.50 from euro car parts) fixed it ! no problems since.and we have had heavy rain up here on tyneside over the last week. hope this helps ! steve.( hebburn)

Nov 4th, 2013, 21:23	#1
joszjak New Member Last Online: Nov 14th, 2013 17:54 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Manchester	440 Hates Water Hi, I'm hoping someone could shed some light! My 1997 440 1.6i hasn't enjoyed the rain for a while. It struggles to start, and when it does, it chugs for a while, and can even sometimes cut out. It will usually start again after a few attempts. I have meant for a while to check it out, but it always seems to work in the end, and then I just forget about it! But tonight I drove though a relatively deep puddle, and 10 feet later, the car cut out, and wouldn't start. After 5 minutes of trying it kicked up, then a mile down the road cut out again, and refused to start. After an hour and a half trying, and with a friends car to jump off, I gave up. Does anyone have any idea what could be causing this? Thanks, Dane

Nov 4th, 2013, 22:51	#2
TurboZutek Premier Member Last Online: Jan 3rd, 2020 00:42 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: NB, Canada	Crank sensor wiring maybe? On my 480 the connector would get damp and cause all manner of oddities in running. Chris.. __________________ Sealed For Life Transmission: "The unit is sealed until it dies from dirty, old fluid which should have been replaced."

Nov 5th, 2013, 11:27	#4
Anadinolin VOC Member Last Online: Jun 20th, 2022 14:32 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Upminster View Photos By: Anadinolin	My 460 has similar troubles. A bit of WD40 round the spark leads helps, or replace em, same for dizzy cap and rotor arm. I havent found a solution for puddles yet, but ill let you know. My 460 did the same when it was torrential downpours in the lakes district on holiday. Is the car normally ok once its hot? Then I think it will be ignition. __________________ what good music deserves is full deep bass to give it warmth. the stock volvo sub works....just at high volumes Drum n Bass and dubstep

Nov 7th, 2013, 10:05	#7
Anadinolin VOC Member Last Online: Jun 20th, 2022 14:32 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Upminster View Photos By: Anadinolin	you could also investigate the rubber seal around the fusebox. as i say the puddles i have a problem with too, the plugs, leads, arm and cap helped significantly with damp, but not puddles. i think you may have fried the starter, they get hot if you keep em going for too long. did you check that the air filter is still dry? __________________ what good music deserves is full deep bass to give it warmth. the stock volvo sub works....just at high volumes Drum n Bass and dubstep

Nov 7th, 2013, 21:35	#8
doingitsideways The Daddy Last Online: Feb 29th, 2024 15:07 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Manchester	The puddles COULD have busted the Lambda, that could explain rough running after hitting the water. But my money would be on the crank sensor as already suggested, as a faulty Lambda wouldn't prevent the car from starting, just idle terribly and generally run like a bag of spanners. Definitely worth checking all the earths though, especially the braided one from the battery to the body if you're having problems even turning it over now. And the lives from the battery to starter, alternator etc too of course. How old is the alternator?? Just curious because they can give some very odd behaviour when playing up, usually on 480s though with their rediculously over complicated wiring, but maybe worth a punt as if it gets damp after ploughing through the water...?? Steve __________________ XC90 V8 Exec, C70 2.4T Convertible, S70 T5 CD, 850 TDI, 2 x Escort vans and a 2.8i Capri. Clearout has begun, but must continue!

Nov 5th, 2013, 12:27	#5
volvoid Monster Raving Loony Last Online: Nov 12th, 2018 20:03 Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: hitchin	Is it time to consider a replacement ? Im selling my 440 with 28,000 miles from new, lovely condition, drives like a 3 year old car etc, year + mot

Nov 7th, 2013, 00:49	#6
joszjak New Member Last Online: Nov 14th, 2013 17:54 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Manchester	Volvoid, its a great thought, but I am living in Finland at the moment. Thanks anyway! Anadinolin, I replaced the plugs, leads, rotor arm and dizzy cap a few weeks ago, thinking that might be the problem. No change. It does get better when warm yes, although on the odd occasion it does chug still... Also in my zeal to get the thing going, it now wont even try to start. Is it possible I could have burnt out my starter motor or something?

Nov 14th, 2013, 17:44	#9
joszjak New Member Last Online: Nov 14th, 2013 17:54 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Manchester	Well I went to pick it up the other day, still wouldn't start, so I towed it to a friends round the corner. I set about changing the starter motor. Why on earth is that so fiddly by the way! And it started! I then changed the ignition coil, and its been running fine ever since. There's been some pretty heavy rainfall, and no problems as yet...I have avoided big puddles though! It seems fine, but if it plays up again, I will take a look at the crank sensor. With these little bits I still saved over half of the quote from the mechanic. Thanks guys!!!

Nov 23rd, 2013, 23:30	#10
steve w hebburn Junior Member Last Online: Jun 10th, 2017 22:37 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: hebburn,south tyneside.	440 hates water hi, i had the same problems in the rain ! with my 95 1.6li, when it did fire up ,it would run on 3 cylinders. sometimes even two. i ran the battery flat trying to start it.. i sent off an email to car mechanics mag to ask advice, and was told to change the original ignition leads for a new set. ( £ 11.50 from euro car parts) fixed it ! no problems since.and we have had heavy rain up here on tyneside over the last week. hope this helps ! steve.( hebburn)

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