240 General: - Runs bad after dirving over a rain puddle

jorhyne · Oct 21st, 2007, 21:10

Every time I drive over a big puddle the car begins to run terrible. Once it dries out all is well. I have replaced the spark plugs, wires, distributor cap/rotor button. I also have the splash guard intact underneath. Any ideas what to look for to solve this problem? It it kind of dangerous getting stuck in traffic in the rain and sometimes I can barely make it home.

scottishvolvo · Oct 21st, 2007, 21:30

Not familiar with your car but does it have a lambda sensor that the wires from it might be getting wet and affecting the signal?
Where are you finding puddles anyway, I am just back from Montgomery AL and they are desperate for HEAVY rain, unless you are in the north of Georgia and don't want to share your water!!!!!

jorhyne · Oct 21st, 2007, 21:39

I am in south east Georgia near the Florida border. We have been getting lots of rain here unlike North Georgia. I am not familiar with a lambda sensor is that the same as Oxygen sensor? If so I see one of those near the catalytic converter. It has some exposed wire on it. Could that be a problem?

scottishvolvo · Oct 21st, 2007, 21:44

Same thing, if it has exposed wiring it might be shorting. Try some electrical tape to seal the wires first and if it cures it your sorted till you need a new one.

jorhyne · Oct 21st, 2007, 22:01

Thanks for the tip. One thing I noticed about that sensor is it does not plug in at a connector. To remove it I would have to cut the wires and splice the wires with the new sensor. Is that customary on these cars? Most O2 sensors I've seen simply plug into a connector. I just happened to notice the sensor yesterday as I was under the car working on something else and happened to notice some exposed wire there.

Mike_Brace · Oct 21st, 2007, 22:13

It is a long cable running up to a connector on the bulkead close to the hinge on the rhs of the car.

Mike

scottishvolvo · Oct 21st, 2007, 22:18

Thanks for butting in Mike. If anyone knows it will be you.

jorhyne · Oct 22nd, 2007, 03:15

Thanks for the help fellas. I was just looking at O2 sensor prices and they are $100- pretty pricey. I bet this is the original one from the looks of it. The manual says to replace it every 50k miles. Guess I should think about getting one of those.

Oct 21st, 2007, 21:10	#1
jorhyne New Member Last Online: Mar 15th, 2008 05:09 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Brunswick,Georgia	Runs bad after dirving over a rain puddle Every time I drive over a big puddle the car begins to run terrible. Once it dries out all is well. I have replaced the spark plugs, wires, distributor cap/rotor button. I also have the splash guard intact underneath. Any ideas what to look for to solve this problem? It it kind of dangerous getting stuck in traffic in the rain and sometimes I can barely make it home.

Oct 21st, 2007, 21:30	#2
scottishvolvo Premier Member Last Online: Nov 17th, 2023 00:15 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Glasgow	Not familiar with your car but does it have a lambda sensor that the wires from it might be getting wet and affecting the signal? Where are you finding puddles anyway, I am just back from Montgomery AL and they are desperate for HEAVY rain, unless you are in the north of Georgia and don't want to share your water!!!!! __________________ Chris '98 S40 2.0T..Gone. 2000 S40 2.0 SE Auto and loving it. 2014 V40 Cross Country Please consider registering with the Anthony Nolan Trust, you could save a life.

Oct 21st, 2007, 21:44	#4
scottishvolvo Premier Member Last Online: Nov 17th, 2023 00:15 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Glasgow	Same thing, if it has exposed wiring it might be shorting. Try some electrical tape to seal the wires first and if it cures it your sorted till you need a new one. __________________ Chris '98 S40 2.0T..Gone. 2000 S40 2.0 SE Auto and loving it. 2014 V40 Cross Country Please consider registering with the Anthony Nolan Trust, you could save a life.

Oct 21st, 2007, 22:13	#6
Mike_Brace Former contributor Last Online: Jul 2nd, 2022 07:54 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Rhosgoch, Anglesey	It is a long cable running up to a connector on the bulkead close to the hinge on the rhs of the car. Mike __________________ A Volvo is for life not just for Christmas!

Oct 21st, 2007, 22:18	#7
scottishvolvo Premier Member Last Online: Nov 17th, 2023 00:15 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Glasgow	Thanks for butting in Mike. If anyone knows it will be you. __________________ Chris '98 S40 2.0T..Gone. 2000 S40 2.0 SE Auto and loving it. 2014 V40 Cross Country Please consider registering with the Anthony Nolan Trust, you could save a life.

Oct 21st, 2007, 21:39	#3
jorhyne New Member Last Online: Mar 15th, 2008 05:09 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Brunswick,Georgia	I am in south east Georgia near the Florida border. We have been getting lots of rain here unlike North Georgia. I am not familiar with a lambda sensor is that the same as Oxygen sensor? If so I see one of those near the catalytic converter. It has some exposed wire on it. Could that be a problem?

Oct 21st, 2007, 22:01	#5
jorhyne New Member Last Online: Mar 15th, 2008 05:09 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Brunswick,Georgia	Thanks for the tip. One thing I noticed about that sensor is it does not plug in at a connector. To remove it I would have to cut the wires and splice the wires with the new sensor. Is that customary on these cars? Most O2 sensors I've seen simply plug into a connector. I just happened to notice the sensor yesterday as I was under the car working on something else and happened to notice some exposed wire there.

Oct 22nd, 2007, 03:15	#8
jorhyne New Member Last Online: Mar 15th, 2008 05:09 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Brunswick,Georgia	Thanks for the help fellas. I was just looking at O2 sensor prices and they are $100- pretty pricey. I bet this is the original one from the looks of it. The manual says to replace it every 50k miles. Guess I should think about getting one of those.

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