V40 Bifuel distributor

[duncanh]

My factory fit bifuel runs fine on petrol but misfires and lacks power on LPG. I have changed the plugs, HT leads and renewed the inline gas filter. Next on the list of suspects is the stepper motor on the distributor. Before I pull it apart and clean it, do I need to get some kind of service kit, gaskets etc. Advice from anyone who has ever done this would be most welcome.

[richjc4]

http://lpg-kits.org.uk/shop/repair-k...t/prod_15.html

Think this is what you need buddy.

[duncanh]

Thanks for the link. I will get myself the kit. I saw your post from September. Sounds similar to my problems. Did you manage to get it sorted?

[richjc4]

I took the distributor apart but didn't realise there was a repair kit available, will be getting the kit shortly so fingers crossed

[Hewey]

If the distributor in the V40 is the same that is in V70, here are some useful pictures for you: http://www.volvo-forum.nl/viewtopic.php?t=2398

I'm not sure if the stepper motor can be internally cleaned, but if you manage to find a way, please do share your experiences. Of the mechanical parts, the most important area to clean would be the sliding cylinder V-shaped openings. It is easy to clean them when the cylinder is taken out of the distributor frame. You get to change the little O-rings then too. Brake cleaner / WD-40 / teflon spray will help you cleaning & lubricating the parts. In the repair set there is a small feeler gauge which you can use to carefully open the narrow end of the V-grooves.

Regards, Hewey

[richjc4]

Yes its the same one was looking for that link to put on here

[duncanh]

Thanks Rich and Hewey for the help and advice. I got myself a service kit, took the stepper motor off and pulled our the inner cylinder. Gave everything a scrape with the foil in the kit and washed the whole thing down with WD40. Replaced all the seals I could get at, put it back together and hey presto! Car runs perfectly.
I must admit that I don't know what fixed it as the grooves in the inner cylinder were pretty clean. Maybe the piston was sticking. I didn't disconnect any of the pipes as the hollow bolts were ridiculously tight I'm sure I could get them off on the bench but that would mean replacing all the hose clips with jubilee clips (all the hoses are secured with those clips that I'm sure manufacturers use to encourage you to go to the garage)
The link to the photos was very helpful. I would have never thought to pull the inner cylinder with an allen key without them

[MikeHill]

Before you strip down the distributor can I suggest you try the following: buy a bottle of injector cleaner, disconnect the distributor feed gas tube from the filter - there will be a small escape of gas, do not smoke when doing this, probably best done with a cold engine. Pour half the can of injector cleaner into the tube, then reconnect. Start the engine on petrol, switch to gas and stop the engine as it splutters with the injector cleaner going into it. Leave to soak for an hour or so or even overnight, restart the engine on petrol then switch to gas - it may stall and you may have to repeat this a couple of times until all the cleaner has cleared and the flow of gas been re-established. I have just followed this procedure on my S80 factory bifuel with astonishing and pleasing results - it runs more smoothly now than it has since I bought it in Feb. Without the time and aggro of removing the distributor.

I think this procedure both cleans and lubricates the unit from the inside.

I came across this in a comment by POUCH in thread on this site http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=76567

[pouch]

Originally Posted by MikeHill

Before you strip down the distributor can I suggest you try the following: buy a bottle of injector cleaner, disconnect the distributor feed gas tube from the filter - there will be a small escape of gas, do not smoke when doing this, probably best done with a cold engine. Pour half the can of injector cleaner into the tube, then reconnect. Start the engine on petrol, switch to gas and stop the engine as it splutters with the injector cleaner going into it. Leave to soak for an hour or so or even overnight, restart the engine on petrol then switch to gas - it may stall and you may have to repeat this a couple of times until all the cleaner has cleared and the flow of gas been re-established. I have just followed this procedure on my S80 factory bifuel with astonishing and pleasing results - it runs more smoothly now than it has since I bought it in Feb. Without the time and aggro of removing the distributor.

I think this procedure both cleans and lubricates the unit from the inside.

I came across this in a comment by POUCH in thread on this site http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=76567

This is pouch! this worked for me again this week when my car stalled again,i beleve the gas dist never neads to come off,unless the stepper goes wrong.Im made up that this has worked fo others!