Engine: 70: Bi-Fuel problems cutting out when running LPG

[jackbob]

New to this forum stuff so help me out please if I am making a mess of it.
I have an '03 V70 Bi-Fuel 2.4s which frequently cuts out when running on gas. This is not because there is no gas in it incidently! Apparrently if the gas runs out it automatically switchs to petrol. I'm pretty sure this is happening as it should, ( only run the gas low enough once ) as when I checked this on low gas, eventually the fuel select switch started to flash which means that gas is selected but it is running on petrol. So we think that part of the fuel selection is working as it should.
The cuttin out can be at anytime and nearly always unexpected which can be very dangerous as if driving with low revs at the time (Auto G'box!) then it can stall, loosing powersteering and brakes!! Consequently creating a panic for the fuel select switch - neutral - and restart while often still freewheeling. (prob do the gearbx no good at all!)
Anyway Volvo maindealer is ages away and generally unhelpful so has anyone come across this problem or know of any specialist who would help with this. or is maybe a bi-fuel expert? I would be most grateful. Thank you, Alex.

[MrP]

our's tends to do this first thing in the morning, but after that it tends to be fine, is yours doing it all the time?

[olsen]

I would check ignition coils and spark plugs

[ericv]

I did have similar problems running on LPG. In the end I had an LPG Specialist look at it, and eventually changed the Gas Districbutor and Spark Plugs (NGK's) and I must say it has never run better and I'm geting over 200 miles on my LPG tank. (I recommend North Herts Autogas near Welwyn Garden City - The gas Distributor was £294.00 plus VAT)

[landie57]

I have a late 2002 V70 bi-fuel and it has had an ongoing problem of loosing power when running on LPG. The gas distributor has been replaced several times which resolves the problem for a while. Just had 108000 mile service and it did it again on way home from service.
My dealer has been extremley helpful. I am sure Volvo know this part is not fit for purpose but hope all victims of this problem do not get together. Maybe it is time we contacted the BBC and their Watchdog programme!!!

[Multiplex]

I know this isnt much help but it could be any number of things....

• Poor servicing (incorrect pressures)
• Poor servicing (filters not replaced)
• Software fault
• Faulty pressure regulator
• Faulty Gas Distributor
• Sticking shut off valves/solenoids
• LPG Leak

Thats just off the top of my head. Virtully impossible to diagnose over the internet! A "GOOD" Volvo main dealer with "GOOD" knowledge of LPG systems will be able to diagnose & repair the fault.

Someone mentioned above "Coils & Plugs" - is the engine running ok on Petrol? If so then i would not suspect these to be the cause of your fault.

[humphrey999]

I suspect you have a problem with the pressure regulator. Mine has also started to do this but the problem seems to have resolved recently of its own accord. It was happening all the time last week and now not at all.

Originally I was having trouble with rough running and poor, stuttering acceleration that I put down to a clogged distributor. Follwing some advice from this forum I disconnected the LPG pipe below the filter and poured in injector cleaner. This itself did help initially but the problem quickly returned and when I aked the volvo specialist about it they cleaned out the throttle housing and this resolved the problem altogether. Now the car runs well, apart from the cutting out last week...

I put this more recent problem down to the pressure regulator - since the car ran well otherwise and seemed to cut out in neutral (my car's a manual) when approaching a junction. I reasoned that the distributor was fine because the car ran well otherwise but there was a pressure problem that led to the stall at idle. I had had the car chipped the week before so I thought that some gunk from the LPG that had built up over the life of the car had been dislodged by the increase in fuel flow that the chipping had allowed and hoped that it would pass. And it has. I have no proof but given your symptoms I suspect that it is a pressure regulator problem rather than a distributor one. Mine also used to switch to petrol while driving and refuse to go back to gas but if (while still on the move but in a safe environment) I switched the ignition off then on briefly then the problem resolved! You never know you're problem may pass but you may need to clean out the pressure regulator? Perhpas you can use the injector cleaner trick too but por it down the other pipe?

[Blackpanther]

We also have an S60 Bi-fuel which cuts out occasionally when running on LPG. We put it into the local Volvo dealer who said they'd diagnose the problem, 3 days , a new pipe and £350 later they test drove it and it still cuts out. They said the next step was to replace the fuel distributer which they would do for £1069.50. They would not admit that it is a known problem although it obviously is as many people on the internet seem to have this problem. I have written an email to WATCHDOG on there website, and I would encourage anyone else with the problem to do the same. Why should owners have to pay a third of the cars value when they are only 6 years old, to keep them running safely?

[portuguese]

Originally Posted by landie57

I am sure Volvo know this part is not fit for purpose but hope all victims of this problem do not get together. Maybe it is time we contacted the BBC and their Watchdog programme!!!

That would make sense. For a brand that advertises safety so much, I had so many problems in the middle of the highway or in junctions, its very unsafe.

Shaming them might help! Its the only way.

BBC anyone?

[savabill]

This thread has been dead since October 2009. Portugues are you having problems? Might be a good idea to start a thread instead of slagging Volvo off. You never know, someone might be able to help you.