Low compression (very nearly dead) V70 T5 Classic..

[Max M4X WW]

Hi all,

Me again with ramblings about the OH's Dad's V70 - I found this car for him a few years back, always wanted to get my hands on it but it now has a missfire and very low compression on Cyl 3.

I'm assuming rings or burnt valve?

How 'easy' are these engine to strip down? I could even swap the engine? (I've done an engine change in my Fiesta from a 1.1 to a Zetec with the help of friends but its not running yet!)

I really don't want to see this car go to the breakers as its quite 'rare' being a Manual!

Any thoughts? (Its done 147k miles and is a bit rough, but I'd probably strip it out and see what happens if I could get it running)

Thanks

[Max M4X WW]

I think he has driven this until the engine wont run now, so no idea what's happened. I've not seen the car for a while.

[henrycrun]

Try http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/ and look for the correct age sub forum

[Max M4X WW]

Well I actually went and had a quick look at the car the other day, it was flat so I jumped it and it runs.

The engine shakes/hunts, it misfires ever so slightly and the ECU is limiting the rev's to 4000rpm. I didn't drive it but didn't notice any smoke when revving.

I'm wondering if the garage carried out the compression test correctly and if its still just the ETM problem but getting worse.

Video of it running: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8jGsJMeRZA

Edited by Max M4X WW on Monday 4th March 19:18

[jith]

You're getting in a pickle with this Max!

2 very common Volvo problems on this engine. The first is the VVT pulley that controls the valve timing. When either it or the control valve for it fails it makes the engine miss and sound like a diesel; exactly the way yours does in the video.

The other problem is a winter one. If the oil is not kept spotless and of the correct grade it can cause the hydraulic followers to pump up on cold start and keep the valves open, causing very low compression and poor to non starting.

Both are jobs not for the faint hearted and involve removing the timing belt, lifting cams and setting up valve timing.

Best of luck.

J

[Max M4X WW]

Not as bad as I thought in a way then. Would these problems explain the low compression too?

It actually doesn't sound as bad in person as it does in the video, it sounds pretty normal until you open the bonnet and see things wobbling. The ticking is the injectors.

Thanks for the help, but I still think it will end up on ebay as spares or repair as he is fed up with it!

[Max M4X WW]

Well it sold for a poor £285!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/330884943693