2001 V70, about 135,000 miles.

Driving from Cincinnati to Pittsburgh a couple weeks ago, the check engine light came on but there were no messages in the information display. Pulled in at a rest stop and checked the gas cap, oil level, dip stick and jiggled everything that could be jiggled. Light stayed on but the car ran fine.

A couple days later, the check engine light went out. A couple days after that, the light came back on.

I took it to my guy who said that he was getting a code for an air leak (I think) but he couldn't find it. The light went out and stayed out for two more days.

Today it came on at start up and after about ten miles I got a message that the gas cap was loose. The gas cap warning stayed on for about ten minutes and then went away.

Any thoughts? Gremlins?

 

did you scan for any stored codes? you may find there's issues in the evap system - a common problem is the "J hose" back by the evap canister. Google "volvo J hose" to find some vids and write ups...

 

I didn't scan but my mechanice, who specializes in Volvos, did. He did say that there a couple codes but he couldn't find the issues indicated.

I'll ask him about the J hose.

More Gremlins. Now I have a message that says "Engine System Service Required."

 

vaccuum and intake air leaks can be hard to find. Your mechanic probably has access to a smoke machine (which pushing tracing smoke into the intake air systems and on the expectation it will leak out where there's a problem). The other option is to use something like carb cleaner and spray around the vacuum lines and intake hose couplings to see if any gets sucked in.

 

I believe that my guy used the old "brake cleaner" method to look for vacuum leaks and couldn't find one. He said that the J-tube is fine.

He's thinking that maybe the PCV box needs to be replaced. I've given him too much money this year so I'm going to tackle that. Questions will be in a new thread.

 

Possibly the a leak in evaporative system that captures fuel tank vapors ? Computer checks for leaks periodically.
I'd inspect the vacuum lines for it, especially around the engine where the heat is.

old jim

 

There's a big gap in the time-line of this 2 year old thread. I doubt Grey Bearded One is still around.
It's too bad his "mechanic" didn't give him the actual code numbers.

 

The V70 died shortly after all of this was going on. If memory serves, there was a problem with the O2 sensor.

Then the head gasket failed and the car started billowing white smoke. Same problem a two years earlier and I had an engine swap done. This time, I said, "The heck with it."

My mechanic had a 2002 S60 for sale that was in "good shape." Since I had eight new tires and extra Volvo wheels, I bought it. He's now my ex-mechanic. The fuel filter hadn't been changed in so long that it was rusted in place (I think that it might have been the original). The struts were leaking. The cabin air filter had a 2004 date code. Engine air filter was clogged as heck. So much for "I've been maintaining this car and it's in good shape." He was supposedly trying to sell it for a customer but I think that he bought it on spec and was looking for a sucker.