My 1997 850 was kind of spitting and sputtering today. I have noticed this a little in the past when going up a hill. If I don't push pedal down far enough to make it downshift and just kind of maintain it will sometimes do this. Today it was happening while idling at intersections and at slow parking lot speeds. Acting like a misfire or lack of fuel. I pushed the accelerator down more hoping to "clear" it out and CEL came on. I looked up the code (P0303) and got this, Misfire Cylinder 3 - TWC Damage. I understand the misfire part but, not the TWC Damage part. It doesn't seem that long ago that I changed plugs, cap, and rotor. It's probably been a while since wires were replaced. I'm hoping that is all the problem is though. Any help on this issue would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

 

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Pull the plugs and make sure they are gapped correctly. They are suppose to be changed every 30,000 miles. Also, if the wires are not Volvo or Bogie change them again. Bosch cap and rotor.

Also, stop running 87 octane and do your PCV if it has not been done in the past 50,000 miles.

 

87 octane is fine, it isn't a high compression motor. And if octane was the problem, it would effect all cylinders.

 

Thank you for all the quick responses. I will have to pull the plugs and check them out. It could be getting close to 30,000. I usually keep very accurate maintenance records on my vehicles. But this car has so many miles on it, I figure most things I do might be the last time I ever do them. I just did the PCV last winter, so probably 20,000 on that. I think that was the first time it was ever done. Last time I changed plugs the CEL had been on for a long time. There was a misfire code for every cylinder except one and a multiple misfire code also. And at that time it didn't have any issues like this. There is a Tune Up Kit available at FCP (VOLTUNEUPKIT1) that comes with Bougicord wires. Is that Bogie?

 

ES6T: 10.5:1 is not high compression?
http://new.volvocars.com/ownersdocs/..._901.htm#pg9.3

Your post #2 in this thread was dead-on good advice (i.e. I agree) but I didn't see any reference to "turbo" so I am assuming this is the 2.4L N/A engine.

These engines have knock sensors so, while you can run 87 octane fuel, you will not get peak performance or gas mileage using it. Ck the owner's manual recommendation. Some suspect it may also cause cumulative engine wear but I'm not going there..

 

10.5:1 isn't high enough to require 91 octane.

While the owner's manual states that peak performance is achieved with 91 octane, running 87 octane won't cause a misfire (or any other engine damage)

 

You would be correct in assuming the 2.4 N/A. Anyway, only comment from me is the car has 316,000 miles running on 87. But I have also heard many people say bad things about today's lower octane fuels that are blended with ethanol.

 

Agreed; won't cause a misfire. Just surprised you consider 10.5:1 CR engine of this vintage "not high compression". Most engines of this vintage were less than 9:1 or so.

Back in my day anything over 9:1 was considered "high compression ratio".

 

Before you start throwing parts at it suggest you do what ES6T said in post #2; ck the compression. If number 3 cyl is low, new plugs and/or wires isn't going to help anything. And yes; Bogie is short for Bougicord.

 

What is the "OK" range for compression? Or should I just check all cylinders and compare?

 

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Also,which cylinder is #3? I assume since it is an inline engine the count goes 1,2,3,4,5 but, is #1 on passenger side or driver side?

 

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Thank you. Wow do I feel stupid, lol. Guess I had a brain fart. Doesn't matter which side 1 or 5 is on, 3 is always the middle.

 

haha it happens to all of us. But now you know which is #1 for future reference.

 

Just in case there is any doubt.

 

Compression was pretty good I would say for the mileage. I did two tests on every cyclinder, counted to 5 turning it over. #1-170-170, #2-170-165, #3-200-190, #4-150-170, #5-165-175. I think my "5" count was off when I got that 150 on #4. The #3 readings seem a bit strange but, this was the first cylinder I did and I was just getting my count sequence in tune. Also the gauge I was using wouldn't go to zero it would only go down to about 10. So I guess that would make every one of these numbers about 10 less. After testing, I replaced plugs, wires, cap, and rotor. Hopefully this will cure it. Thank you to everyone for the replies.