I have a 1998 S70 with 284,000 miles on it. I have always kept up with most regular maintanence and haven't had any real issues - I travel extensivley and it's been a great car for me!

I just returned from a long trip and just as I was getting close to home suddenly the engine kind of hesitated/sputtered and lost power, I pulled over and the idle was very rough then it quit. I could not re start the engine but it sounded like it wanted to start ( a little firing but wouldn't run).

Last Winter the engine sputtered only a couple times but only when starting and it always did start and than ran fine. This was always when it sat a couple days outside without being driven for a few days.

The car has newer plugs & wires and a new cap and rotor.

I cleaned the throttle body - it had some decent build up.
I cleaned the MAF connection. I also diconnected the MFA and tried starting the engine.
Neither one of these made a difference.

It seems like a fuel issue as it sounds like it wants to start.

Gas mileage and everything else has been very nomal.

Thank you in advance for any advise or comments! I appreciate it!

Greg

 

My best guess would be the fuel pump just went.

 

My car was doing the same thing a few months back and the fuel pump relay was the culprit.

 

Pull the fuel line from the fuel rack and jump out the relay if fuel comes out of the line its the the relay if no fuel then its the pump. If your not comfortable with that unplug at the pump and check for 12 volts while somebody cranks the ignition if you got 12 volts its the pump if no 12 volts most likely relay.

FCP groton has a replacement pump for about $80 don't break any of the plastic housing when you pull it as you will end up at a junk yard or paying quite a bit more. Same place also has the relay for around $50. By the way my money is on Tech as my car did the exact same thing as yours and it was the pump. If you follow the instructions on the link for pump replacement should take an hour start to finish. Oil filter pliers are the key.

Check these links:

http://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/for...ic.php?p=56515
http://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/for...ic.php?p=32573

Good Luck!

 

Sorry I never followed up on this one - thought I did.

Yes - it was the fuel pump.

I was able to do this job myself (Big thanks to Volvo for putting access to the fuel pump ON TOP of the tank rather than on the bottom!). You do not have to drop the tank. Access to the fuel pump is in the trunk right behind the rear passenger side seat.