Hi all,
1998 Volvo S90 here -- I'm concernd about a recent diagnosis that my ignition coils are bad. At $60 a pop (cheap by a quick on-line research comparison) the mechanic says he will have to change all 6. So that's $360+tax, and then labor.
Is changing all 6 necessary? We identified that there is a misfire in the #2.
Compression a solid 150 across all 6, and new spark plugs, filter, other things.

Basically, for some reason my fan is turning on all the time, and then my alternator died. Or my alternator died first, and then the fan thing started. (or the fan thing is unrelated). So we put a new altenrator in, and then BOOM -- the car shakes like a Vegas bed.

Send me a TIP before I spend all of my fricken money.

Thanks !

 

You could replace the one coil but when one goes usually the others aren't far behind.

Do you have a check engine light on?

 

Yes, the engine check light has been on for a few months. I took it into a mechanic then -- he said Volvo's are senstivie electrically and the lights are always going on. He told me to ignore it. So you're saying to replace them all? The ignition coils that came out of the car were all cracked (small cracks, one line long maybe). Is that what a "dead" ignition coil looks like?

Thanks.

 

It is not what a Dead one looks like but when they crack they are going to fail.
If you can afford it I would replace all of them. This way it saves you trouble.
You could replace them yourself. They are easy to do.

The S90 is not real bad for the Check engine light to always come on.
Was there a code forthe ECT (coolant temp sensor)?

 

Ok. Yes -- I saw how easy they would be to put replace. Code? Not sure. The mechanic did the diagnostic (with his machine; the machine said there was a misfire in cylinder 2). Where would I see the code?

 

It would have been with the Misfire code.
I was thinking ECT with the cooling fan problem.

 

thanks for your help. i'm not sure about the cooling fan. i'll have to broach that one next i guess. let me know if there's something i should look out for ..... ?

 

When does it come on?
Is it after you start the car?
If so is the A/C on?

 

Car goes on: within a few minutes the fan goes on. A/C is not on. The temperature gauge seems to rock (as if the thermostat in the engine were loose or something; I checked the oil in the car -- no bubbles; compression in engine is fine; so basically I have not overheated). The fan goes on then on and off while I am driving all the time. It's not that it goes on when the car gets really hot.

A friend also mentioned ... like it might have to do with something happening in radiator. No clue. The radiator liquid in the excess tank is filled as it should be.

 

Maybe bad thermostat or coolant temp sensor.
The thermostats are known to break.

 

not fixed yet.
a)is replacing the engine coolant sensor something a novice can do?
b)and the thermostat? as i recall the thermostat is on the inside of the radiator cap, isn't it.

we replaced all 6 ignition engine coils, and the car still is not running right. i've run out of mechanic's-money and absolutley have to be on the road in two days am. if i can pick up the parts and do it myself, i need to do so asap.

 

Yes you can.
The thermostat and sensor is located on the engine.
You will need to follow the upper Radiator hose to the engine. The thermostat is under the cover that the hose attaches to at the engine. You will need to remove the 2 Torxes screws. You will see the thermostat and sensor. The sensor screws into the bottom half of the housing.
Caution: Do not tap on the screws or the housing. It is Aluminum and will break if hit to hard.

 

whatkind of screwdriver do I need for aTorxes screw? I did a web search and image-web search but have not located a picture. I have found an photo of the car engine, and see where you are pointing me.

I have a socket-wrench set with allen, crescent, and sockets.
Life saver, Tech.

 

I'm posting this too: is thereavalve that sends hot exhaust gas into theinjector?know the name (i was just reading about it, but it was not named). in case thisis the culprit.

a) thermostat
b) sensor
c) valve ...

 

The Air pump only works when the car is cold.
Itonly works for about 30 to 50 seconds.

The Torxes is the star looking sockets. Almost like an Allen but the star ones.