Volvo 360

Post by **Xeroi** » 19 May 2007 09:29 pm

I have a 1987 Volvo 360 GLE, it has a genuine 64000 miles on it and is in excellent condition. It great apart from a small problem. When you put your foot back on the accelerator after changing gear the car jerks slightly (like a mild case of kangaroo juice!), you can't accelarate without this happening. But it doesn't do it when you pull away from rest in first gear.
I've fitted new spark plugs, distributer cap, rotor arm & HT leads.
Its just annoying, doesn't cause a problem with driving.
Also for a 2 litre its not as nippy as I would have thought, were they very fast?
Anyway, I love it and am repairing some of the stone chips...gonna make it like new again!
Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks

Post by **SoLaMaNdA** » 19 May 2007 11:23 pm

Sounds like it's not fuelling properly at low rpm. I had this effect in my carb 360 when the float level was off.

They aren't blindingly fast cars but if you use the gears and torque well, they shift. There is no point using high revs as there is little power over 5krpm, use the grunt between 3-5k and keep the car there.

If the car was owned by a sedate driver, (as is true with most of these cars), a good thrash should clean it out and make it quicker. As always, never race the engine from cold and make sure it's had a recent oil change.

Someone who knows the injected engines will be able to help I'm sure.

Post by **pettaw** » 19 May 2007 11:39 pm

I think this is a carb engine isn't it? Anyway, yeah sounds like a worn carb to me. Solamanda has given you some things to check, float level is important as is a general tune up. Once the fuelling has been confirmed and adjusted then take it out for a good thrash to clean it up. Its the last thing you do after you've sorted out everything else. Thrashing a car with dodgy fuelling or ignition and hoping it'll cure it is a sure recipe for disaster

The carbed 360s have a very small carb for the engine and so are more of an economical cruiser than the torquey car that the GLT's are. You can cruise comfortably at 30 mph in 4th gear no sweat at all which you can't do so easily in a GLT, unless you want no power when you do need to accelerate. Also, the GLE engines always seem to last better with age, you don't get the spluttery idle you get with the injection model.

Post by **Xeroi** » 20 May 2007 11:43 am

Thanks for that!
I'll have a look at the float level.
I've got a Haynes manual for the car, is it easy to do?
Also Volvo don't make the light green metallic paint anymore, I tried getting some mixed at Halfords but it was a different colour...any ideas where I can get some?

Thanks!

Post by **pettaw** » 21 May 2007 07:29 pm

Make sure you get it done by colour code. Other that that I really don't know what else to advise

Post by **A M R** » 21 May 2007 08:04 pm

i get this kangaroo stuff as well at times. but mines injection. anyone know what this could be?

Post by MJ » 21 May 2007 09:20 pm

Our 340 only gets jumpy when you try and roll along at idle (in first gear), which I assumed was normal, due to lack of power.

Having said that, something electrical has packed up on the 850 making the mixture too rich, and the garage 'reset the codes' whatever that is, and today it seemed to kangaroo when rolling at idle, whereas normally, on level ground, it'll happily roll, making it much easier to drive in stop go traffic.

This makes me think that jerkyness at low speed means the mixture isn't quite right at idle revs. Anyway, lets hope the 850 sorts its self out or there'll be a big bill

Post by **pettaw** » 22 May 2007 12:15 am

A M R wrote:i get this kangaroo stuff as well at times. but mines injection. anyone know what this could be?

Specifically when? It might be something worn or needs adjusting, but it might also just be the limitations of an old system and need to be driven as such.

MJ, if the ECU has been reset, then all the idle mixtures and idle control valve etc will have to reset themselves. It'll take a couple of weeks, but then it should all be back to being silky smooth.

Post by MJ » 22 May 2007 11:31 am

Ah, I thought that might be the case. Thanks Andy

Post by **IvanAE86** » 22 May 2007 04:45 pm

Stuttering on injected 360's might be a problem with the fuel pump fuse. These are really crappy by design and often get loose. This may cause the car to stall completely sometimes, or just stutter for a while. It's not likely the cause if your car does this constantly though.

Post by **foggyjames** » 23 May 2007 01:41 am

My 360 carb was always "agressive" on the throttle at low speeds...it was hard to be smooth with it...but a pronounced 'buck' is pretty much bound to be a worn of mis-adjusted carb. I think I might have a spare good one kicking around.

Whereabouts in Cornwall are you? I have family in Truro, and I had a chat about the site to a guy with a silver 360 GLE when on holiday in Mullion last year.

cheers

James

Post by **Xeroi** » 24 May 2007 08:10 pm

I live in Liskeard.
Go down to Truro a lot.
The Kangarooing isn't that bad, I can live with it. But I will check the float level. I think it does need a good thrash, the original owner bought it new when he was 70, just given up driving at 90 so it could probably do with a run!
The heated seats don't work I suppose they give up with age?
Car's great though, going to spend the weekend working on its rusty bits!

Post by **maxwell** » 01 Jul 2007 11:03 am

Hi,

if i think over you problem, it look`s similar to my.

The hole problem can be in Renix High Voltage Transformator.

Look for more in http://www.volvo300mania.com/forum-uk/v ... php?t=3506

The timing of the HVT uses all so underpressure. If there is something wrong it could cause this problem.