'98 T4 - Head Gasket & Left Amber lights permanently on....

Leo2009 · Mar 30th, 2009, 11:45

Hi All,

After having a complete nightmare with my previous car (02 Omega) mostly with head gasket needing replacing and quoted circa £800 to fix, I bought my mate's '98 T4 for £300 figuring I would smoke about in that until I could afford to fix the Omega.

I have only had the T4 for a couple of weeks and really enjoy it, so now thinking I might keep it and shift the Omega on. But this morning, I was driving up the M40 from London and the left side amber lights (front/side/back) are sticking on as is the green indicator light on the dash console. They aren't flashing though. I was on the motorway and in a rush so haven't had chance to play with anything, but wanted to know if this is a common fault and are there any easy workarounds?

Whilst I had the bonnet up, I thought I would look at the dipstick (as stupidly didn't check when buying) and it was coated in yellow mayonnaise! So, again wanted to know if this is indicative of head gasket gone, or is this a common fault and something else to check before fixing. The water temperature seems fine and didn't move throughout the journey. I know from my Omega nightmare that there are other things on that engine that can cause a misdiagnosis of Head Gasket failure. Wondering if it is the same for the T4 engine.

Thirdly, if it is head gasket, how expensive a job is it on these engines?

I noticed that over the past few days it has been pulling strangely at low and high revs... sort of juddering as if it wasn't getting enough fuel through the line. Is this likely to be connected to the possible head gasket issue?

Sorry for all the questions, but I am new to these cars/engines and need to figure out the cheapest option to have a car that works. Rather than two on the driveway with HGs blown!

Thanks

Leo

coupeboy · Mar 30th, 2009, 12:29

Your indicator lights problem could be a number of things (obviously it's one thing but we don't know what is it yet!). The front and rear indicators are unconnected to the side markers. The side markers (set into the bumpers) come on with the ignition. These are not MoTable and you can ignore them. Indicators stuck on (when activated) could be indicative of a failed bulb or a failed switch as part of the column stalk. Otherwise I'm thinking stray earth. best thing is to get hold of a wiring diagram - best to buy the Haynes Manual if you're keeping the car.
The mayo on the dipstick is normal but could be exaserbated by a blocked oil breather system. If the oil is clean inside the cam cover/underside of the oil filler cap, there's nothing sinister looking (oil) in the coolant reservoir and you aren't losing water, you haven't got a head gasket problem (yet). Head gasket job on any ohc engine isn't going to be cheap. It's probably £200 in parts plus a days labour. On the bright side you'll have a fully sorted engine.
An engine running badly isn't unique to Volvo, it's indicative of: bad plugs (buy Volvos), bad plug leads (£40ish for a Volvo set), rubbish fuel (buy some 99 RON from Tescos or Shell V-Power), blocked/old air filter, blocked/old fuel filter - in other words, get it serviced!

SteveP · Mar 30th, 2009, 16:03

Can't comment on the mayo/light problems.. but the hesitation I bet will be down to the fuel pump - they're a common failure on 98 models and it happened to mine. Very easy to replace though! As coupeboy said, always use Volvo plugs on these.

Leo2009 · Mar 30th, 2009, 17:46

Cheers for that guys...

Took the car out at lunchtime and hey presto the indicators were back to normal. Weird. But yes will have a look at the resistors this weekend and give them all a good wipe/replace. Not sure about possible earthing problem but have somebody local to me who should be able to figure it out.

If mayo on the dipstick isn't a problem then I don't think it is HG as all else is fine. Phew!

Servicing - yeah not a bad idea

- Will try and do what I can this weekend with my mate who is far more mechanically minded than me (I am good at passing tools/cups of tea and fags!)

Fuel Pump makes sense - I have had that done on another previous car so know where to go with that one.

Thanks

Leo

SteveP · Mar 30th, 2009, 18:05

What I would recommend is *if* it turns out to be the fuel pump, either upgrade it to a Walbro 225 lp/h pump (for about £85) - but you'll have to do a few modifications to it I believe. I'm pretty sure there's a guide on s40concepts.net to do this.

In all honesty the genuine Volvo fuel pump for the T4 is a ludicrous price of around £225. I wouldn't mind but it's not like they made them right in the first place :P

Mar 30th, 2009, 11:45	#1
Leo2009 New Member Last Online: Jul 3rd, 2009 10:41 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Oxford/Banbury	'98 T4 - Head Gasket & Left Amber lights permanently on.... Hi All, After having a complete nightmare with my previous car (02 Omega) mostly with head gasket needing replacing and quoted circa £800 to fix, I bought my mate's '98 T4 for £300 figuring I would smoke about in that until I could afford to fix the Omega. I have only had the T4 for a couple of weeks and really enjoy it, so now thinking I might keep it and shift the Omega on. But this morning, I was driving up the M40 from London and the left side amber lights (front/side/back) are sticking on as is the green indicator light on the dash console. They aren't flashing though. I was on the motorway and in a rush so haven't had chance to play with anything, but wanted to know if this is a common fault and are there any easy workarounds? Whilst I had the bonnet up, I thought I would look at the dipstick (as stupidly didn't check when buying) and it was coated in yellow mayonnaise! So, again wanted to know if this is indicative of head gasket gone, or is this a common fault and something else to check before fixing. The water temperature seems fine and didn't move throughout the journey. I know from my Omega nightmare that there are other things on that engine that can cause a misdiagnosis of Head Gasket failure. Wondering if it is the same for the T4 engine. Thirdly, if it is head gasket, how expensive a job is it on these engines? I noticed that over the past few days it has been pulling strangely at low and high revs... sort of juddering as if it wasn't getting enough fuel through the line. Is this likely to be connected to the possible head gasket issue? Sorry for all the questions, but I am new to these cars/engines and need to figure out the cheapest option to have a car that works. Rather than two on the driveway with HGs blown! Thanks Leo

Mar 30th, 2009, 12:29	#2
coupeboy Senior Member Last Online: Oct 1st, 2019 08:50 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Preston	Your indicator lights problem could be a number of things (obviously it's one thing but we don't know what is it yet!). The front and rear indicators are unconnected to the side markers. The side markers (set into the bumpers) come on with the ignition. These are not MoTable and you can ignore them. Indicators stuck on (when activated) could be indicative of a failed bulb or a failed switch as part of the column stalk. Otherwise I'm thinking stray earth. best thing is to get hold of a wiring diagram - best to buy the Haynes Manual if you're keeping the car. The mayo on the dipstick is normal but could be exaserbated by a blocked oil breather system. If the oil is clean inside the cam cover/underside of the oil filler cap, there's nothing sinister looking (oil) in the coolant reservoir and you aren't losing water, you haven't got a head gasket problem (yet). Head gasket job on any ohc engine isn't going to be cheap. It's probably £200 in parts plus a days labour. On the bright side you'll have a fully sorted engine. An engine running badly isn't unique to Volvo, it's indicative of: bad plugs (buy Volvos), bad plug leads (£40ish for a Volvo set), rubbish fuel (buy some 99 RON from Tescos or Shell V-Power), blocked/old air filter, blocked/old fuel filter - in other words, get it serviced!

Mar 30th, 2009, 16:03	#3
SteveP 300 Maniac Last Online: Apr 23rd, 2024 09:31 Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Coventry View Photos By: SteveP	Can't comment on the mayo/light problems.. but the hesitation I bet will be down to the fuel pump - they're a common failure on 98 models and it happened to mine. Very easy to replace though! As coupeboy said, always use Volvo plugs on these.

Mar 30th, 2009, 17:46	#4
Leo2009 New Member Last Online: Jul 3rd, 2009 10:41 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Oxford/Banbury	Cheers for that guys... Took the car out at lunchtime and hey presto the indicators were back to normal. Weird. But yes will have a look at the resistors this weekend and give them all a good wipe/replace. Not sure about possible earthing problem but have somebody local to me who should be able to figure it out. If mayo on the dipstick isn't a problem then I don't think it is HG as all else is fine. Phew! Servicing - yeah not a bad idea - Will try and do what I can this weekend with my mate who is far more mechanically minded than me (I am good at passing tools/cups of tea and fags!) Fuel Pump makes sense - I have had that done on another previous car so know where to go with that one. Thanks Leo

Mar 30th, 2009, 18:05	#5
SteveP 300 Maniac Last Online: Apr 23rd, 2024 09:31 Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Coventry View Photos By: SteveP	What I would recommend is if it turns out to be the fuel pump, either upgrade it to a Walbro 225 lp/h pump (for about £85) - but you'll have to do a few modifications to it I believe. I'm pretty sure there's a guide on s40concepts.net to do this. In all honesty the genuine Volvo fuel pump for the T4 is a ludicrous price of around £225. I wouldn't mind but it's not like they made them right in the first place :P

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