V70 Engine Light comes on at acceleration ...

Hi Everyone

Quicky question, I think ...

When I accelerate from a stop, especially going up-hill, I'm finding the
Engine Light coming on for a little bit - but then it always turns off
again.

In fact, it's only if I tax the engine - but even when being cautious (I
never over-tax it anyway).

I've checked the oil level - it's perfect. (thinking that the oil
sloshing around might trigger an alert).

Should I be concerned? Apart from this, the engine runs and sounds perfect.

Now, I just WASHED the car today - any chance the something got wet and
is causing this?

Thanks for any input.

Yours,

Allan Shearer
Brockville, Ontario
Canada

--------------------

Our new pride'n'joy:
http://www.shearer.ca/Images/VolvoV70.jpg

Our first-ever Volvo ... sadly, up for sale:
http://www.shearer.ca/volvos4sale/240_Front1.jpg

 

My 1997 850GLT occasionally flashes a warning light for a
fraction of a second, usually when I'm accelerating. I think
it's the alternator light, and I'm assuming the belt is slipping
a bit. But if your Check Engine light is coming on, I doubt
that it's a belt, since that light is usually emissions-related.
Of course, getting wet could encourage a belt to slip.

 

Last question first: should you be concerned? No. The "check engine" light
is there to announce something wrong that affects emission control (although
several mfr's have piggybacked things like automatic transmission controller
codes onto it). As long as the engine seems to run okay, it is safe to drive
normally even with the check engine light on solidly. A few failures can
cause the engine to run so rich that the catalytic converter can be damaged
in long high speed hill climbs, but that's about the limit of it.

We can only guess why the light is momentarily coming on, but whatever it is
only annoys you at this point. My guess is it will eventually get worse so
the light stays on more and more, and then you can get it checked out. It
will be easier (cheaper) to repair when the indications stay there.

Mike

 

Cool! Thanks to both of you for your input on this.

Actually, I assume it's the 'engine check' light - as it does not actually
have any such text, but a little icon/image of an engine.

Great to know that it's not about to blow up! Indeed, I'll sit tight with
it and wait to see if it gets worse/more-steadily-ON ... and then take it to
my mechanic.

Thanks again.

Yours,

Allan Shearer

 

My warning light that flashed on occasionally finally stayed
on long enough for me to get a good look at it. It wasn't the
alternator light, but rather the cooling system light. Apparently
when the coolant was changed recently, some air may have
been trapped in the system causing the level to drop later.
I added about half a pint of water, and the problem is fixed.

 

The next day after I posted this, the light behaved itself. Hasn't
flickered ON ever-since. So, I think it might just have been the fact that
I had just washed the car and likely got one of the belts wet, so the
alternator or other component was slipping.

Allan