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Volvo V50 DRIVe 1.6d 122k
Had various problems in the last 100k miles, replaced the DPF at one point. 6 months ago I got a message saying something about "reduced engine performance" but it seemed to drive fine but smelt a bit funny, took it into local independent volvo garage, they found needed new injectors (leaking around them causing smell) and glowplugs (causing error code), so a few hundred quid later, picked up the car and it had no power, stalling and generally running out of oomph on hills.
I took it back and they played around with a load of stuff, swapped out air filters and bits and pieces but no error codes, so not sure what to do, but they thought it was a bit better.
I was still really under-powered, although perhaps marginally better.Took it in again, this time chargeable as not the problem I took it in with (trying to walk the line between reasonable and mug, the garage are decent guys imho). They had it for a few days, eventually coming to the conclusion it was gunged up air intake, looking on the computer much lower than the ideal figures, so they squirted a couple of cans of special stuff into the air inlets and it probably made things a bit better, but cost a fair bit, although they didnt charge me for all the time they work working on it, I was still a couple of hundred worse off.
I've been living with it for a few months now because I cant afford to go in with a blank cheque, but it's really #£&*ing me off that sometimes I can barely pull away and appear to drive like an incompetent old man. Even the touran drives better! In desperation I put a couple of tanks of super-diesel through, but that hasnt made any difference.
I believe its actually a Peugeot engine that's in lots of other cars so the problem cant be unique, I've googled it but get a lot of confused statements about what fixed similar problems, but I've either already tried them or seem to be slightly different. Ideally I'd like a solution that I can DIY as currently jobless and cant afford to pay hourly rate to a garage, especially without any guarantee of improvement. Any thoughts?!
Help me STW you're my only hope. Probably.
the garage are decent guys imho
Whats the saying about doing the same thing over and over again but expecting a different result?
The garage I use they can tell from my description of an issue what fault code is going to show up before they plug it in.
Having all the hardware is only so much use - you have to actually understand whats going on. Try another garage.
To be fair they have been good in the past, but I think they are specialists in 'proper volvos' not modern cars with Volvo branding.
EDIT: I have been using them for a few years and not had cause to question their abilities before.
bookmarked as I have a similar car. Nothing to add!
but I think they are specialists in 'proper volvos' not modern cars with Volvo branding.
well you own a modern car so theres your problem. You need a modern garage.
the 1.6 HDI is used in more models of cars by more manufactures than any diesel engine ever. The engines have been around for 10 years and are in millions of vehicles. Hardly bleeding edge or esoteric.
Turbo failure? Isn't this the engine that if the oil and mesh filter changes aren't done religiously tends to disgorge bits of the failed turbo into the engine.
Against that is that I would have expected a garage to have diagnosed a turbo failure quite quickly.
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I'm not sure if it applies here, but does the engine have an EGR valve?
If it fails, you'll get the engine going into limp mode and will have the issues with lack of power and torque. It will also cause the DPF to clog faster as the engine will not run hot enough to blast out the particulates or allow the turbo to run at normal boost pressure. Glow plugs shouldn't make any difference at normal operating temperature, but I'm suspicious about the air intake problems that you've reported as this would point to an EGR on the fritz.
IME Diesel engines seem to respond extremely well to your classic Italian tune up - drive them down the motorway at 3,500rpm or greater for twenty odd miles every couple of weeks.
On my old 2.0HDI peugeot mine got to a point where i couldn't get above 40mph. As you say it had no oomph what so ever. It however was not going into limp home mode and was showing no erros on the dash. even plugging into Peugeot Planet showed nothing.
As others above have said, i assumed the turbo was shot so i started to remove bits from the engine bay to get a better look. As i was removeing all the trim round the back of the engine, i discovered the air intake pipe between the air inbox and turbo had come apart. This meant that air was being sucked in after the MAF sensor so less air was coming across the MAF so it wouldn't fuel. As soon as i put it all back together and made sure the circlip was tight, it was back to normal.
Could be worth spending half an hour tracing all the pipes on the intake system on both sides of the turbo and intercooler to make sure nothing has come apart or split.
Nothing to loose!! - Good luck
I did specifically ask about the turbo and was assured it wasn't that. I'll google EGR it has been mentioned on some other threads. Anyone recommend a reasonably priced volvo (or good non-brand specific) garage in the Brighton area.
Maybe I'll have a go at the 'Italian tune up' if I can find a road around here that i can get a clear 20 miles on! I do get a run over to Bristol every month or so, not sure what rev's I'm doing tho'
injectors on Pug HDI need coding to the ECU.
EGR on HDi known to suffer condensation build up which shorts our EGR power and also (varies between vehicles as to how ECU power is shared) kills fuel pressure/temp charge pressure. this causes warning message, phantom stumbles (normally on tip-out) and stalls.
if not serviced religiusly the oil thickens and clogs turbo oil feed gauze (as earlier post) and kills turbo which is then often ingested killing the engine.
The HDi is a failry stressed engine and should have annual service regardless of mileage. Stupid long life oil and extended service intervals kills these things (and all other engines).
If your garage does not have citroen PSA diagnostic software they are p***ing in the wind as the french in their wisdom use any old fault codes in relation to physical faults and dont give too hoots..
find a citroen / diesel independent garage that has the experience to diagnose. parts for HDi's are not cheap and randomly throwing parts at it wont fix it.
Have a read of this ( http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/car-digital-wiringtrackworld)
Could it be the same problem? Surely not??
Similar issues to what i had recently on a Navars, googled and found likely candidate was the suction control valve, replaced it and been running better than ever since
I run an dying '04 V50 (albeit the 2.0 diesel variant)
Your issues sound similar to something I experienced a few months ago. As mentioned above it was only spotted when I took a few hours to trace all the turbo pipes etc, to find air intake loose.
As a side note (I saw Brighton mentioned) I use Charlwood automotive Crawley/Gatwick area, as I live Worthing/Horsham. They are volvo independent specialist and have had no issues with them.
Hope all is resolved soon!
Not a Volvo garage but I use G&M Autocare on Montpelier road in Brighton and they generally seem OK. For example they have looked at my Citreon (1.6 HDI) before and not charged me anything when they easily could of for minor issues
The HDi is a failry stressed engine and should have annual service regardless of mileage
Hdi or not your vehicle will thank you for an annual service.
Long service intervals sell cars on lease. Dealer doesn't care the car doesn't last beyond 100k ....another car they can sell a new car to replace 🙂
As for coding the injectors. Injectors are calibrated by machine and assigned a calibration code. This code is fed to the ECU so that the ECU knows how long to pulse to get correct amount of fuel.