D5 - no power when kick down
 

Hey
So i noticed this really weird problem after a long 360 mile run out

At about 310 miles and after a fillup of fuel ,the car goes into low power mode (not limp/no errors on dash) you try to kick down and theres just no power like there's a rabbit caught in my air intake.

So, next day fire, up problem is gone and its driving like a beast.
No issues for the next couple of days. last night it was a monster, really shifting well. I go to fill up with tesco diesel (i know i know) an add my ecomax additive.

So today i fire her up go down the motorway and theres no power again. I was driving like miss daisy, so I didnt notice until i went uphill to overtake something and couldnt. If i squeeze the throttle i can get upto any speed i like but kick down and flaw it and the revs rise slower than normal and no power.

185bhp D5 07 400nm (or 20nm in this mode!)

Any ideas? Its non permanent so it isnt the usual pipes leaking etc. and weird it happens twice after a refill of fuel. Last time i didnt have my additive so put in Shelll Vpower and this happened. L

Morning....

The notion that it is supermarket fuel is unfounded. There are six refineries that produce petrol in the UK and none of them are owned by Supermarkets..... it's the same stuff more or less that you get from a branded forecourt.

First thing is to get is plugged in to some diagnostic equipment that understands Volvo - i.e. preferably Volvo VIDA at a dealer or Indie. There are a number of faults that can put the 185 D5 into a not well documented "restricted power" mode (rather than limp mode) and this doesn't put any lights or messages on the dashboard.

The scenarios I have personally experienced are intermittent or complete failures of the DPF and Catalyst temperature sensors. In this mode the revs are limited to around 3k rpm, but under that it will drive okay so it's possible not to notice - even on an auto - if you are just pottering about.

When was the last time the fuel filter was changed ?

My D3 had a split turbo pipe which would intermittently put it into proper limp mode, tell tale was that I could hear it hissing, I presume you're not hearing anything unusual on yours....

No its really weird. it was dodgey this morning, fine last night and fine at lunch today

literally hit and miss, rev, no power, like my maf used to on my old mk2 petrol turbo.

Might be worth checking the little plastic arm that controls the swirl flaps, I had this problem and the arm was disconnected from one end, I also had fault codes for the MAP sensor but it could have been all down to that little bit of plastic! It's just under the engine cover to the front left looking from in front of the car, you'll probably see it hanging if it's disconnected.

I had the waste gate control valve malfunctioning on my car. Just barely made 90 km/h when towing an empty trailer. Slowed down even in a slight uphill.

interestingly the map sensor was hanging down when i bought the car, maybe they already knew of this fault and got a code to say similar.

ANy pics of this or more description, i cant see it?

Hi,

The MAP sensor on mine (56 plate c70 D5) is behind the front bumper almost behind the fog light (right hand side looking at the car from front), it's located on the pipe from the intercooler. Had to remove bumper to get to it and couldn't see it from above, if you search for Volvo MAP sensor on eBay you'll see what it looks like.

When I initially had the problem I got a cheap obd reader from euro car parts for about £15 and got codes p2227 and p0069 that pointed toward the MAP sensor. Took me about an hour to do- bumper off, change sensor (1 min), bumper back on- and it's been fine since. The engine system service message cleared itself after a few days driving. If you go back a couple of weeks on the c70 <07 forum you'll find my post and the help I received!

Hope this helps

Andy

The little black plastic arm that you might see hanging down is the control arm for the swirl flaps. You'll find lots of info if you Google 'Volvo D5 swirl flap control arm'

I think its the maf - i cant confirm yet but it really feels like it - on my previous petrol turbo v70 the maf went, it wouldnt accelerate freely and would sort of pop/bang when revved. This is doing similar.

Its pretty much happening every drive now as soon as the engine wrms up the car doesnt accelerate and a hill becomes a chore.

Ok some developments. It used to be a intermittent thing - its now all the time.

I can drive for 5 mins, it will have no power. I try to rev and theres no oomph, im down on power. I unplugged the MAF but no change(it made a big difference on the mk2 so knew it was that).

Put your foot down and it cant choose a gear because the power is so low - i can get up to100mph if i like i just have to gently squeeze the throttle and let it climb slowly, too much and it will bog down and not accelerate.

hard to say - its a D5.. its quite a noisey beast when its fully functional.

Hi,

Dare I suggest the kick-down cable?

Des. . . ;)

hah nice try but no, kicks down fine, just no power when it does.. or rather feels like the engine is struggling for breath/bad mixture

its down on power 24/7 and really bad after 5 mins driving

Ok so things have progressed again.

The power on long runs no longer drops to a weird limp.. this is since running a dpf cleaner through the system and a week of spirited driving.

It now sounds 'rough' and down on power - that would be the main symptom... if i accelerate, it always kicks down to get more torque it cant provide, whereas before the issues started, the engine would be smooth, and extra power was on tap without kickdown (its 400nm for goodness sake).

It feels slow, and sounds rough.

...no power when kick down, revs rise but no POWER. Just got the car in the garage and the loan car has exactly the same issue! Kick down, grumble grumble no power, move into the slow lane and accelerate slowly. Common problem then EH?

This is a D5 S80 too. DPF? EGR?

This maybe of help, search the following.

Volvo Owners Club Forum > "Technical Topics" > S80 '06> / V70 '07> / XC70 '07> General V70: Engine Slow to accelerate / lack of power

Garage has put on a new MAF.


I get it back today but im not so hopeful if its the fix a

any specialist in the midlands?

Got it back and its been ok but now come back!
Garage say its a different problem so wont do it under 3 month mandatery problem


So, if i boot it from cold, never letting it drop revs for too long its fine

if i drive slowly, slowly accelerate, stick at 80mph, it then occures. I put my foot down and theres no power


like somethings stuck.. egr perhaps...when hot and cruising

I think Ive found the cure. Forget BG244, forget redex, forget vpower - Get down toolstation and get their diesel treatement you'll notice a total change in 5 miles - use with shells full fat diesel (not their low calorie liquid gas vpower). Car is transformed and revving like a v6 with loads of pwer, not happened since.

Im gonna stock up!

Sounds to good to be true for £3.13 a bottle!
Might have to give it a shot though

BOOO Problem came back - for a split second just as im getting down to quarter of a tank

I always drive with quarter tank normally, so the difference was i had a fullt ank.
It cleared after i shut down for 2-3 minutes and was fine after that.

Im now suspecting fuel supply Or lack of dpf regen

How would i check regen?

Fuel filter on order to replace.

archoil ar6400 diesel treatment going in next.

Interested to know if you eventually fixed this issue as I'm experiencing something similar?

Well the ar6400 did fix it for say a montha nd a half but ic ant afford to do that so regularly.

the problem came back just 2 days ago after a long 400 mile run to cornwall and back full of kids and luggage (it was flawless whole 8 days there and back)

Im wondering if
1) the 8 days of short journeys and low speeds built up carbon
2) i then added while there, a £40 crap fuel and the toolstation additive
3) as i came to the end of the tank of additive fuel the problem came back
4) the carbon cleaned off as caused an issue somewhere.

Im thinking a better plan maybe just to switch to premium fuel full time as i used to on my Avensis. The gradual cleaning ability may keep things at bay and if any cleaning is done its not a big bang clean which could cause problems


I resolved the issue by locking gears into 4th and giving it an italian tuneup but that wasnt until i turned off the ignition for 5 mins.

I find if i drive fast, its ok, if i drive like miss daisy it comes back, especially when in cruise control mode for too long at say 70.

Weird as i did 200 miles there and 200 back in cruise with no issue, its only when i add an additive the problem comes shortly after.

Might need to keep things consistent and not think everythings ok, switch to supermarket fuel and then get problems after a clean byt sticking to one fuel type.


still not done the fuel filter but that will be the next stage

To recap observations:

i) First happened - after i did 350 miles when I got the car (tesco fuel) and filled up with shell v-power as a nice cleanup and who knows if it ever had any previously.
ii) Happens after constant speed ie. cruise control
iii) Happens during use of a cleaner ie. vpower if never used, or additive.
iv) Cleared by pulling over, turning off engine, then driving spiritedly.
v) Cleared using ar6400 after first using another cleaner and getting
the symptoms - problem wen away for 1.5 months
vi) Happens when car hits last 5th of the tank
vii) Usually happens after a long run (first time was 350 miles, added vpower then problems started, next was 200 miles home and happened when using toolstation and got to last 1/5 of tank next day on way to work (not during the big run).
viii)no consistency of fuel used, some unknown, some tesco crap.


Im now trying to keep things constant either do a month of no additives, a month of premium and comparing - starting with premium to eliminate the 'engine build up and clean' issue i think is related

new theory, maybe soot build up on turbo vanes or vanes gettign clogged because of the additives

https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topi...-vanes-solved/

or fuel filter.


Ill try the month of vpower first, see how we go.

My d5 has EXCATLY the same problem.....really peeing me off now. Been told it could be the turbo itself!!!

I dont think its the turbo itself but i do think its the sensor or mechanicals that get stuck.

I think they get fouled/stuck when driving constant speed for long durations.

I think t the only way is premium fuel full time, but we start today with that theory. Big additives help but only temporarily.

So maybe it will be premium diesel + monthly shot of toolstation

Funny thing is the LOAN car had EXACTLY the same problem! d5, but s60


Cheers

yes I think your right Pete. Because when my turbo spools up the car really takes off and motors along. I will put premium diesel in it and see if it improves.

Great - the more research is done the more we can get this to conclude a fix.

Keep us updated here on any patters/findings

will do

once again when joining the bypass after putting fuel in, booted it and it went into limp mode. When I came to a stop 6 miles down the road I stopped the engine and restarted it, an it was fine and went like a rocket. is it an electrical fault?? I cant get my head round it. If it was mechanical wouldn't it be there all the time?

So I plugged in my ecu ODB2 reader - it found since last reset an issue with the egr being out of range - i think it could be sticking or not able to open.

Im beginning to think these should only be run on premium fuel as the d4s are now suffering due to poor diesel and some taxi firms switched permenantly to premium. My avensis would only work right on premium.

Ive not had it yet on bp ultimate, so will continue to use premium and check back.

I would recommend for you, Archoil 6400 additive (£25 one off treatment) then premium fuel only and see how you get on

reading the manual it states also that half filling a tank results in more condensation, so a much needed filter change is required regulalry - also worth looking at.

I am currently testing the mpg to £ ratio.

I am going to clean the turbo solenoid valve as it seems an easy job. But why would the fuel have anything to do with the turbo? Plus the cost of premium £1.51 a litre!!!

you may find its red herring or additonal work.

The exit port on the turno would be affected by bad burn of course

The saga continues....

So I started with £25 of BP Ultimate from a station i found was cheapest in the area. I did 200 miles of bliss - loads of torque, autobox didnt bother shifting down to get power as there was more low end torque and it sounded sweet as a nut really smooth!

I thought "this is the solution!" so I filled up with £45 of BP ultimate from the same petrol station (still cheapest at 1.42)

The car is now driving like crap! Clattery, limp mode within 5 mins of motorway cruising with the cruise control on. NExt day, same thing, today same, switch off at macdonalds, turn on and dont cruise but rev.. its a bit disgruntled to begin with but eventually opens up more and more until power restored20 miles later (of leaving triptronic in gear, revving 3k+ and leaving it in 5th ont he motorway.


So, i dont know what to think. either its cleanign stuff up and needs an italian tuneup as a result or something else like it doesnt like premium fuel



Ill stick with it, same bp stuff for a month and report back - next month is shell Vpower

Fixed the issue with mine:regular_smile:
2008 185bhp D5 Auto 150kmiles!

Swirl Flap arm detached (has been for +2yrs) was causing the following fault codes and temporally putting the car into a low power mode - the engine fault light did NOT come on even though the codes had been recorded - re-attaching the arm with a bodge to keep it in place, cleared the codes and all good for the last 5days !

Fault codes as reported by a friends Foxwell code reader (not DiCE), my cheap ODB2 reader didn't return any codes!
- P010116 Mass or volume air flow circuit range/performance, general electrical failures, circuit voltage below threshold
- P201500 Intake manifold runner position sensor/switch circuit range/performance - (aka Swirl Flap)

I will post the VIDA summary of these codes when I'm back home, as under the P010116 MAF fault code diagnostics it said check the swirl flap linkage so this is a known issue relating to the 2 systems (in my case under high rev's)

Symptoms:
When accelerating normally no issues and the car would pull normally, lots of power and rev to the red line.
But, if I held the rev's at about 3,000rpm for a slightly longer period (>30sec's or so) ether whilst stationary or driving, it would temporarily go into a low power mode every time, and would then limit the rev's to 4,100rpm max.
If you backed off and let the revs drop below 2,000rpm it would clear the issue


Probably one of many causes of the engine going into the 'low power mode', but hope this helps someone....

The key thing for me is the fact that fault codes had been recorded even though the engine fault light had not come on, and these codes could not be read back by a basic ODB2 reader - once I was able to access these codes it made diagnoses 100% easier

almost same for.me.but its not that predictable... i did get the same ecu error code though just not the second one.


so ive been out twice, no cruising (not gay) and no problems. i do wonde if the dpf gets clogged as it reminds me of when i had dirt in my carboreter or wheba catb isnt tuned properly.

on that note i never get notified of regeneration? should i?

Well the bp ultimate trial came to an abrupt end. The car sounded like a tractor and only got 230 miles from £45!


Back onto shell vpower for a known good source and my what a diffrence, sounds like a petrol v6 now, smooth. However once again this morning, cruise control set to 70, after 5 mins i put my foot down and theres no power. Its not entirely fair as theres still bp in the tank so lets see how this goes.

Next im going to try Esso premium after two tanks of shell