Clutch and/or DMF fault
 

Sad to say the S40 last night started making a 'bag of spanners in a tumble dryer' type noise when I was sat at a junction. Went away when pressing the clutch.

Loud rattles when in gear but still went away when the clutch disengaged, but strangely after about 10 miles it slipped in third and then went back to normal... rattled a lot again today when starting, went away with the clutch pressed and stayed away... for now.

For worst case scenario, got a quote from DPA locally for a new flywheel and clutch... between £800 and £1000 depending on what's up with it.

Invested a fair bit in the car, it just turned over 150,000 last night by coincidence, now I have a dilemma. Do I get rid of something that I've spent a bit of time and money on, and start with something else, in to the unknown... or do I bite the bullet and spend more than the car is worth getting it replaced.

Someone at work suggested a conversion to a solid flywheel to replace the DMF, would there be much of a cost saving and what are the pros/cons to this?

Honest opinions very much welcome.

Hi,
Fitting a solid flywheel instead of a DMF, I wouldn't recommend it.
You risk snapping the end off the crankshaft,destroying the bearings in the gearbox, and a lot of vibration.The dmf 's are designed to take up the shocks from the engine.
Plus you can't get a solid flywheel conversion for a 1.9d volvo anyway.They do them for the Renault, but the crank sensor is in a different place,due to being a renault gearbox and not the m56,so the crank sensor pick up will be incorrect.I have fitted a few to Ford Transits at customers request, and the cranks have snapped due to torsional stresses/vibrations.
The dmf, clutch kit and csc would only cost about £400 And take about 4hrs to do.
Do it as volvo intended.

I had same dilemma when mine went at about 185,000 having owned car for about 18 months. Fitted new full kit of clutch, dmf & slave cylinder at about £800.
Kept car for another 4 years and sold at 250,000

So really its what esle does it need doing and what is it like. If its got everything you want and you intend to keep it then go for it

Decided in the end to have the work done, carried out by DPA in Nottingham, and for under £900 all in, which is interesting considering Mr Clutch say they 'cannot be beaten on price' but wouldn't budge from £1030...

Feels like a different car now, biting point stays in the same place and is a lot further in now, and it's much lighter to press.