V50 Engine 2.0D : Need a new throttle body

[Penrynian]

Had my '08 V50 2.0d R-Design diagnosed by Truro Motor Company - great value for money as they did a "summer check" and wash/vacuum for £30. They checked for software updates, recalls, and did a code read - have to say I'm impressed with them.
The car has had an intermittent starting problem for a while, the only way I could get it going was to squirt Easy Start into the air intake, clearly not an ideal solution but needs must ...
The service mgr showed me a better/different way - he just tapped with his knuckles on the throttle body and it started immediately afterwards.
Proving that the valve inside is sticking - even though it's been cleaned a couple times before.
So, time to get a new TB - I was quoted £180 all-in for supply and fitting - that doesn't sound too excessive to me - anyone have an opinion/comparison?
Any recommendations where I could buy one and DIY replace?

Thanks in advance.
Phil

[paddyred]

Have you filed down the edges of the butterfly valve so it is tapered? It was a Volvo SB that resolves the problem. Also the pipe connector (jubilee clip) could be too tight causing the issue. I have cleaned mine before so it was spotless and still had the issue until I tapered the valve edges and made sure the clamp wasn't too tight!

[Penrynian]

To be honest I haven't looked inside it yet, although a couple months ago it was in a Volvo dealership in Bristol and they said they had "cleaned and adjusted" it a number of times.
I don't know if that included the filing and sandpapering that was mentioned by you and the guys in Truro. I will take a look, although I am inclined to change it as I need it to be consistently reliable since it's used mainly by my wife, and she doesn't take kindly to being stranded with a 4-year old in the car and a bootful of shopping that needs to get to the fridge pronto :-)
I'll update later ...

[Rooster]

If you just fit a new one your just wasting your money as it will be same again in 6 months,

Just remove it and file edge of butterfly down until it stops sticking,

You can force it closed with your fingers to check its stopped sticking

[The Thong]

I can vouch for that. My 2006 V50 had intermittent starting issues, I cleaned the trottle body and filed the edges of the butterfly flap and it issue went away. Common problem on them, try that before you invest in a new throttle body.

TT

[Penrynian]

Thanks all for the suggestions that modification is a better approach than just buying new, I hear ya!

Here's a question, possibly naive, but if this is a known problem have they not changed the design over the years to eliminate this issue where crud can accumulate around the butterfly vane?

Probably not from what I'm hearing - you still get the same old sh**e that clogs up even after all these years :-)

[Penrynian]

Bought a can of carb cleaner, dug out the Torx set, and removed the TB.
The air mass sensor was so caked in black gunk I couldn't see the colour of the potentiometer bead.
The vane was sticking when held closed with my fingers.
So, it all had a good clean, the edge of the vane was gently reduced in size with a bit of fine sandpaper, and it was refitted.
The car started first time - ye bloody ha!
Only had time for a short test drive but it felt like it was running more smoothly and quicker as well- only time will tell if it starts consistently in the future.
There's still light grey exhaust smoke on acceleration, and a turbo whistle, as mentioned in a previous post, but then I didn't expect that to have changed after cleaning the TB.
My next project is to stop the OSF wheel squeaking continually - I get the impression the back plate needs bending away from the disk slightly.

Thanks all for the tips, much appreciated.

[Leo Kalme]

Same for me, after chamfering the edges I have had no problems with it. But it was not only because of flap design that it gets stuck - EGR has its part in it.

[Penrynian]

Hi Leo - would you like to elaborate on the EGR situation that you mentioned? I'm interested because some folks use the EGR blanking plate that is available from various places like eBay.

[Clan]

Originally Posted by Penrynian

Thanks all for the suggestions that modification is a better approach than just buying new, I hear ya!

Here's a question, possibly naive, but if this is a known problem have they not changed the design over the years to eliminate this issue where crud can accumulate around the butterfly vane?

Probably not from what I'm hearing - you still get the same old sh**e that clogs up even after all these years :-)

It isn't dirt which causes the throttle to stick , it is the housing distorting as it is plastic and the tightness of the hose clamp distorts it more ..