Other XC90 Problem: - XC90 05 with acceleration problems? help wanted

Genghis · Aug 15th, 2009, 08:26

Hi All

Hope all is well with everyone.

I've just had my XC90 serviced (50,000 miles) it's an 05 plate and have just returned from holiday in France.

During the holiday I began to experience problems with accerleration from around the 30-50 mph mark. I would accelerate away (normally happened uphill) and nothing would happen, there would be no power and the revs just stayed the same on the car. Eventually the car would either kick into life (by the turbo coming in, revs coming in or dropping down a gear) or we would flick the auto gearbox into manual and kick it down that way. Anytime this lack of accerelation/power happens a message comes up saying "Engine Service required"

The car will quite happily pull away from a standstill or drive around town or cruise on the motorway. We did just over 2,000 miles and got back luckily yesterday fine!!!

The car's going in on Monday and whilst I was away I e-mailed a few of the Volvo garages, they guessed at the problem either being with the injectors/fuel pressure (replacement parts are not cheap!!!) or hopefully a problem with the throttle to gearbox software (which sounds cheaper)

I'll write back and inform all what the problem was in case anyone experiences this but in the meantime has anyone else come across this and can tell me what to expect?

Many thanks

Gurj · Aug 15th, 2009, 21:01

Also have an 05 XC90 which recently was serviced (though I have only done 39K miles) since new (bought pre-registered with 40miles on the clock in Oct 05).

I noticed a slight drop in mid-range power after the service the the fuel economy has perhaps dropped a couple of mpg (from about 28mpg to 26mpg for my mixed driving).

After a few weeks it was due for its MOT and so I got them to have a quick check and they found nothing wrong. Then after a few weeks I booked it in for a day and they gave it a check over and test drive etc. No loose hoses, or anything on the computer system.

In the end they just said it might be the change of engine oil (?).

Car is OK, I don't get complete loss of power and it's quite driveable but felt different after service. Not quite as smooth joing the motorway.

I asked them if they updated any software, but they didn't seem to know(?)

This was the new dealer in Reading.

Hope they sort your car out OK.

Genghis · Aug 16th, 2009, 08:58

Hi

Thanks Gurj for your response.

I am experiencing (when it happens at it's intermittent) a complete drop in power so sounds worse then your problems. My car just won't accerelate at all. The problem seems to be limited to acceralating away uphill from about 30-mpg (like leaving a 30 zone and going to a 60 speed limit) or in France when we left a toll booth or I was overtaking slowler cars.

I know at my last service they also changed all the oils.

Anyhow I hope you also get your problem sorted - must be fairly crappy having a problem which they can't locate. I'm hoping that it doesn't happen to me as since I'm back in London and I went around doing some chores yesterday the car was absolutely fine!!!

Cheers

Jamie

tkj · Aug 16th, 2009, 17:15

Did you ever get to the bottom of this? Am currently experiencing similar problem. Thanks

jshack · Aug 16th, 2009, 23:57

I had a similar problem to this with by MY06 xc90. Not complete loss of power but a noticable drop accompanied by "ENGINE SYSTEM SERVICE REQUIRED". Happened a couple of times and each time was the lever that connects to the swirl flap actuator. Reconnected and the warning resets of its own accord and full power restored.

Worth a check. Look directly beneath the oil filler flap and you should find a small electric motor with a little plastic arm approx. 4cms long that dissppears into the rocker cover. On mine this had disconnected and was simply a matter of reconnecting the ball into the socket on the actuator mechanism in the rocker cover. I believe this only applies to the 185bhp engine BTW.

Unfortunately on mine the little plastic fingers that hold the ball joint into the mechanism have snapped off so it comes off every so often. I need to find a way of connecting it up more permanently as dealer quoted £600 to take off the rocker cover and replace the whole internal mechanism.

Hope this helps.

James

Genghis · Aug 17th, 2009, 08:09

TKJ - My car is going into the dealer today so will let you know.

James - Many thanks for the tip. I'll go an peer under the car bonnet!!!!

adrian 93 · Aug 17th, 2009, 19:03

Hi just joined the club and noticed your problem,mine's the same but put it down to not having it serviced at the main dealers, all I do is hit the trip information button on the end of the indicator stalk and it removes the time for regular service information notice and you get your revs back hope this helps Adrian 93

Rockhopper · Aug 17th, 2009, 19:30

Note that 'Time for Regular Service' and 'Engine Service Required' are two very separate things ! The first is what it says - its time for a normal service at the garage, oil, filter, etc. The second means that the engine management system has recognised a fault and will have (usually) stored a code relating to this - in conjunction with the limp mode that you experience. The 'Read' button on the stalk will remove the message and an engine off-on cycle will restore the car to 'normal'. But if this is what you're getting, then don't ignore it - go to dealer or good indy and get the codes properly read and diagnosed as there's something wrong. The longer its left the more damage could be caused...

Genghis · Aug 18th, 2009, 14:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by adrian 93

Hi just joined the club and noticed your problem,mine's the same but put it down to not having it serviced at the main dealers, all I do is hit the trip information button on the end of the indicator stalk and it removes the time for regular service information notice and you get your revs back hope this helps Adrian 93

Hi Adrian

Firstly welcome to the Forum.

The problem isn't because of where it's serviced I'm afraid.

Indeed as Rockhopper has put in - you best nip your car in to get it checked out. Hopefully a quick system resest and a check of the car's vital systems should be all it takes.

My car is going to Manchester and back at the weekend to visit the out-laws so should hopefully test whether or not the problem was fixed the other day.

Cheers

Jamie

guntonsuk · Jan 15th, 2011, 16:20

Hi, not sure if anyone managed to cure this problem. I have an '07 XC90 and am suffering complete loss of acceleration. It went in to an Indy who did a full oil change and fixed something to do with the turbo, it ran fine but now the problem is back, along with the "Engine System Service Required" message.

Anyone got any idea?

Aug 15th, 2009, 08:26	#1
Genghis Genghis Last Online: May 12th, 2013 20:05 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Surrey	XC90 05 with acceleration problems? help wanted Hi All Hope all is well with everyone. I've just had my XC90 serviced (50,000 miles) it's an 05 plate and have just returned from holiday in France. During the holiday I began to experience problems with accerleration from around the 30-50 mph mark. I would accelerate away (normally happened uphill) and nothing would happen, there would be no power and the revs just stayed the same on the car. Eventually the car would either kick into life (by the turbo coming in, revs coming in or dropping down a gear) or we would flick the auto gearbox into manual and kick it down that way. Anytime this lack of accerelation/power happens a message comes up saying "Engine Service required" The car will quite happily pull away from a standstill or drive around town or cruise on the motorway. We did just over 2,000 miles and got back luckily yesterday fine!!! The car's going in on Monday and whilst I was away I e-mailed a few of the Volvo garages, they guessed at the problem either being with the injectors/fuel pressure (replacement parts are not cheap!!!) or hopefully a problem with the throttle to gearbox software (which sounds cheaper) I'll write back and inform all what the problem was in case anyone experiences this but in the meantime has anyone else come across this and can tell me what to expect? Many thanks

Aug 16th, 2009, 17:15	#4
tkj New Member Last Online: Sep 10th, 2009 18:52 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: London	XC90 05 with acceleration problems? Did you ever get to the bottom of this? Am currently experiencing similar problem. Thanks

Aug 17th, 2009, 19:03	#7
adrian 93 New Member Last Online: Aug 18th, 2009 18:24 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: wisbech	acceleration problem Hi just joined the club and noticed your problem,mine's the same but put it down to not having it serviced at the main dealers, all I do is hit the trip information button on the end of the indicator stalk and it removes the time for regular service information notice and you get your revs back hope this helps Adrian 93

Aug 15th, 2009, 21:01	#2
Gurj Junior Member Last Online: Oct 22nd, 2022 15:39 Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Reading	Also have an 05 XC90 which recently was serviced (though I have only done 39K miles) since new (bought pre-registered with 40miles on the clock in Oct 05). I noticed a slight drop in mid-range power after the service the the fuel economy has perhaps dropped a couple of mpg (from about 28mpg to 26mpg for my mixed driving). After a few weeks it was due for its MOT and so I got them to have a quick check and they found nothing wrong. Then after a few weeks I booked it in for a day and they gave it a check over and test drive etc. No loose hoses, or anything on the computer system. In the end they just said it might be the change of engine oil (?). Car is OK, I don't get complete loss of power and it's quite driveable but felt different after service. Not quite as smooth joing the motorway. I asked them if they updated any software, but they didn't seem to know(?) This was the new dealer in Reading. Hope they sort your car out OK.

Aug 16th, 2009, 08:58	#3
Genghis Genghis Last Online: May 12th, 2013 20:05 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Surrey	Hi Thanks Gurj for your response. I am experiencing (when it happens at it's intermittent) a complete drop in power so sounds worse then your problems. My car just won't accerelate at all. The problem seems to be limited to acceralating away uphill from about 30-mpg (like leaving a 30 zone and going to a 60 speed limit) or in France when we left a toll booth or I was overtaking slowler cars. I know at my last service they also changed all the oils. Anyhow I hope you also get your problem sorted - must be fairly crappy having a problem which they can't locate. I'm hoping that it doesn't happen to me as since I'm back in London and I went around doing some chores yesterday the car was absolutely fine!!! Cheers Jamie

Aug 16th, 2009, 23:57	#5
jshack Junior Member Last Online: Apr 6th, 2022 13:39 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Abersoch	I had a similar problem to this with by MY06 xc90. Not complete loss of power but a noticable drop accompanied by "ENGINE SYSTEM SERVICE REQUIRED". Happened a couple of times and each time was the lever that connects to the swirl flap actuator. Reconnected and the warning resets of its own accord and full power restored. Worth a check. Look directly beneath the oil filler flap and you should find a small electric motor with a little plastic arm approx. 4cms long that dissppears into the rocker cover. On mine this had disconnected and was simply a matter of reconnecting the ball into the socket on the actuator mechanism in the rocker cover. I believe this only applies to the 185bhp engine BTW. Unfortunately on mine the little plastic fingers that hold the ball joint into the mechanism have snapped off so it comes off every so often. I need to find a way of connecting it up more permanently as dealer quoted £600 to take off the rocker cover and replace the whole internal mechanism. Hope this helps. James

Aug 17th, 2009, 08:09	#6
Genghis Genghis Last Online: May 12th, 2013 20:05 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Surrey	TKJ - My car is going into the dealer today so will let you know. James - Many thanks for the tip. I'll go an peer under the car bonnet!!!!

Aug 17th, 2009, 19:30	#8
Rockhopper XC90 Exec Last Online: Jan 3rd, 2019 09:06 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: ..at the foot of the Peaks	Note that 'Time for Regular Service' and 'Engine Service Required' are two very separate things ! The first is what it says - its time for a normal service at the garage, oil, filter, etc. The second means that the engine management system has recognised a fault and will have (usually) stored a code relating to this - in conjunction with the limp mode that you experience. The 'Read' button on the stalk will remove the message and an engine off-on cycle will restore the car to 'normal'. But if this is what you're getting, then don't ignore it - go to dealer or good indy and get the codes properly read and diagnosed as there's something wrong. The longer its left the more damage could be caused...

Jan 15th, 2011, 16:20	#10
guntonsuk New Member Last Online: Jan 16th, 2011 19:43 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Hertfordshire	Hi, not sure if anyone managed to cure this problem. I have an '07 XC90 and am suffering complete loss of acceleration. It went in to an Indy who did a full oil change and fixed something to do with the turbo, it ran fine but now the problem is back, along with the "Engine System Service Required" message. Anyone got any idea?

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