03 V40 1.9D 115bhp power loss

[V40DSchariot]

I had a service carried out on car back in feb, so I have'nt checked the fuel filter. I drained some diesel out earlier and took the filter out which has been changed on service. Went for a test drive and still the same. I have'nt got the code for radio, but as i'm getting f***ked off with the thing I decided it was worth taking the battery off. Battery was off for 2 hours this afternoon, reconnected battery and out for a spin and it's still the same. Where's my rusty axe!!

[V40DSchariot]

Not sure if it's relevant, I had a moment with car, maybe as long as 6 months ago. I was heading towards the M1 and looked at the fuel gauge that was reading empty. I knew I should have had around 3/4 of fuel so went home to check fuel lines, tank etc. When I got home I noticed the outside temp was reading -38. I switched car off checked fuel lines which were fine, started car and the temp and fuel read ok. Thought at the time a glitch. Way to many sensors for me!

[Baffler]

I wouldn't be overly concerned about the temp/fuel gauge giving incorrect readings, probably an ECU start up glitch and hopefully an isolated event. I think a few of us have seen something similar at some stage - see here (after restarting the car it returned to normal)


If you contact your local main dealer, with your reg/VIN, they should be kind enough to give you the code over the phone.


Unfortunately, with the symptoms you're experiencing, it's a process of elimination. You've checked all the basics now so, if you still have the will, you can check other fuel/air related items. The turbo control solenoid (located on the bulkhead) can give trouble, might be worth swapping with a known working solenoid.

[V40DSchariot]

I got the code for the stereo today from a dealer, had to go in person with Id but it was free.

Unfortunately I don't know anyone with the same volvo that would be willing to allow me to borrow their components.
There's a garage about a mile up the road that specialise in volvo, so i've got it booked in there wednesday for a diagnostics hook up and see what comes of that.

Thanks for youre pointers Baffler and I shall update with what gets thrown up with diagnostics.

[V40DSchariot]

Took car into garage up road from me.
He's had little looks over past few days.
He hooked up to computer, had 4 faults, reset then took for drive and still the same, back on computer with 2 faults, one being the turbo control relay. He had one laying round which he put on, reset again and out for test drive and still the same.
Back on computer but no faults showing. He was going to check turbo and intercooler but did'nt get round to it. I've brought back home to have a look at these over weekend.
Had a look at turbo and it freely spins. Not sure how these are supposed to be, it spins when I push it, stops straight away when I stop pushing it. If that helps

Took the intercooler off and that looks ok, no oily deposits anywhere, a bit of oil came out of the bottom pipe when I disconnected that.
I reconnected the intercooler back up on top of engine so I could see if it was blowing anywhere, whilst running which it was'nt.
Maybe a big no-no, but I disconnected the top hose from intercooler to see what kind of pressure there was from turbo, did'nt seem fantastic but it was ticking over and I don't know what type of pressure I should expect to see from turbo. And bearing in mind that I don't have any pressure measuring devices. Does this help in anyway towards helping me find a solution.

Thanks in advance

[Baffler]

Had a look at turbo and it freely spins. Not sure how these are supposed to be, it spins when I push it, stops straight away when I stop pushing it. If that helps

Sounds ok to me. The turbine shaft has a brass bearing/bush and is lubricated by a film of oil so expect a minute amount of movement. If there is excessive movement in the shaft the bearing/bush could be a worn.

Took the intercooler off and that looks ok, no oily deposits anywhere, a bit of oil came out of the bottom pipe when I disconnected that.

A trace of oil on the inside of the pipes is normal. The bit of oil you've seen is a build-up of oil vapour over time.

Maybe a big no-no, but I disconnected the top hose from intercooler to see what kind of pressure there was from turbo, did'nt seem fantastic but it was ticking over and I don't know what type of pressure I should expect to see from turbo.

You will only achieve correct pressure under load, revving the engine whilst stationary won't give accurate readings either.


If you think you have checked everything air related it might be time to start with fuel delivery. My next port of call would be the fuel pressure regulator valve attached to the high pressure fuel pump. I wonder would the chap at the garage have one of these to try?

[V40DSchariot]

Cars been with garage round corner since tuesday. He's been trying to keep costs down, so looking at car here and there. Got the car back today as I need it for the weekend. He'd changed oil as it could've been a possibility of the oil been the wrong grade. Advised me that he had'nt got to the bottom of it and to try for diesel pressure sensors from a salvage yard as a cheap alternative to new, which I was going to go to tomorrow.
Meanwhile, I thought that I would try the fuel set as mentioned in a link earlier in this thread. So purchased some in the week.
http://liquideng.co.uk/content/view/23/
On the way home from garage the bottom hose to intercooler had'nt been secured properly, which I did when I got home . Then I poured 2 capfulls of the fuel set in the tank, went to fill up as I was running on fumes.
I can't believe the difference, car now goes like stink!
Thanks to Gatos for the fuel set info.
And a great thanks to baffler for his help.

I've come back and edited this. It would appear my speechlessness was shortlived.
I had a quick drive round with car driving very well. Went home for dinner and then back out in car and it's gone back to how it was!
The only different thing I did before car went well was to disconnect/reconnect the diesel pump pressure sensors and looks like a return feed sensor. I tried all these things again and nothing. When I disconnected the diesel pump pressure sensors car would'nt start, so I prersume they are working as they should? And it would appear what problem I had, I've still got! This is getting so frustrating it's unbelievable.
When Car ran well, it sounded better on tickover and the lumpiness on shutting off had gone, but that lumpiness has now returned aswell.
and it looks like the battery has been disconnected while at garage.
Does this new info point to anything in particuler?
Thanks.

[V40DSchariot]

I've not been back to garage as yet. I disconnected the map sensor monday night and the car was the same, no better, no worse. So I thought I would try a new map sensor.
New map sensor arrived today, fitted it and guess what.......car's still the bloody same.
I've disconnected the battery again overnight to see if that reseting the ecu thing works.
Even though the egr valve is new, is there a way of checking this? Would it prove one or the other by taking out and blanking off to see if she runs any better?

[Baffler]

Originally Posted by V40DSchariot

Then I poured 2 capfulls of the fuel set in the tank, went to fill up as I was running on fumes.
I can't believe the difference, car now goes like stink!

My guess, and it's only a guess, is that the additive increased the fuel octane and therefore the engine reacted accordingly.

I still think you are experiencing fuel starvation of some sort. My next step would be to change the fuel filter at the engine bay side for fear debris has got through from the tank and blocked the filter somewhat. If debris has somehow made it's way past the fuel filter and into the high pressure pump it may have cause irreversible damage...hence why I previously mentioned the fuel pressure regulator.

On a side note - when I first discovered gunk/debris in the tank of my '98 TD (linky) I removed the fuel filter (engine side) and blew the delivery and return fuel lines through with compressed air from the tank sender side and replaced everything including a new fuel filter.

[V40DSchariot]

It's going to a different garage tomorrow. I have'nt got the time or the inclination at the moment to continue with this thing.
In the past i've stripped car/bike engines down and rebuilt, but the amount of sensors on these things nowadays just makes it that I don't have the experience to be able to find more indepth sensor problems with these things.
So if I ask stup[id questions, please bear with me.
I took out the fuel pressure regulator earlier, I presume if it was dragging the diesel bug through it would be evident? When I removed the pressure regulator it was spotless, I pumped the hand prime pump twice which pushed diesel through, which at that point I replaced regulator ready for garage tomorrow.
I shall post results from tommorrow either way.