New S40 2.0D - Plastic burning smell & bad performance

SRL · Jan 31st, 2006, 22:32

Any help on this would be very grateful.

I have a new 2005 S40 2.0D with only 800 miles and have just started to experience some performance issues.
This issue is very intermittent and behaves as follows:
While driving the car it will suddenly start to loose power, feeling like it's going to stall. The mileage also drops to below 30mpg. When this happens and you park up the car and get out, you notice a plastic burning smell.

Another concern is that the car takes up to 6 miles before it gets to operating temperature. Is this normal for the 2.0D or could it be a lazy thermostat valve sticking open?

Many thanks for any help or ideas.

John_C · Jan 31st, 2006, 22:42

Re the power loss and smell: Take it straight back to the dealer, get one of their cars while they sort it out, don't even bother trying to diagnose it yourself. With a car this new you shouldn't have to bother with it. If they say no fault found don't accept it and keep pushing them to sort it unless they can give you a sensible explanation/solution.

Re the temp: 6 miles to get up to temp could be fine for that model of diesel, it depends how it is driven and the characteristics of the engine and I don't know enough about them to comment on that. Again I would check with the dealer.

Not trying to fob you off, I've not heard of that before but am no expert on the 2.0D - as far as I'm concerned with only 800 miles on the clock I would just take it back and get it sorted.

Cheers
J

imac · Jan 31st, 2006, 23:02

6 Miles is fine. My D5 takes forever to warm up - but its not just mine either, they all seem to do it in this weather.

Usually I go about 1.5-2.0 miles before it starts to move, and then takes a further 4-7 miles before its fully vertical. Depends on the type of driving and ambient temps, but yes it takes forever!

Marmoset · Feb 1st, 2006, 10:25

Diesels do take longer to warm up, I reckon mine takes about 3-4 miles to get water temp up and I'd bet a whole lot longer for the oil temp to rise.

Best thing to do is get it back to the dealer asap - could be a turbo failure. Are tehre any warnings on dash? It'd be pretty unusual if not - the car usually tells you that somethings gone pear shaped.

SRL · Feb 2nd, 2006, 19:31

Many thanks to everyone for your feedback.

I'm pleased to hear that the warmup period is normal and not an indication of an issue.

The dealer is collecting the car this Monday regards the burning smell and poor running.

Will let you know the outcome.

SRL · Feb 6th, 2006, 20:20

Hi all

Volvo collected and returned the car today.

The work that they carried out was to update the engine software, reset the injectors and carried out a DIM upgrade. They were not able to comment on the plastic burning smell as it was not happening at that time.

Hopfully things will now improve?

Jet2 D5 · Feb 6th, 2006, 21:48

Does your model have a carbon filter? My new S60 D5 does and there have been occasions when the engine became very hot and smells. When this has occurred I think it has gone into a regeneration cycle during which the instant mpg reduced by 40-50% under known conditions. The operation is quite random and there is no logical reason from how the car is driven that recycling should have been required.

The dealer consulted Volvo and confirmed my diagnosis but technical detail has not been forthcoming to date and at this stage I regard the system is a malfunctioning!

2006 S60 D5 SE

MarkE · Feb 7th, 2006, 21:24

I've had the burning plastic smell a few times but not accompanied by any loss of power or other symptoms - it normally goes in a minute or two so I'm never sure whether it's my car or something I've driven past.

Just realised this is probably not all that helpful - sorry...

SRL · Feb 7th, 2006, 23:19

Hi all

No, my model does not have the Carbon Filter.

The burning plastic smell coincides with the intermittent poor running. It smells quite strong when you get out of the car.

Since having the software upgrades done yesterday, the mileage appears to have improved.

So far, so good….

MarkE · Feb 11th, 2006, 20:23

Spoke too soon. Tonight, the car was shuddering at around 1500rpm, as if it was going to stall. Looks like a call to the dealer might be in order on Monday.

Jan 31st, 2006, 22:32	#1
SRL New Member Last Online: Nov 17th, 2009 18:40 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Reading	New S40 2.0D - Plastic burning smell & bad performance Any help on this would be very grateful. I have a new 2005 S40 2.0D with only 800 miles and have just started to experience some performance issues. This issue is very intermittent and behaves as follows: While driving the car it will suddenly start to loose power, feeling like it's going to stall. The mileage also drops to below 30mpg. When this happens and you park up the car and get out, you notice a plastic burning smell. Another concern is that the car takes up to 6 miles before it gets to operating temperature. Is this normal for the 2.0D or could it be a lazy thermostat valve sticking open? Many thanks for any help or ideas.

Feb 2nd, 2006, 19:31	#5
SRL New Member Last Online: Nov 17th, 2009 18:40 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Reading	New S40 2.0D - Plastic burning smell & bad performance Many thanks to everyone for your feedback. I'm pleased to hear that the warmup period is normal and not an indication of an issue. The dealer is collecting the car this Monday regards the burning smell and poor running. Will let you know the outcome.

Feb 6th, 2006, 20:20	#6
SRL New Member Last Online: Nov 17th, 2009 18:40 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Reading	New S40 Hesitation at 3000rpm + burning plastic smell Hi all Volvo collected and returned the car today. The work that they carried out was to update the engine software, reset the injectors and carried out a DIM upgrade. They were not able to comment on the plastic burning smell as it was not happening at that time. Hopfully things will now improve?

Feb 6th, 2006, 21:48	#7
Jet2 D5 VOC Member Last Online: Dec 4th, 2023 17:41 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Leeds	Carbon filter? Does your model have a carbon filter? My new S60 D5 does and there have been occasions when the engine became very hot and smells. When this has occurred I think it has gone into a regeneration cycle during which the instant mpg reduced by 40-50% under known conditions. The operation is quite random and there is no logical reason from how the car is driven that recycling should have been required. The dealer consulted Volvo and confirmed my diagnosis but technical detail has not been forthcoming to date and at this stage I regard the system is a malfunctioning! 2006 S60 D5 SE

Feb 7th, 2006, 21:24	#8
MarkE Evenin' Last Online: Sep 1st, 2008 21:33 Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Lancaster View Photos By: MarkE	I've had the burning plastic smell a few times but not accompanied by any loss of power or other symptoms - it normally goes in a minute or two so I'm never sure whether it's my car or something I've driven past. Just realised this is probably not all that helpful - sorry... __________________ Mark V50 2.0D Sport \| Rica \| Volvo Lowering Springs \| Koni FSDs \| harman/kardon Drive+Play Still to Come : I'll think of something. revotechnik SEAT Leon Cupra R...Gone S40 1.9D (115) Sport...Gone

Jan 31st, 2006, 22:42	#2
John_C Allons-y! Last Online: Jun 8th, 2020 15:32 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Winchester	Re the power loss and smell: Take it straight back to the dealer, get one of their cars while they sort it out, don't even bother trying to diagnose it yourself. With a car this new you shouldn't have to bother with it. If they say no fault found don't accept it and keep pushing them to sort it unless they can give you a sensible explanation/solution. Re the temp: 6 miles to get up to temp could be fine for that model of diesel, it depends how it is driven and the characteristics of the engine and I don't know enough about them to comment on that. Again I would check with the dealer. Not trying to fob you off, I've not heard of that before but am no expert on the 2.0D - as far as I'm concerned with only 800 miles on the clock I would just take it back and get it sorted. Cheers J

Jan 31st, 2006, 23:02	#3
imac Premier Member Last Online: Sep 19th, 2009 21:23 Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Hove, Actually.	6 Miles is fine. My D5 takes forever to warm up - but its not just mine either, they all seem to do it in this weather. Usually I go about 1.5-2.0 miles before it starts to move, and then takes a further 4-7 miles before its fully vertical. Depends on the type of driving and ambient temps, but yes it takes forever!

Feb 1st, 2006, 10:25	#4
Marmoset Senior Member Last Online: Feb 26th, 2012 13:12 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Chester	Diesels do take longer to warm up, I reckon mine takes about 3-4 miles to get water temp up and I'd bet a whole lot longer for the oil temp to rise. Best thing to do is get it back to the dealer asap - could be a turbo failure. Are tehre any warnings on dash? It'd be pretty unusual if not - the car usually tells you that somethings gone pear shaped.

Feb 7th, 2006, 23:19	#9
SRL New Member Last Online: Nov 17th, 2009 18:40 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Reading	Hi all No, my model does not have the Carbon Filter. The burning plastic smell coincides with the intermittent poor running. It smells quite strong when you get out of the car. Since having the software upgrades done yesterday, the mileage appears to have improved. So far, so good….

Feb 11th, 2006, 20:23	#10
MarkE Evenin' Last Online: Sep 1st, 2008 21:33 Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Lancaster View Photos By: MarkE	Spoke too soon. Tonight, the car was shuddering at around 1500rpm, as if it was going to stall. Looks like a call to the dealer might be in order on Monday. __________________ Mark V50 2.0D Sport \| Rica \| Volvo Lowering Springs \| Koni FSDs \| harman/kardon Drive+Play Still to Come : I'll think of something. revotechnik SEAT Leon Cupra R...Gone S40 1.9D (115) Sport...Gone

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