S40: CVVT solenoid/pulley

['88740GL]

Good evening, I've read in a few places about the issues on the CVVT system and failures or strange noises made by these setups. I've seen plenty of videos with the loud diesel sounding 1.8 petrol engines some loud and some quieter.

Is it a pulley that goes bad, or is it a solenoid valve that's bolted to the top of the valve cover that does?

I understand the system is designed to reduce exhaust emissions up on start up, but if the system completely stuffs up, I'd like to think there is some kind of fail safe or even a warning light come on the dash?

Sorry for this lack of knowledge, this is the first 'modern volvo' I've owned!

Last but not least, is my engine the direct injected petrol model? It doesn't look like it.

[gatos]

Originally Posted by '88740GL

Good evening, I've read in a few places about the issues on the CVVT system and failures or strange noises made by these setups. I've seen plenty of videos with the loud diesel sounding 1.8 petrol engines some loud and some quieter.

Is it a pulley that goes bad, or is it a solenoid valve that's bolted to the top of the valve cover that does?

I understand the system is designed to reduce exhaust emissions up on start up, but if the system completely stuffs up, I'd like to think there is some kind of fail safe or even a warning light come on the dash?

Sorry for this lack of knowledge, this is the first 'modern volvo' I've owned!

Last but not least, is my engine the direct injected petrol model? It doesn't look like it.

Easy to check yourself. See my guide here: http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showth...ighlight=guide

['88740GL]

Thank you, Gatos. This looks like the exact engine I have in mine. Is this the direct injected petrol model? Or is it the standard setup?

Apart from the pulley helping on fuel economy and driveability, is there any detrimental effects of this pulley going bad?

[gatos]

No. Thank the gods you don't have the GDI mitsubishi engine.......

Do the test and see if the noise goes, then you know that the VVT pulley (NOT the VVT solenoid) is shot. You can leave it unplugged and drive the car like normal. Only detrimenta effect will be a miniscule drop in mpg and power and nothing else. You can drive it like this forever

['88740GL]

Again, thank you very much Gatos, just been reading through your guides whilst awaiting for your response... (just noticed one of those guides I did use the other day to remove my drivers door card to lubricate a sticky locking mechanism)

Are those GDI engines really bad? and just when we thought japanese engine technology was best! (yeah right!)

[gatos]

lol. GDIs are bad for people like me driving their cars like grannies..... Driving it gently, results in heavy coking deposits everywhere and a blocked EGR valve. A few people here who are heavy footed have no problems at all with them.

Also the Mitsubishi GDI was designed for higher RON petrol which is standard in Japan, but not in the UK. Overall, I would never buy a GDI X40 in my life. I am more than happy with the Renault diesel block in my car as it is very reliable and quite easy to trouble shoot