Holidaymaker needing Diagnostics in Bournemouth Christchurch

[rupertfinch]

Hello folks, we are currently on our annual pilgrimage to Dorset in our '58 plate D5 xc90, a vehicle which has had a lot of money thrown at it in the last 18 months.
The six of us were out on a run to look at Ferraris in Lyndhurst and on the way I got the 'Engine System Service Required' warning and the vehicle lost power - not crawling as it could get up to c50mph, but next to nothing on the few hills I encountered. Didn't switch off and returned to base.
Has anyone local to Christchurch any recommendations as to any useful independents with Volvo diagnostics or are there any forumites with it in exchange for beer/cider tokens? Due to head back to Northern Ireland towards the end of next week and would like to get there in one piece.
Many thanks, Mark

[northbradleys70]

Hi. If you can't find anyone near to where you are then Kings Motor Services in Westbury are very good. Kings Motor Services
www.kingsmotors.co.uk
They are a Volvo specialist.
No affiliation with them but have used for 10 years now and bought 2 cars in the past.
Hope this helps.
Derek

[S60D5-185]

Originally Posted by rupertfinch

Hello folks, we are currently on our annual pilgrimage to Dorset in our '58 plate D5 xc90, a vehicle which has had a lot of money thrown at it in the last 18 months.
The six of us were out on a run to look at Ferraris in Lyndhurst and on the way I got the 'Engine System Service Required' warning and the vehicle lost power - not crawling as it could get up to c50mph, but next to nothing on the few hills I encountered. Didn't switch off and returned to base.
Has anyone local to Christchurch any recommendations as to any useful independents with Volvo diagnostics or are there any forumites with it in exchange for beer/cider tokens? Due to head back to Northern Ireland towards the end of next week and would like to get there in one piece.
Many thanks, Mark

Hi Mark, before doing anything, lift the plastic engine cover and have a look at the front left of the cylinder head to see if the plastic swirl arm has jumped off.

Very common problem and can give those symptoms.

[rupertfinch]

Originally Posted by S60D5-185

Hi Mark, before doing anything, lift the plastic engine cover and have a look at the front left of the cylinder head to see if the plastic swirl arm has jumped off.

Very common problem and can give those symptoms.

Many thanks for that. The car has already had work in the past that has I'm led to believe by passed the swirl flap actuator and the like and has done the journey over from Ireland without a hitch. I swear I felt the slightest clunk as it lost power, but nothing else seems amiss in the engine bay/ immediately underneath it.
Just haven't had much luck with this car and genuinely wouldn't shed a tear if I came out in the morning to find it on fire or missing (note to insurers - not planning on this by the way).

[S60D5-185]

I must admit Mark, I'm not quite sure how the swirl flaps can be bypassed however it may be that the arm has been disconnected and the flaps jammed deliberately in a position that will allow the vehicle to perform reasonably well.

If that is the case, it is way less than perfect.

[rupertfinch]

Unfortunately a long established turbo specialist had it for approaching 4 months following it going into lump on the way home from the Lake District last Easter. Their solution was to have the ECU reprogrammed to remove the presence of the swirl flaps and actuator from the cars brain entirely. Apparently a fairly common trick on diesel VAG and BMWs. Though I'd rather it would have been put back to factory spec, but I'd lost the plot with their delays etc and communication became an issue.
I then had the joy of the now reprogrammed ECU being reset to factory by a Volvo Indi when working on ABS system and yet again had to fork out to have the ECU reflashed to its 'new' settings.
All in a bit of a dogs breakfast.

I'm aware that VIDA/DICE setup will tell me there's an issue with the swirl flaps etc, but the car doesn't know there is and has driven for hundreds of miles of varied conditions and multiple stop/starts without picking up an issue.

So really it's looking to see what else that's still intact that's now causing the issue as its not an engine light that's on - 'merely' a warning triangle, albeit one that's reducing low-down performance.

[SwissXC90]

Unfortunately disabling various important engine control systems to "hide" a problem is not ever a good long term solution

As you have experienced, mechanics working on the vehicle always assume that the vehicle is standard, and apply standard diagnostics and fault finding procedures to it, and compare current operating parameters with the standard known operating parameters.

Take yourself away from a standard known engine, and you can be left in a difficult situation when something goes wrong and it needs repairing.

The only advice I can give is:
1. Fix the swirl flaps so they work correctly
2. Remove whatever disabling software you fitted to disable swirl flap control
3. Then you are in a position to determine what is going wrong, because you can compare your engine's operating parameters with those listed and documented in VIDA in the faultfinding procedures

[rupertfinch]

You speak the truth, but I was £1300 into this 'fix' before I was fully briefed and had little comeback as the relationship deteriorated. I appreciate a proper Indi would have worked to restore it (probably for less) but I am where I am and have now thrown 25% of the purchase price at this car and simply can't afford to do more.

[rupertfinch]

Off to Volvo Poole in the morning - wish me and my wallet luck!

[rupertfinch]

So following a diagnostic and health check for £51 (vat included), a fault with an outlet hose from the turbo was identified. Had I my jack and stands with me it would have been a pretty obvious spot once the undertray was removed.
Anyhow, fitting a replacement in the morning so at least I get to periodically glance at one of the receptionists!