S40: - S40 EML and under bonnet help!

markomate · Dec 29th, 2020, 20:43

Hi
Looked at a 2004 V40 1.9 petrol today.
It's very low mileage, very clean and runs well, I followed the buyers guide on here, nothing too untoward except! EML light is on, amber, and I found an electrical plug, unplugged.
It's on the top left side of the engine (when viewed looking forward)
I can see it's supposed to be plugged into a circular "thing" at the end of the cam cover.
I've spent hours googling for a decent pic/description for what the "thing" is!
I've been around cars for over 40 years but this has me stumped!
Any advice, please?

Also, I didn't remove the engine cover so I couldn't check if the VVT solenoid was unplugged or not, the car runs well, but it was warmed up/running when we arrived to view it!

gatos · Dec 29th, 2020, 21:17

Most probably, it is the camshaft position sensor that is located there, where the connector is unplugged.

That will instantly throw off an EML light.

Also, since I made the VVT guide, where you unplug the vvt solenoid, to find out if the noise goes, I found out that you can achieve the same result if you unplug the camshaft position sensor. When you do that, the VVT noise also stops. So, if I was you, I would plug the camshaft position s Nair and see if the vvt noise appears when you start the engine. If yes, then the vvt pulley will need replacing. And you can try to get a good discount

markomate · Dec 29th, 2020, 21:58

Thanks, I had theorised that's what it could be!
Interesting that the engine still runs even with the cam position sensor unplugged!
The seller did say the engine was noisy with the plug connected!
Can I ask a couple of questions?
How long will a bad VVT pulley run for?
Is it better to have the VVT working even if it's noisy?
Can the engine be damaged by a bad VVT pulley?
Do the pulleys fail overtime or mileage? It's only done 80K miles!

The noise we can handle as long as it's not going to fail!
Thanks
Mark

bimmer49 · Dec 29th, 2020, 22:28

markomate: Negociate a big discount (because the pulley is expensive (£100+) and DO NOTHING!
Waste of time replacing it unless you can't put up with the "purring" on idle!
Connect it all up, reset the light if necessary and live with it. Car goes just as well and won't fail an MOT on emissions!

markomate · Dec 29th, 2020, 22:44

Thanks!
It's just flown through its "Technical" test.
It's in great condition, so I'll think we will go for it!
Others are for sale with double the miles and all more expensive!
I can sort the pulley etc although Ill do it fairly soon as I've got no written proof that the cambelt has been changed, so I'll do the lot together.
Pulley from Germany, genuine Volvo, is £160
The car has to last till Summer when we will get a longer-term replacement.

gatos · Dec 29th, 2020, 22:50

No, there won't be any damage at all with a bad vvt pulley. Just that bloody annoying repetitive noise.

There is a cheeky way to eliminate the noise. That is by getting an additional vvt solenoid, unplugging the connector from the vvt solenoid fitted on the car and plugging in the spare vvt solenoid. This way, the noise stops, as the fitted vvt solenoid is not connected anymore and the EML light doesn't come on because the connector goes to the second vvt solenoid. It's not a great solution, but it's ok if the budget is tight, or if you only need the car for a short period of time

markomate · Dec 30th, 2020, 08:21

Thanks for the great info, really appreciate it!
The deal is done, we collect the car in a couple of hours.
It comes with 3 sets of wheels and tyres!
Extra wheels and tyres are common here as we sometimes get 3 months of snow, so it comes with spikes, snow tyres and summer tyres!
The front wing is a bit rusty, may replace or repair.

Its got a genuine 114k kilometres and was €1200.
About half the price and half the mileage of any others!

The car felt very solid, no rattles, knocks. Brakes are perfect, the interior is spotless.
I think the owner got spooked about the noise, got a quote, then decided to sell!
I'll do the cam belt asap.
Thanks again for the help, really happy to have found such a helpful forum!
Mark

clarkey1984 · Dec 30th, 2020, 08:48

The 2002 1.9 petrol I had last year while the t4 was being repaired had the vvt noise, I didn't have full knowledge of the cars history so I gave it three oil and filter changes within about 10,000 miles, and while the noise didn't completely go away it definitely seemed to quieten it down.

markomate · Dec 30th, 2020, 15:22

Interesting about the oil changes!
I like getting to the bottom of issues, so when I do swap the pulley Ill probably end up taking it apart!
Picked up the car, it's for the girlfriend, she likes it, a bit quieter than her last ride, Ford Mondeo ST220!
It came with big service history, the first owner only used a Volvo dealer!
Still couldn't find anything about the cambelt but I'm changing it this weekend anyway.
VVT noise started shortly after I plugged the cam sensor back in!
Apart from that its noise-free and clean inside!

bimmer49 · Dec 31st, 2020, 15:01

If you INSIST on changing the VVT, I think mine came from Poland for £90 or so and was an Aisin part which I believe is a genuine part.

Dec 29th, 2020, 20:43	#1
markomate New Member Last Online: Jan 7th, 2021 12:39 Join Date: Dec 2020 Location: Tallinn	S40 EML and under bonnet help! Hi Looked at a 2004 V40 1.9 petrol today. It's very low mileage, very clean and runs well, I followed the buyers guide on here, nothing too untoward except! EML light is on, amber, and I found an electrical plug, unplugged. It's on the top left side of the engine (when viewed looking forward) I can see it's supposed to be plugged into a circular "thing" at the end of the cam cover. I've spent hours googling for a decent pic/description for what the "thing" is! I've been around cars for over 40 years but this has me stumped! Any advice, please? Also, I didn't remove the engine cover so I couldn't check if the VVT solenoid was unplugged or not, the car runs well, but it was warmed up/running when we arrived to view it!

Dec 29th, 2020, 22:28	#4
bimmer49 Always listen & learn! Last Online: Mar 13th, 2023 19:32 Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Winchester + Malaga	markomate: Negociate a big discount (because the pulley is expensive (£100+) and DO NOTHING! Waste of time replacing it unless you can't put up with the "purring" on idle! Connect it all up, reset the light if necessary and live with it. Car goes just as well and won't fail an MOT on emissions! __________________ 264 V8 5.0L V40 BiFuel, she's gone, she's dead......Oh well!

Dec 29th, 2020, 22:50	#6
gatos Premier Member Last Online: Nov 15th, 2022 21:34 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: London / Essex	No, there won't be any damage at all with a bad vvt pulley. Just that bloody annoying repetitive noise. There is a cheeky way to eliminate the noise. That is by getting an additional vvt solenoid, unplugging the connector from the vvt solenoid fitted on the car and plugging in the spare vvt solenoid. This way, the noise stops, as the fitted vvt solenoid is not connected anymore and the EML light doesn't come on because the connector goes to the second vvt solenoid. It's not a great solution, but it's ok if the budget is tight, or if you only need the car for a short period of time __________________ Current car: 2002 S40 1.9D, 1992 240SE Nullius in Verba

Dec 30th, 2020, 08:48	#8
clarkey1984 Premier Member Last Online: Apr 13th, 2022 09:41 Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Beccles	The 2002 1.9 petrol I had last year while the t4 was being repaired had the vvt noise, I didn't have full knowledge of the cars history so I gave it three oil and filter changes within about 10,000 miles, and while the noise didn't completely go away it definitely seemed to quieten it down. __________________ 02 V40 T4 S, "Sargent silver" she's back!

Dec 31st, 2020, 15:01	#10
bimmer49 Always listen & learn! Last Online: Mar 13th, 2023 19:32 Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Winchester + Malaga	If you INSIST on changing the VVT, I think mine came from Poland for £90 or so and was an Aisin part which I believe is a genuine part. __________________ 264 V8 5.0L V40 BiFuel, she's gone, she's dead......Oh well!

Dec 29th, 2020, 21:58	#3
markomate New Member Last Online: Jan 7th, 2021 12:39 Join Date: Dec 2020 Location: Tallinn	Thanks, I had theorised that's what it could be! Interesting that the engine still runs even with the cam position sensor unplugged! The seller did say the engine was noisy with the plug connected! Can I ask a couple of questions? How long will a bad VVT pulley run for? Is it better to have the VVT working even if it's noisy? Can the engine be damaged by a bad VVT pulley? Do the pulleys fail overtime or mileage? It's only done 80K miles! The noise we can handle as long as it's not going to fail! Thanks Mark

Dec 29th, 2020, 22:44	#5
markomate New Member Last Online: Jan 7th, 2021 12:39 Join Date: Dec 2020 Location: Tallinn	Thanks! It's just flown through its "Technical" test. It's in great condition, so I'll think we will go for it! Others are for sale with double the miles and all more expensive! I can sort the pulley etc although Ill do it fairly soon as I've got no written proof that the cambelt has been changed, so I'll do the lot together. Pulley from Germany, genuine Volvo, is £160 The car has to last till Summer when we will get a longer-term replacement.

Dec 30th, 2020, 08:21	#7
markomate New Member Last Online: Jan 7th, 2021 12:39 Join Date: Dec 2020 Location: Tallinn	Thanks for the great info, really appreciate it! The deal is done, we collect the car in a couple of hours. It comes with 3 sets of wheels and tyres! Extra wheels and tyres are common here as we sometimes get 3 months of snow, so it comes with spikes, snow tyres and summer tyres! The front wing is a bit rusty, may replace or repair. Its got a genuine 114k kilometres and was €1200. About half the price and half the mileage of any others! The car felt very solid, no rattles, knocks. Brakes are perfect, the interior is spotless. I think the owner got spooked about the noise, got a quote, then decided to sell! I'll do the cam belt asap. Thanks again for the help, really happy to have found such a helpful forum! Mark

Dec 30th, 2020, 15:22	#9
markomate New Member Last Online: Jan 7th, 2021 12:39 Join Date: Dec 2020 Location: Tallinn	Interesting about the oil changes! I like getting to the bottom of issues, so when I do swap the pulley Ill probably end up taking it apart! Picked up the car, it's for the girlfriend, she likes it, a bit quieter than her last ride, Ford Mondeo ST220! It came with big service history, the first owner only used a Volvo dealer! Still couldn't find anything about the cambelt but I'm changing it this weekend anyway. VVT noise started shortly after I plugged the cam sensor back in! Apart from that its noise-free and clean inside!

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