Are GDI's crap? HELP!!!

Hi guys and in particular David,

I bought a 2003 (53) 1.8 GDi S40 with 92,000 miles back in November and ive had some problems with it. I will write a short amount about them now in a hope it might be useful to someone. I found Davids info very interesteing and reassuring because I'm having similar problems.

The problem:
Poor Idle, low on power but throught low revs not just a flat spot, in some cases the car would stall while sitting in traffic, engine management light came on.

The fix:
very soon after I bought the car the engine management light came on. I went to Volvo main dealer to read the code and give me the verdict on what the problem was. They said the code was a fuel trim probelm and on further inspection was related to carbon build up.

So the suggestion was to cleam the spark pugs etc of carbon and clear the code. This was done (£100 + Vat) but in my opinion didnt make a massive difference and the problem was still there and was most noticable during idle. The car was driveable and the management light stayed off. A few weeks later and after a few good runs and a very good thrash (which was suggested) the light came back on and the idle became worse again. So this time a carbon flush of the engine was undertaken (not a de-choke) which meant some expensive treaments added to the engine, new spark plugs complete oil & filter change etc (Approx £250). The outcome was a much improved idle and slight difference in performance and engine management light stayed off, not 100% right as I could still detect a slight problem through the idle and sometimes the revs would go up to 1500 for no reason then drop back down after 30 - 90 seconds. That was the only thing I noticed and the car was driving fine.

Problem solved, fantastic as the only other options were a de-choke or new throttle body both in the region of £700 - £1,000 each.

Current situation:
My wife uses the car on a 100+ mile daily commute and everything had been fine............. up until last night. She got home and told me the engine management light was back on. So i've had a really good chat with an independent Volvo specialist local to me in Sheffield and based on what I know already and his experience of the GDi engine hes syas theres 2 options available (which backs up what Volvo told me previously) de-choke which means stripping down the engine and a re-skim and/or throttle body. So i'm looking at a bloody big bill. Even worse he cant say which one if any will solve the problem for good.

The car is booked in for a once over, check the fault code and a quote for work needed on Friday. I will post the recommendation and results as and when.

Thnaks again to David for his story, it would be nice to hear from anyone else with the same problems.

Both Volvo and the specialist independent garage I contacted today say there is problems with carbon build on on GDi engines. The independent garage also told me they tend to steer clear of GDi's because the servicing and parts are more expensive. For example cambelt change on a GDi is 60,000on a standard engine more like 90,000 (97,000) and it costs up to 3 times more due to labour costs. Some one hit the nail on the head earlier with servicing costs that out weigh any savings made on economy, especially if you use premium unleaded. Hope that helps with the original question.

I will post an update next week.

Originally Posted by DavidMarron

I'm tempted to write a note to Volvo as the car had a full service history and I thought I was buying in to a superior brand. I doubt it'd have any effect other than make me feel better.

My thoughts as well, you can add me to the list if you decide to go ahead with a letter. Ive decided not to bother as I know it will make no difference and I have more urgent matters to sort out at the moment like finding money to fix a car that shouldnt have this kind of problem.

I'm happy to hear you managed to get the work paid for, i'm sure that was a difficult battle, well done to you.

[mengland]

Ok, so some people seem to have had a number of problems with the GDi engines (some at quite low mileages) and others have had none at all and done over 90,000!

It also seems that the solution is unknown. Some have had de-coke and its improved things, whereas for others it's made no difference and the injectors were the problem. Suggestions have been to drive it hard and thrash it occasionally, use premium fuel, use fuel additive, try to take it on long runs.

My personal experiance has been only really the one fault with the car (injector which i mentioned in earlier post). Have spoken to volvo and they only recommend de-coke, although they also said that the injectors used are Volvo injectors (albeit for that specific engine) and don't quite fit the Mitsubishi engine??

My car does idle high when first switched on for a couple of minutes but i always assumed it was just until it warmed a bit (as also does it more in winter than summer).

I'm starting to worry that i may get more problems, my plan was to run this car for at least another 2-3 years or so. (Its a 98 with 80000 on clock).

However, this engine is the same as used in the charisma and you see them with very high milages and no reported problems.

Basically, I can't understand why no one really knows what the problem is and how to fix it.

From now on I am going to do the following:
Use BP ultimate (or higher),
Oil and filter change every 5000 miles,
service every 10000 miles.

I'll see how she runs and when she dies i don't think i'll bother resurecting her if its an engine related death (then buy a T4 or go for S60 T5 if funds allow! )

Marcus.

[jamie28]

i found this stuff on the net there is some mention of the gdi on their forum

http://www.cleanburn.co.uk/phpBB/for...pic.php?t=1262


http://www.cleanburn.co.uk/phpBB/for...pic.php?t=1186


http://www.cleanburn.co.uk/phpBB/for...ight=gdi+volvo


http://www.ecotekvalve.co.uk/-_c618_658_p75718.htm[/url]

http://www.ecotekplc.com/pb_application.htm[/url]

[mengland]

If anyone has used this and had good (or bad results) please let us know.
Or, if any one can see why this should/shouldn't work (especially on the GDi)!

Where does all the deposits that this stuff is supposed to remove go??
Out the exhaust (through the cat)?
Isn't the GDi supposed to recycle some exhaust gas, would this cause a problem?

Originally Posted by mengland

If anyone has used this and had good (or bad results) please let us know.
Or, if any one can see why this should/shouldn't work (especially on the GDi)!

Where does all the deposits that this stuff is supposed to remove go??
Out the exhaust (through the cat)?
Isn't the GDi supposed to recycle some exhaust gas, would this cause a problem?

I will dig out the invoice and see what the name of the product was for the treatment my car had.

As to where do all the deposits go, on the treatment I went for they were in the oil hence oil and filter change after the treament.

Some links to other useful threads on the GDi engine:

http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=29438

http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=29292

http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=29479

[DEANO]

VOLVO s40 1.8 GDI 98,000 MILES 1999

Hello my gdi has coverd 98,000 miles i have had this car 18 months with no problems apart from noisey hydraulic tappets. I have tried wynns hydraulic valve lifter treatment, engine oil flush, oil change every 3 months using 10/40w synthic oil but problems still there anyone else found a cure?

Deano

the diesel good for towing,otherwise expensive owning

[st5ve]

Sevral years ago I had the Carisma GDI had it for 25k miles had done a total of 85k when I sold it. I thought the engine was ok, very reliable but I did not drive it like an old lady.

I did find that if you thrash it on a long run, for sevral hundred miles it was ok but if you kept the revs constant at about 65 to 70 the thing was really lumpy on idle afterwards. All in all would not get another one.