XC60 D5 AWD Geartronic Intermittent Juddering

steve5705 · Sep 15th, 2020, 15:59

Intermittent juddering, similar to driving over rumble strips in the road

Juddering throughout the car, similar to driving over rumble strips in the road. The fault was initially apparent at speeds up to 30 – 40 MPH, but has become progressively worse, and is now apparent when driving at anything up to 50 – 60 MPH. It occurs when driving at a steady speed when on gentle throttle, keeping up with traffic flow etc. It also occurs when the road starts to climb slightly, or when cornering - especially when leaving a roundabout.

This fault has been apparent for about a year, and you did remove, clean and refit O2 sensor on 13/9/19, at a fault code was shown. This has made no difference to the shuddering fault.

I have waited before returning the car to you for further investigation so that I could build a better picture of the nature of the fault, and I have found the following:

Fault occurs from cold, and does not seem to be related to whether the car has been on short local journeys, or on a long run.

Fault is felt as a shuddering throughout the car, which I can only describe as being similar to driving over rumble strips in the road.

The following actions cause the fault to disappear:

Gentle increase in throttle/acceleration – the car seems to “drive though it”

Greater increase in throttle, causing kick down

Taking foot off the throttle

Manually changing gear with the paddles, either up or down. The fault clears during the few seconds that the selected gear is displayed, but returns after the gear selection disappears. The strange thing (to my mind) about this is that the fault clears when I select a lower or higher gear BUT it still clears if I select a higher gear, even if, due to road and engine speed at that particular time, the car does NOT actually change up a gear. The fault then comes back once the selected gear indication disappears.

Driving the car in Sport Mode. If I select this mode, and drive the car “manually” changing gear with the paddles, the fault does not occur at all. I’m aware that this mode tends to hold lower gears for longer than the normal drive mode, and seems to allow more revs in each gear, so I wonder whether this has any significance to the possible cause of the fault.

There is no lack of engine power or any sign of hesitancy during hard acceleration, with no sign of the fault when cruising at motorway speeds.

More recently, the garage have replaced an O2 sensor, with the following effect:-

1-7-20 Replaced the O2 sensor, but this did not initially cure the fault. Since the sensor was replaced I could often notice a smell I could best describe as natural gas, usually when the car came to rest following a period of driving.

13-7-20 The fault cleared! Overnight the car ran the best it has in about a year, with no sign of the juddering fault, although the smell of natural gas persisted.

27-7-20 Fault is just starting to recur on the odd occasion. The smell of natural gas has disappeared.

3-8-20 Fault now showing itself more regularly.

Throughout August the fault has become worse, and is now as bad as it was prior to changing the O2 sensor.

Any help or suggestions would be very gratefully received!

Thank you

Steve Williams

paul chocks · Sep 15th, 2020, 16:48

How old is the vehicle and how many miles?

It sounds like the transmission rather than the engine to me. Despite Volvo saying the gearboxes don't need servicing, they do - particularly if the car has ever been used for towing. Possibly torque converter.

My previous XC90's gearbox gave up at 140,000 miles. The specialist who rebuilt it explained in very logical terms that all gearboxes need oil changes.

steve5705 · Sep 16th, 2020, 08:42

HI, the car is 5 years old, and has covered 58,000 miles from new. The problem has been apparent for about a year now. It is due back into the garage next week, and they are thinking along the lines of transmission, but I don't have a great deal of confidence in them.

sda2489 · Sep 16th, 2020, 16:34

Might have the answer to this as the same thing has been happening to my parents car, a 2014 XC60 T6.

The word from the dealers after trying many other things is the rear diff electric motor is shot as the oil has gone all sludgy. It has basically burnt itself out.

It only has 46k miles on it.

They tried new tyres, main gearbox flush, no difference. No errors on VIDA.

Its not been fixed yet but garage is confident that is the issue as they have had it before.

T.

Sep 15th, 2020, 15:59	#1
steve5705 New Member Last Online: Oct 15th, 2020 18:04 Join Date: Sep 2020 Location: Hinckley	XC60 D5 AWD Geartronic Intermittent Juddering Intermittent juddering, similar to driving over rumble strips in the road Juddering throughout the car, similar to driving over rumble strips in the road. The fault was initially apparent at speeds up to 30 – 40 MPH, but has become progressively worse, and is now apparent when driving at anything up to 50 – 60 MPH. It occurs when driving at a steady speed when on gentle throttle, keeping up with traffic flow etc. It also occurs when the road starts to climb slightly, or when cornering - especially when leaving a roundabout. This fault has been apparent for about a year, and you did remove, clean and refit O2 sensor on 13/9/19, at a fault code was shown. This has made no difference to the shuddering fault. I have waited before returning the car to you for further investigation so that I could build a better picture of the nature of the fault, and I have found the following: Fault occurs from cold, and does not seem to be related to whether the car has been on short local journeys, or on a long run. Fault is felt as a shuddering throughout the car, which I can only describe as being similar to driving over rumble strips in the road. The following actions cause the fault to disappear: Gentle increase in throttle/acceleration – the car seems to “drive though it” Greater increase in throttle, causing kick down Taking foot off the throttle Manually changing gear with the paddles, either up or down. The fault clears during the few seconds that the selected gear is displayed, but returns after the gear selection disappears. The strange thing (to my mind) about this is that the fault clears when I select a lower or higher gear BUT it still clears if I select a higher gear, even if, due to road and engine speed at that particular time, the car does NOT actually change up a gear. The fault then comes back once the selected gear indication disappears. Driving the car in Sport Mode. If I select this mode, and drive the car “manually” changing gear with the paddles, the fault does not occur at all. I’m aware that this mode tends to hold lower gears for longer than the normal drive mode, and seems to allow more revs in each gear, so I wonder whether this has any significance to the possible cause of the fault. There is no lack of engine power or any sign of hesitancy during hard acceleration, with no sign of the fault when cruising at motorway speeds. More recently, the garage have replaced an O2 sensor, with the following effect:- 1-7-20 Replaced the O2 sensor, but this did not initially cure the fault. Since the sensor was replaced I could often notice a smell I could best describe as natural gas, usually when the car came to rest following a period of driving. 13-7-20 The fault cleared! Overnight the car ran the best it has in about a year, with no sign of the juddering fault, although the smell of natural gas persisted. 27-7-20 Fault is just starting to recur on the odd occasion. The smell of natural gas has disappeared. 3-8-20 Fault now showing itself more regularly. Throughout August the fault has become worse, and is now as bad as it was prior to changing the O2 sensor. Any help or suggestions would be very gratefully received! Thank you Steve Williams

Sep 15th, 2020, 16:48	#2
paul chocks Junior Member Last Online: Dec 2nd, 2022 10:25 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: newbury	How old is the vehicle and how many miles? It sounds like the transmission rather than the engine to me. Despite Volvo saying the gearboxes don't need servicing, they do - particularly if the car has ever been used for towing. Possibly torque converter. My previous XC90's gearbox gave up at 140,000 miles. The specialist who rebuilt it explained in very logical terms that all gearboxes need oil changes.

Sep 16th, 2020, 08:42	#3
steve5705 New Member Last Online: Oct 15th, 2020 18:04 Join Date: Sep 2020 Location: Hinckley	HI, the car is 5 years old, and has covered 58,000 miles from new. The problem has been apparent for about a year now. It is due back into the garage next week, and they are thinking along the lines of transmission, but I don't have a great deal of confidence in them.

Sep 16th, 2020, 16:34	#4
sda2489 Member Last Online: Apr 17th, 2024 21:27 Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Lockerbie	Might have the answer to this as the same thing has been happening to my parents car, a 2014 XC60 T6. The word from the dealers after trying many other things is the rear diff electric motor is shot as the oil has gone all sludgy. It has basically burnt itself out. It only has 46k miles on it. They tried new tyres, main gearbox flush, no difference. No errors on VIDA. Its not been fixed yet but garage is confident that is the issue as they have had it before. T.

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