Volvo V50 - engine cutting out

AllThatDaz

Just before Christmas, I brought a 2008 Volvo V50 1.8 (55k miles, FSH) from a place in Berkshire.

Took it for a test drive, and all was good. Driving back home that evening I pulled over to find the nearest petrol station. Whilst idling the dash displayed a message saying 'reduced engine performance'. Not sure what to do/what this meant, I turned the ignition off and started it up again and all was good. Then, whilst driving home the car cut-out twice, both times in slow moving traffic. For the duration of the journey home I noticed that the engine was idling around the 1200-1500rpm range.

For the next few days the car drove fine - no cut-outs, no 'reduced engine performance' message and the idle was normal.

Then it started to cut-out again; in all instances this was a low speeds, typically when slowing down (driving along slowly in 2nd gear, or changing from 2nd to 1st). Then on one occasion the engine cut-out, I restarted and the revs just shot up - very close to the red-line! Not knowing if it would stop, I switched the engine off! Started again and it did the same thing, but this time the revs then dropped.

After this incident, I phoned a local garage who took a look at it. They plugged in their diagnostic gizmo and it showed no faults that could be related to the issue I was having. The guy kept the car in for a few days and drive it around to try and get it to cut-out. Typically, this never happened and told me to collect the car. He suggested it could be an issue with the ECU software, or the throttle housing. I told him the car came with a warranty and he said he'd check it out with the warranty company. This was over the Xmas period and he never heard back from them.

Since having the car back its been cutting-out on a regular basis. The 'reduced engine performance' message has appeared a few times, but there have been no further instances of the engine revving extremely high.  What I have noticed is that when slowing down (2nd gear, or changing from 2nd to 1st), the revs drop very suddenly, and when it does cut-out the rev needle drops to zero!

Today, the wife was driving the car on a dual carriageway and the 'reduced engine performance' message was displayed.  Now, this has never happened whilst driving the car 'normally' - it's only ever come on whilst stationary or driving a low speeds.  I've phoned the mechanic and told him of this and I'm taking to him later today/early tomorrow.

I've had a look on Google, and although the model I have isn't covered by the recall, the description of what one of the problems is matches mine:

http://www.warrantyguide.co.uk/vehicle-recall-D735DAB1440A9DF8802577EA003744AB-volvo-car-s80v70xc70-xc60-s60-and-v6

So the mechanic has suggested it could be an ECU software or throttle housing issue.  A mate at work has also suggested it could be the throttle control valve?

Has anyone on here experienbced this happening, or have any thoughts/suggestions on what the problem is?

Thanks
Darren

j4ck100

Call volvo get them to diagnose the problem then when they quote say too much sorry thanks and take it to an indy to get the work done would be my plan.

Ed Smith

Hi Darren...also just bought a Volvo V50, 2008 1.8 with a similar issue. Great car apart from this! Did you get a solution?

AllThatDaz

Hi Ed. In a nutshell...no!!!

Took it to the Volvo dealer and there was a fault ices logged on the ECU relating to a poor throttle response. Suggested repair was to clean throttle housing and replace the connectors. This work was undertaken (£250) and two days later the car started cutting out again!

Car booked back in. The dealer had the car for 9 days! Yes...9 days. This time round they 'moved some modules' around and this resulted in a higher frequency of cut outs. They then thought it could be a CEM (Central Electronic Module) issue, but then changed their mind and diagnosed the fault as an issue with the wiring going in to the CEM - apparently some wires going into the module were touching (I assume because the coating had disintegrated) and causing the system to short and cause the car to cut out. New connectors fitted and some other wiring stuff - (£246).

Car drove fine for just over 3 weeks then cut out 4 times within the space of 3 days!

Snotty email sent to dealer demanding answers and refunds. Car is booked in again this Tuesday for diagnostic work which will be free of charge. However, should parts be required then the cost will be discussed.

Fingers crossed they solve the problem this time because other than this drama, the car is fine!

Ed Smith

Hi Darren...we have given the car a couple of days and today was it's first longish journey and this happened a couple of times. Found this and wonder if this is what it is? Obviously we need to get it checked out but worried this could be a costly, long winded and frustrating exercise...

V50 Engine Turbo : -  Reduced Engine Performance - dealer can't fix! [Archive]  - Volvo Owners Club Forum

How did you get on today?

AllThatDaz

Not sure it's the same problem as I don't have a turbo.

Took the car in and spoke at length with one if their technicians who asked me a lot of questions! He then went on to explain how the throttle works (basically no cables and it's all controlled electronically) and how it connects to the CEM and so forth...very confusing but I understood the gist of it.

Got a phone call in the evening saying there were no fault codes stored (expected that tbh as it happened on a previous time it's been with them) and that they couldn't get the fault to happen. I did explain that since the last lot of work it very rarely cuts out now; in fact it's been nearly two weeks since it last did it. I have noticed that when it does cut out, it does so in a cluster.

Should be getting it back today but I'm expecting them to say they haven't found anything...

AllThatDaz

Quick update: the Volvo dealer are suggesting that it's a throttle issue and that the entire throttle unit needs replacing.  If that's the case, I'll be expecting them to deduct £250 off the bill (the amount I paid when they said the throttle unit needed cleaning), or refund me that money.

adamduk

While I had a similar issue with my astra rather than a Volvo, the random diagnostics were the same. Turned out to simply be water ingress / condensation into the front fusebox. Or front electrical Centre as was called. Error codes were always to do with throttle position.

Trollslayer

Am I the only one who thinks this stuff is getting too complicated?

car-man

It is complicated!

You are on a hiding to nothing sometimes!
People often think that you just plug in a machine and there you are, the answer is found...no it aint

Regarding the OP's problem, Volvo have always been noted for problems with throttle bodies...plus problems with water ingress to the CEM via the wiring.

£250 to clean out a throttle body is absolutely unreal