Hi there, Just new on here so first of all Hi ! I didn't think after upgrading from a 2002 Toyota Rav 4 D-4D to a nice 2008 S40 that I'd be looking for help for a problem so soon. I have just bough a 2008 S40 D Sport 2.0 Diesel and I'm having a problem since I bought the car on Wednesday, when I test drove it there was no problem, car seamed solid so I bought it at a good price, now first thing Thursday morning the problem started. First turn of the key created a large white smokey cloud with a steady chugging as its turning over, (like it was being starved of Diesel or something not sure how to describe it) it chugs for a good 2 mins while turning over and the smoke persists. It seams a good rev helps get things going a little though it doesn't always start first time sometimes it takes 2 attempts. (plenty of white smoke both attempts) it catches like its started but it bubbles and struggles even with a few revs, the chugging stops when its driven even just out of the driveway and smoke clears. Now the car will start fine all day as long as its started within about a 4 hour period, longer that that and the same cold start problem reoccurs. 2 chuggy start up attempts with smoke and drive a few yards while its "spluttery" and she goes.

Now I've done a good bit of reading on a few forums all day here and I'm still lost so please go easy on the "Newbie" ok.

My car is 2008 S40 R Line D Sport 2.0 Turbo Diesel so the common solution to the cold hard start problem i've read everywhere all day is the "Fuel Pressure Regulator" now from more reading I think my car doesn't have this part, it now has a Fuel Pressure Sensor is that right ?
If so is a FPS going to solve the problem like the FPR did for so many other members on here in the models up to 2004 or what are the recommended suggestions for my model ?

• Fuel Filter
• Fuel Pressure Sensor
• Vacuum Hoses
• Testing the fuel pressure (* Recommended cheap gauge for this ?) Uk / Irish Market
• Fuel Pump

Have I missed anything from the check list ?
I'm hoping that tomorrow (Sunday) will be dry so I can get at it ! Gonna take off all the air intake hoses and clean out any carbon deposits with some carb cleaner and a tooth brush.

If i see that i need to replace some perished vacuum hoses are there any recommendations ? What diameter are the vacuum hoses ? Are after market upgrades worth doing ? I'd consider upgrading to some fancy red ones like ones pictured here if I was going to the trouble of changing then why not upgrade I'm thinking !



Looking forward to your help and opinions on it, thanks.

 

You have a diesel so this forum may be clueless. AFAIK North America did not receive a turbo diesel Volvo. Where is the car located?

I would guess your best bet is the UK Volvo forum. Unless someone here can help maybe? Here is a bump to the top.

 

here is my daily driver, so have a little experience with diesels...


Are you using ANY coolant? If so the white smoke is coolant from a head gasket leaking into a cylinder.
If not, then I would say an injector is leaking down into a cylinder.
Be careful as either of these could hydrolock the motor, rendering it junk.
Get a fuel pressure gauge and hook it up. I would guess its going to be normal when running, but will bleed down when parked for a while. It's a sealed system and in theory, should retain pressure.
In summary, fuel or coolant leaking into a cylinder would be a good place to start.

Martin

 

Wow, now thats some Machine Martin !!
If you follow this link and read down just under the pictures of the car and between the car and the chipped windscreen pics what he says the problem is on his car is 1 glow plug not heating the cylinder up to the correct temp I wonder would this cause it ? Be interesting to know if whoever bought it fixed the problem by changing the glow plug ? We might never know !!

http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=238928

 

No link, so cant see the thread you refer too.
I honestly forgot about glow plugs, having not dealt with them for MANY years! Although a bad glow plug wouldn't explain the rough running and white smoke etc in my experiences with them. Chugging on a really cold morning sure, but the white smoke, I dont think so.
Have you tried turning the key on, leaving it until the glow plug relay clicks, then turning it off and repeating it?

Martin

 

FOR SALE 2008 S40 SE Sport R-Design + Winter pack £3500 - Volvo Owners Club Forum

Sorry must not have pasted here it is again and I added it to the comment above also !

 

Yes I have and still do every morning now just turning to position 2 for a short period, back to 1, back to 2 for the plugs to reheat and then start. It does help more so than not doing it but it is still rough and Wayyyyy smokier than I'd like ! But the car will start every time first click up until about 4 hours for some reason ! My theory would have been pressure loss somewhere like the fuel but I'm far from an expert ! Just the fact that left overnight and after an extended period its hard to start but its fine up until said period and turns smoke free with the first time !! Weird !!

 

I would be checking that each glow plug is getting power when the relay is on first. if they are, then one may be going out. You should be able to rig up a test light to each ones plug, then have a helper turn on the ignition when cold and see if the test light illuminates or not. If they all light up, I wonder if an IR temp gun would be able to pick up a cold cylinder vs the rest? If so, that would tell you if a glow plug is bad.
How bad are they to get to there? How expensive?
I still think it's fuel, but there is absolutely no reason to not rule out the glow plugs.

Martin

 

Glow plugs are probably gonna cost me about €300-€400 to have replaced and that's on top of getting the car serviced which I've been quoted €300 for which after parts probably works out at about €150 for labour which I thought was a bit much for a service but I want the car checked out properly as it's a new purchase for us, not much paper work about previous servicing except a few scraps of receipts... and I have a young child so I wanna make sure everything's good before we use it as our family run around ! My Uncle actually has an IR Temp gun, I wonder would that work ? Would i test just when the key is at position 2 and not started or would I check with the car running ?

 

Check when the glow plugs are supposed to be on. Cold morning, first start. Turn the key to position 2, hit the glow plugs with the IR gun. If one is failing/failed, it will be colder than the rest.
Can you not do these things yourself mate? It would save a lOT of money and we are all here to help you,

Martin

 

Hey like everyone else said, check the glow plugs with an IR temp gun. Find the difference. A couple of degrees is really nothing to fret about but if you notice a sizable diff, then write it down and report it. White smoke exhaust is typically characterized by coolant evaporating into cylinder heads because of a leaky head gasket. Check under your hood for moisture marks and accumulation of dirt around the sealing area between the cast-iron bottom and the top of the engine. Let us know what's going on.