I've had my S60R for close to 2 years and I just broke 100k miles. My turbo is acting up. Whenever it peak,mainly 3rd gear at about 3500 rpms or higher, it blows off and loses the vacuum, without me letting off the gas. After that it has much less power, like the turbo is barely spoolling if anything at all. At most it will sputter as if its trying to regain a vacuum. I dont have a boost gauge yet but will ne getting one soon. Could this be a leak in a hose or something, or is it worse. Please let me know what you think.... Thank you

 

Do you have an error code? engine light on? If you have an error code what is it? I had a pretty similar issue with my s60 2.5T. See my post https://volvoforums.com/forum/volvo-...anymore-56997/
Although your turbo is different than mine (yours being high pressured vs mine being low pressured) this may give you some inputs on what to look at. I would check first if there is no obvious vacuum leak in the hoses that go to or come from the turbo. Second step if no leak found would be to change the TCV (Turbo Control Valve). You can find it cheap enough online and it is an easy thing to replace. It is a part known to fail and which could cause the problem you are describing. If you change the TCV give some time (several miles) after you change it for the ECU relearn. If all of that does not work you may have a problem with the wastegate of your turbo.

 

You need a boost gauge

The car not holding boost Look at
1. TCV and vacline . The TCV is located at the air box has 3 Vac lines connected. Trace the Vac lines back to the turbo and make sure that they are not cracked and are fully connected at both ends .
2. OTE Pipe or Charge Pipe. Its the large Pipe that goes over the Engine. Check the couplers at both end for Rips and make sure that clamps are tight.
3. CBV (compressor Bypass valve). The is a diaphragm and spring located in the wategate part of the Turbo. This allows the Turbo to hold Boost and they have been know to go. For your car Viva performance and IPD both sell upgraded replacement parts for this.Not an easy job but it can be done with a little time and simple set of hand tools.

With the mileage your car has its a good idea to look at either of the company's below and pick up new Tubing to replace to Vac lines. Also replacing the Charge pipe couplers is also a good idea. These are common things that just dry up and crack over time. The turbo used in the Volvo S60 are made by Mitsubishi and have a great rep and almost Never fail.
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Gl luck and if you can get the car scanned for codes from local AutoZone just to see if any are present Please Post.Other than that when you get a Boost gauge installed see when the car looses pressure what gear and PSI

 

I also drive a s60r 05. One EASY thing you may want to check out before you pay lots of diagnostic fees is the turbo intake pipe that goes over your valve cover into your turbo housing. There is a seal in there that goes bad VERY OFTEN. I have had to replace mine twice, pretty much anytime that pipe comes off that seal needs to be replaced.

Does the car make a slight whistle sound when you get to max boost? if the car has any different sound in the intake area then most likely that is your problem. If its not then im sorry i couldnt help.

 

Grunt, if you monitor this, I have a question. I've had my R turbo intake pipe off probably three or four times now (change plugs, replace fuel pressure sensor), and I'm not aware of a seal. Perhaps the thing fell out when I first took the tube off; but when I replace it, it's simply tube metal on metal, with a bracket that holds the two together. Where is this seal? Is it between the metal on metal? Can you advise? (And what symptoms did the bad/non seal give?) --Thanks!

 

Also, check the fuel pressure sensor. I just replaced mine, and got significant function back. (Power was "dropping out.") The poster who suggested getting a code, and proceed from there, was good counsel. I got my code read at Advance Auto Parts for free. Many will do this, and it's a great place to start.