Hi There, recently purchased a 2000 v40 1.8 with 120,000 milesand have noticed a couple of problems.
Firstly when I start the car I have a rythmic rattle from the top end of the engine. This happens hot or cold and every time I start it. It can sometimes last for a second then disappear at idle but when reved up will return or it is there constant. After about 10-15 seconds It disappears until I switch off and restart. when the noise disappears it is as though i flick a switch and its gone. At first i thought it was tappets but went to a local specialist and was told that it could be the variable valve timing. I have notice that there is a vvt valve on top of engine and the vvt unitbehind the inlet cam wheel but am unsure which it could be. I first noticed this when I gave it an oil change with 10w 40. Since then i have changed the oil again and put the correct 5w 30 in. The oil that came out was very well used and I am wondering if the vvt is clogged up a bit?( when i changed it the second time it was as black as the first oil change).This fault may/may not have been there before i changed the oil but this is when i first noticed it. Another symptom is that when accelerating during this time the performanceis a little bit lumpy.
And just a short question about the clutch. Are volvo clutches heavier than other cars as mine does seem that way compared to other cable operated cars i have driven. Have replaced the slave cylinder because it was leaking and does seem to have improved it a bit (or is my left leg muscle getting stronger!!!!)
Apart from these issues I am enjoying my new volvo experience but would like to sort out these issues to make things better. Thanks for any advice

 

Maybe the oil pan o-rings are bad. Or yes it could be a VVT. Can you see into the head through the oil fill cap? If so does it look sludged up?

 

No there isn't any sludge but it looks like there is some baked on oil deposits. I wondered if the valve, which I assume controls the flow of oil to the VVT unit, is clogged up or sticking then could it be cleaned out and does this also apply to the VVT unit itself? This car has a service history until 90,000 miles but none after this. I was told that it was serviced privately after this but am having doubts.

 

Could be but I would try cleaning the valve first.

 

Thanks, I will try this first as it does seem to be the easier option and, for the price of a gasket, the cheapest. I might run some flushing oil through the engine to give it a good clean as well. It can't do any harm.

 

Well I have removed the VVT valve and removed the soleniod, gave it a good clean but this didn't cure my problem. I did speak to my Volvlo dealer when I was in there and my symptoms as described do correspond with a fault with the VVT system. The trouble is it could be either the valve ( 5 minutes to replace and costing approx £65.00 ) or the VVT unit ( costing £90.00 approx plus timing belt and adjuster and taking much longer to do) Which one to choose ? I would like it to be the first option but I have a hunch it's going to be the latter. I may have to live with it for a little longer as the timing belt isn't due yet and it doesn't cause any variation in the tension of the belt. Has anyone else out there had this experience as the dealer said that it is quite a common fault?

 

I have seen the valve go bad many times. All the units I have had to replace was due to them leaking oil really bad.

 

Many Thanks for that info. I will go for the valve first. It's a gamble I know but to book in to a dealer and pay for diagnosis it probably wouldn't be far off the price of the valve. I will let you know how I get on (may take a while though due to work commitments)