My wife's car 1998 V70 AWD has poor acceleration but she didn't notice it so I don't know how long this has been a problem. The car has 62K miles and no error codes. It feels like there is no turbo boast but it could be something else. What can I do or look for to troubleshoot this condition?

 

If you step on the gas hard do you hear the turbo?You usually can hear the turbo kicking in.If not you can also remove the induction hose from the turbo and try to turn the turbo with your finger.It could be seized.

 

Please do not attempt to do this with the engine running.

 

The car will not run with the hose missing!!

 

There is no sound or any other indication that the turbo is doing anything. Forgive my ignorance about turbos but what is the induction hose? Is it the air supply to the turbo? It looks impossible to access and remove that hose. What other parts need to be removed to get to the induction hose? Heat shield? Other?

 

The induction hose is the hose that goes from the air filter box down to the turbo.The clamp on the turbo end is kinda hard to get to but you can get to it.You dont have to remove it all the way just enough to check the turbo.
Good luck.

 

I took the car to my Volvo dealer for a $95 diagnostic test of my problem. They think the turbo has no output but cannot tell me what's wrong. They want $1600 to replace the turbo but,,,, "there could be other problems too". I asked about the turbo's control circuits and got a shrug in reply. That means "not tested" to me. I think this approach to troubleshooting is called "replace parts until it works". Well, I could do that.

Can the turbo be replaced by an experienced DIYer? Any special tools? What is the best source for the part? Would a used Turbo be an option? My goal is to repair and sell the car.

 

It is possible that you could do it your self.As long as you take your time and watch what you are doing its not that bad.I would try to find a used one first.If you find one look in the oil passages and make sure its not sludge filled.

 

Thanks Tech,
I found a used Turbo, good price, which has a 30 day money back deal, so I think that I'm OK there. I have a lot of mechnical and automotive repair experence but not on Volvos or with turbochargers. My major concern is, are any special tools required? How much oil is in the turbo or the cooling lines when I open them up? Do I need to drain the Oil pan first?

Thanks in advance. I'm sure to have more questions as this moves along. I do appreciate the help.

 

You dont have to drain the oil but i would drain the coolant.No you don't need any special tools.It should take you !/2 a day to a day since its your first time.
Good luck

 

I started to replace the turbo today. So far the mounting bolts and heat shield are coming out easily. I do have a couple of areas that I am not sure of how to proceed. 1) Three of the bolts that hold the turbo to the engine came out without problems but the last one, (lower/driver's side) is impossible to access from the top and the transmission and front drive axel block bottom access. Any suggestion? Should the wastegate control valve be removed first? 2) There is a pipe with a two bolt flange attached to the bottom of the turbo how does that come off? Do you remove the turbo with the pipe still bolted on? 3) I can remove the attaching bolts from the three cooling lines but are the cooling lines to be removed completely to lift out the turbo? One line can be moved out of the way but the other two do not move. Must they come out to make clear room to remove the turbo or can they be safely bent out of the way?
Thanks in advance.

 

Turbo removal update; 1998 V70 AWD.
Two of the cooling lines (Top and forward) are flexible enough not to be a problem. The third line (aft) is attached to the fourth (bottom pipe) line with a bracket that I can feel but cannot see. If I release the bolt on this bracket I think that will free up the third (aft) pipe. The fourth pipe on the bottom is my major problem. It is attached with two bolts. I think the back bolt is an allen or tork head. I cannot see the bolt so I am going by feel only. What type/size are these two bolts. I can’t feel the forward bolt with my fingers. Should you go in from the top or the bottom to gain access to these two bolts?

It looks to me that the turbo can be split apart leaving the exhaust flange in place. Am I on the right tract about doing that?
l

 

You should be able to access the 2 torxes 30 screws from the bottom.I would not reccomend splitting the turbo.If you take the bracket of between the turbo return line and the cooler line you can remove the turbo with the return line pipe attached.When going back in it will be easier to install the turbo return line after the turbo is installed.

 

Thanks Tech, for the quick reply.
I am sorry for my confusion but regarding your message: "If you take the bracket of between the turbo return line and the cooler line you can remove the turbo with the return line pipe attached." How does the oil return line's other end attach? Is it joined to a hose or in some other way connected to the engine? I see cannot see the beast from the top and I need to get hold of proper jack stands to get under the car safely.

 

The turbo return line bolts to the bottom of the turbo with the 2 torxes screws and just sits tightly in the block with the seal on the pipe.

 

Thanks Tech,
It's some kind of a oil seal and slip joint. Now it's starting to make sense to me, including your suggestion about it installing the new turbo. Slip in the pipe first and bolt up from below second. I think i've got it.

 

I'm glad I can help.If you have any other quiestions feel free to ask.

 

Turbo replacement update:
It's been raining here and so I haven't worked on it for a few days. I've successfully removed the old one. It’s seized. The key to removing it was knowing about the oil return line's connection to the block, Thanks. BTW the bolts holding the oil return line are 5MM hex Allen head on this car. Not Torx.
In the bad news department, I broke two plastic hoses that attach to a sensor on the induction hose at the turbo end. Both of these hoses are made of a hard plastic and ran inside of a rubber shield. The plastic was very brittle. I can't follow the hoses to their other end because it seams like the hoses (inside the rubber jacket) go behind the intake manifold. (I hope i'm wrong) What are these lines and were do they go. Whats involve in the replacement.
Again Thanks in advance.

 

Let me check tomorrow and i will let you know.

 

Hi Tech,

Did you get a chance to research my question about replacing the plastic hoses that run from a sensor on the turbo induction hose to some place under the intake manifold?