New to the forum but on my 2nd Volvo. I appreciate (and frequently use) the info everyone has shared.

I just picked up a 2001 V70 XC. I previously had a 2003 S60 2.4T, and I expected the V70 to be about as fast. However, it has much poorer acceleration. I know it’s a heavier car, but it is really accelerating slowly, slower than my wife’s minivan!

I’m thinking (and hoping) that it’s not a transmission or clutch issue. It seems to be shifting fine through all gears, both in automatic and manual mode. Also, when I depress the accelerator pedal, the RPM’s do not jump while the vehicle speed catches up. Rather, the RPM’s and vehicle speed seem to increase at the same rate. Flooring the pedal at speed causes the appropriate downshift and slightly better acceleration.

After doing some reading here on the forum, I think it may be a plugged up catalytic converter. I put in a new air filter and cleaned the MAF last night, no change to performance. Any thoughts or suggestions on what else to look at? No check engine lights or trouble codes present. Is the V70 XC just that much slower than the S60?

Thanks in advance!

 

It should be just a tad slower, as they both have the low pressure turbo and the V70 is heavier to start, plus the XC has the further added weight of AWD.

 

Is the turbo working?

 

Yes, the turbo kicks on at about 3500 rpm. It seems a little quicker in 1st and 2nd, but getting up to highway speed seems to take forever.

 

Any codes in the system?

 

No, there are no codes.

Also, I noticed the other day when I had it set in cruise at 60 MPH and started going up a hill it dropped down to 50 MPH by the time I got to the top. This was not too steep of a hill but was a long one. All my other vehicles (including the S60) climbed it with no hesitation and usually not even needing a downshift.

Overall, it just seems to lack the "pull" and power that I expected from it. It seems "doggy" and I never expected that from any Volvo turbo 5C.

 

Have you run fuel injection cleaner through it yet?
Maybe there might be an issue but the sensors cannot see it bad enough yet to throw a code.

Also it might have been broke in to drive like an old person that hardly hits the speed limit.

 

Good idea - I'll fill up today and run the cleaner through it. Thanks for your input.

Is there a way to reprogram it if it's been broke in like an old person car? I didn't realize that they had learning transmissions

 

Not really the tranny will also learn to your driving.

 

i would do a compression test. also make sure there isn't a boost leak/drop. if that's all good and you're sure there are no other problems and the oil is not too old, continue on...

reset the ecu.

then, re-learn it slowly - i.e. drive it real easy for the first 15-20 miles then a little harder and so on, listening to the motor for any irregular sounds. after 50 miles or so, run it hard. WOT to redline a few times. try and do all this in a single outing.

see if that brings back the expected power.

 

Well, after driving it for a few more weeks I need to make a correction to my earlier post. The turbo is NOT working. I thought I had been getting some boost, but it's definately not coming on. I'm going to start researching the turbo tonight (never worked on one before). Any good tips to start the trouble shooting process?

 

Remove the hose from the mass flow sensor to the turbo. Then feel if it is seized up or not.

 

tcv possibly?

 

I just now got around to looking at the turbo. I removed the hose at the turbo coming from the mass air flow sensor. I reached my finger inside the turbo and could feel the blades but could not move them. I assume that they should spin freely? Does this mean the turbo is shot, or is rebuilding it an option?

 

It is seized up.
You may be able to rebuild it but not 100% sure it may be to bad.