I'm experiencing two problems with my 03 xc90 and wondering if they're related, or if anyone has had a similar problem.
First - With a cold engine and moving at low speeds, there is a serious rattle that comes from the engine compartment on the passenger side. The car needs to be in gear and moving and if I take my foot off the accelerator it stops. With the cold weather, I thought maybe the window washer line had frozen and was rattling as the engine vibrated, but it doesn't seem to be that. As a result of the second problem (see below) I'm now wondering if it has something to do with the alternator.
Second - After about five minutes of driving with the radio on, the radio controls fail to work. The presets no longer work, nor can I change from fm to am to cd. The radio just goes into constant scan mode. I also noticed today that while sitting in the car with the ignition off and the radio on (but not working properly) the low battery light came on, only after a minute or two.
Not the usual problems I sometimes notice on the posts, but maybe someone has an idea or two?

 

Hi spuds,

Welcome to the forum, I hope it is helpful to you.

Please note that I'm an 850 driver and am not too privy on XC90s, except I know that the GM-tranny are known to fail.

Finding the source of noise is one of the hardest tasks, especially if I cannot be there. Set the parking brake fully, set the shifter in "P", open the hood, start the engine and visually try to locate if something is loose. If you do not see anything obvious, it could be anything; suspension, drive shaft, engine/tranny mounts, etc...

You can partially test the alternator, if you have a digital multimeter (a $30meter at Sears Craftsman is enough for most home mechanics). The alternator should be putting out above the battery voltage; 13.X volts but not above 14.X volts (not sure about the upper limit on the XC90).

If your battery is of original, replace it. The max life a battery can reach is approx 5 years, unless it is a long-life maint-free type.

As to the radio, it seems like it's suffering internal problem, though I am not sure without testing it.

I hope this gets you started. If you do not receive replies soon enough for you, try posting this in General Volvo Chat.

Best of luck & happy holidays to you,


JPN

 

WOW, Just came on here to see if maybe other people are having the same problem as I am and I find your post right away!! My car is right now in the shop and the diagnosis is the rear drive shaft. I went through everything you mentioned. The way that it only makes the sound when you are actively accelerating and when you take your foot off the gas it goes away and how after the car seems to warm up it isn't as noticeable.

I took it in this am. and they just called right now with the details. The rear drive shaft is on it's last legs and needs to be replaced to the tune of 1700.00 canadian.

I love this car but am getting tired of things going wrong on it on a continual basis.

 

AS FAR AS THE NOISES ARE CONCERNED in my experiance it is usally driver shaft or trans/ only your dealer can tell you for sure/ on the radio there is software that MAY improve functionality/ if software does not correct the issue, you may have to replace the unit/ Volvo does not service radios/ changers/ cd players other than to diag/ it sounds like a software update should correct your radio issue and good luck with the noises.

 

The drive shaft on our xc90 will have to be replaced and we found out after taking it to a very thorough mechanic that it was trashed because the engine mounts were loose and not holding the motor in place properly therefore causing the driveshaft to be moved around. We had new engine mounts installed and the sound is no longer audible but we will have to replace the driveshaft at some point down the road.
so if u=you find out you need to have a new drive shaft installed check to see that your engine mounts are in top shape or you will find yourself in the very same situation shortly after putting the new one in.

Kari.