Volvo S40 Noisy Engine

BoardsMember

Hi. I have a 2001 Volvo S40 1.8 petrol. For the past few months the engine has been making a kind of rattling/clattering noise when idling. It's not constant while idling, it kind of kicks in and out. But any time it is idling it does come on and off. It's really hard to describe it. For a while it was cutting out when idling. We only really use it for short trips, so it may be that it only happened when cold, but it has not happened in a while.

The car is driving fine other than that. If I was to observe anything, it would be that it is fairly heavy on petrol, but it probably always has been. I'm not too keen on spending money on it, but it has just passed it's NCT, so now I'm in two minds. If it was something small & cheap to fix, then I'd do it; if not I would let fate take its course and drive it till it drops.

Any thoughts & suggestions welcome.

keithclancy

BoardsMember wrote: »

Hi. I have a 2001 Volvo S40 1.8 petrol. For the past few months the engine has been making a kind of rattling/clattering noise when idling. It's not constant while idling, it kind of kicks in and out. But any time it is idling it does come on and off. It's really hard to describe it. For a while it was cutting out when idling. We only really use it for short trips, so it may be that it only happened when cold, but it has not happened in a while.

The car is driving fine other than that. If I was to observe anything, it would be that it is fairly heavy on petrol, but it probably always has been. I'm not too keen on spending money on it, but it has just passed it's NCT, so now I'm in two minds. If it was something small & cheap to fix, then I'd do it; if not I would let fate take its course and drive it till it drops.

Any thoughts & suggestions welcome.

Not what you want to hear but it could basically be anything, its easier for you as it happens when idling.

Nosy Tensioner, Tappets, Thermal cover touching off the engine, loose screw, flywheel, a bearing somewhere ...

Get a mechanic to have a look at it.

Very hard to quantify a noise in text also.

BoardsMember

keithclancy wrote: »

Not what you want to hear but it could basically be anything, its easier for you as it happens when idling.

Nosy Tensioner, Tappets, Thermal cover touching off the engine, loose screw, flywheel, a bearing somewhere ...

Get a mechanic to have a look at it.

Very hard to quantify a noise in text also.

That's what I thought to be honest. Thanks for taking the time to reply to such a post!

Beside my work there is a mechanic who had a listen to it and thought it might be something that he thought he'd come across before with S40, like a known issue or something, that's really why I posted. But he could not remember what the issue was. i.e. a completely useless contribution, without any offer/suggestion of investigation. I think he likes doing services and not too much else to be honest.

I'll leave it to a different mechanic and see what he says. What is the norm in situations like this - do you pay the mechanic for the time spend in diagnosing it, get him to call u with the good or bad news, and then tell him to leave it or go for it?

gibbon75

The variable camshaft pulley and the control solenoid (on top of the rocker cover) are both can cause this noise.Most of the time it's the pulley.Pricey parts: pulley is about 166+VAT,solenoid is about 100+VAT.
This is a fairly common poblem with these engines.

langdang

If it's the mitsubishi 1.8 GDI engine (it think that's what would be in the 01 S40) then they are known to coke up and sound tappety - maybe thats the known issue your mechanic was alluding to..

mecanoman

Are the tappets self adjusting on these engines, would a slightly
thicker oil help on the next oil change.
Or would engine treatment additive help at all.

BoardsMember

Tappety sound would be a good description alright. I feel so "blonde" not knowing a thing about cars, it's just not right! Thanks for the advice, at least it gives me a few suggestions to arrive to the mechanic with...

Hellrazer

Sounds like the VVTI pulley as Gibbon says.Really Common problem on these.

Part number 6900015-Pulley @ 166.87 + 1397381 @ 4.56-Blanking cap.So 171.43 + Vat for the parts.Just be careful who you get to do the job.Theres only something like a 2 degree tolerance on these and if its not fitted right first time it will put the engine light on and you`ll have to get the job done again from scratch.

Also depending on mileage it may be as well to get the timing belt done aswell.But if youve only had one done recently you CAN reuse it despite what others say.

BoardsMember

Hellrazer wrote: »

Sounds like the VVTI pulley as Gibbon says.Really Common problem on these.

Part number 6900015-Pulley @ 166.87 + 1397381 @ 4.56-Blanking cap.So 171.43 + Vat for the parts.Just be careful who you get to do the job.Theres only something like a 2 degree tolerance on these and if its not fitted right first time it will put the engine light on and you`ll have to get the job done again from scratch.

Also depending on mileage it may be as well to get the timing belt done aswell.But if youve only had one done recently you CAN reuse it despite what others say.

Thanks Hellrazer. Are you in the trade? If you happen to be in Dublin maybe you could have a look at it for me? PM me with ur info if you are.

samsemtex

I wouldnt worry about it at all. I have that exact car and it has been doing it since i bought it. I know the sound its a tappety, chattery sound isn't it?

Ive put 45,000 miles on my car since i bought it and any dealer i mentioned it to said its probably caused by coking up of the engine due to low quality irish petrol as the GDi was designed for high octane japanese petrol. They said its nothing to worry about and i said i'd take their word for it. Engine has literally been completely flawless and it drives perfectly. Apparently that engine doesnt really like shortish small trips and the engine actually should be driven hard. Not when cold obviously but when its driven hard this stops more coking happening.

Tea drinker

There used to be a slightly higher octance petrol available at some of the Texaco (?) garages, rated at 98 octane but I think as it was blended with alcohol it gave no more power than other juice. It might burn a bit cleaner though, might suit that engine?

BoardsMember

Thanks again for all the responses. Does GDi engine imply diesel? If so, its not the one I have.

BoardsMember

samsemtex wrote: »

I wouldnt worry about it at all. I have that exact car and it has been doing it since i bought it. I know the sound its a tappety, chattery sound isn't it?

Ive put 45,000 miles on my car since i bought it and any dealer i mentioned it to said its probably caused by coking up of the engine due to low quality irish petrol as the GDi was designed for high octane japanese petrol. They said its nothing to worry about and i said i'd take their word for it. Engine has literally been completely flawless and it drives perfectly. Apparently that engine doesnt really like shortish small trips and the engine actually should be driven hard. Not when cold obviously but when its driven hard this stops more coking happening.

Thanks for that. I'd still be happier that a mechanic gave the all clear, no offence! Last time I thought something was going wrong I did nothing about it, it was with the clutch, it kept getting worse til it completely went, leaving me stranded, and with a much bigger bill than I would have had if i had done something about it sooner. Even though I have left this go for a while, I'd still like to think I have learnt something of a lesson!!

langdang

Gasoline Direct Injection

Think it's the exhuast gas recirculation that cokes up the valves. If it wasn't direct injection then the fuel would be "cleaning" the valves constantly?

BoardsMember

langdang wrote: »

Gasoline Direct Injection

Think it's the exhuast gas recirculation that cokes up the valves. If it wasn't direct injection then the fuel would be "cleaning" the valves constantly?

Thanks

samsemtex

BoardsMember wrote: »

Thanks for that. I'd still be happier that a mechanic gave the all clear, no offence! Last time I thought something was going wrong I did nothing about it, it was with the clutch, it kept getting worse til it completely went, leaving me stranded, and with a much bigger bill than I would have had if i had done something about it sooner. Even though I have left this go for a while, I'd still like to think I have learnt something of a lesson!!

No offense taken but its definitely not something i'd be worried about. As i said mine has been making that sound for 45,000 + miles and every time a mechanic has looked at it they said the engine was perfect. When i got the car first i was very worried about it and i kept thinking the engine was on the verge of giving up but it has just always been like that and it's still running strong as a second car. If they tell you its going to be an expensive fix get a second opinion off a mitsubishi mechanic.

Mine was cutting out when cold as well so it sounds like an identical issue. By all means though get it checked out but im just saying be wary if someone starts overstating it as a major issue.

BoardsMember

samsemtex wrote: »

No offense taken but its definitely not something i'd be worried about. As i said mine has been making that sound for 45,000 + miles and every time a mechanic has looked at it they said the engine was perfect. When i got the car first i was very worried about it and i kept thinking the engine was on the verge of giving up but it has just always been like that and it's still running strong as a second car. If they tell you its going to be an expensive fix get a second opinion off a mitsubishi mechanic.

Mine was cutting out when cold as well so it sounds like an identical issue. By all means though get it checked out but im just saying be wary if someone starts overstating it as a major issue.

Thanks samsemtex, appreciate your advice.

Hellrazer

All the above assuming the car is a GDI.They arent all GDI`s.

Boardsmember--Ive pm`d you.

thats not gone well

same thing was happening to our s40 (03). it turned out to be one of the cam pullys as said above. got the timing belt water pump and pullys changed 10k miles ago and never looked back since. not a major problem just annoying

langdang

gibbon, HellRazer, out of interest, what's the alternative 1.8?
A V40 from the 01-04 would be a candidate for my next estate as long as it's not the GDI engine. (Went to look at one once and it was noisy as any diesel, 2.0 petrol would be my choice really but the 1.8 is the most common)

I know the first generation used Renault 1.8's, and then switched over, but I had though they were all GDI 1.8's after the switchover, and that the 2.0 was a Volvo engine. Dunno what the 1.6 was, I had presumed they were a scaled down 1.8 GDI.

Hellrazer

langdang wrote: »

gibbon, HellRazer, out of interest, what's the alternative 1.8?
A V40 from the 01-04 would be a candidate for my next estate as long as it's not the GDI engine. (Went to look at one once and it was noisy as any diesel, 2.0 petrol would be my choice really but the 1.8 is the most common)

The alternative is a Volvo 1.8-just look on the rocker cover--it says GDI on it if it is one.

If it was me I`d be looking for a 1.6 petrol-(Volvo engine again) or a 1.8 non-gdi.
2.0 petrol would be heavy enough on juice.You could also try get the 1.9 diesel--renault engine again but reliable enough.

langdang

Hellrazer wrote: »

2.0 petrol would be heavy enough on juice.You could also try get the 1.9 diesel--renault engine again but reliable enough.

Nice one boss, thats given me a few extra options for the next wagon. Old school engines will do me fine. I have heard that the Renault 1.9 is reliable- ie old style diesel, but with diesel being the new religion in Ireland, 2.0 petrol is perfect - scares off enough of the other prospective buyers and brings down the price

gibbon75

Hellrazer wrote: »

The alternative is a Volvo 1.8-just look on the rocker cover--it says GDI on it if it is one.

I think the GDI models came with a "1.8i" badge on the back of them (and the "normal" ones were badged 1.8),didn't they?
But Hellrazer is correct, the 1.6 or 1.8 is a much better option than a GDI.
It is hard to find a low mileage and really good 1.9D,so just stick to a petrol model.

VolvoMan

gibbon75 wrote: »

I think the GDI models came with a "1.8i" badge on the back of them (and the "normal" ones were badged 1.8),didn't they?

That is correct.

Most of the GDi models you will find are 2000-2001 registered S40/V40's. The rest of them just use a normal Volvo 4 cylinder unit.

langdang

Cool, the brother had a 1.6 that he put huge mileage up on alright. Bit slow for my liking tho...;)

Hellrazer

langdang wrote: »

Cool, the brother had a 1.6 that he put huge mileage up on alright. Bit slow for my liking tho...;)

Having driven both I actually couldnt tell the difference between the 1.6 and 1.8.

Its like the new model--The 1.6 diesel feels more powerful than the 1.8 petrol.

langdang

Well, I have the thread well and truly hijacked now, might as well ask - how good an engine was the 2L turbo? Reliable?

Hellrazer

langdang wrote: »

Well, I have the thread well and truly hijacked now, might as well ask - how good an engine was the 2L turbo? Reliable?

We talking about in an S40?Good engine,reliable as anything in the s40 that is.

In the s60/s80 the throttle body gives problems--800 euro job if it goes.In the s40 they use a different throttle body which Ive never seen fail.

If your buying an s60/s80--make sure to check the make of the throttle body.If it says "magnetti marelli" stay away from it or ask when it was last done.

Hellrazer

Here Langdang

Cheap S40 2.0l petrol for swap on adverts.

http://www.adverts.ie/261607/general/volvo-s40-manual-swap-for-good-laptop-or-ps3-with-games/

If I`d anything to trade myself I`d take it.

BoardsMember

I had a look at the engine. Not sure what I'm looking for ro be honest re identifying if it is the GDI or not. It says volvo on it, and nothing else. Here's a pic of it:
engine.JPG

langdang

Looks like it's not a GDI, have a look at the engine pictures here http://www.ukcar.com/road_tests/volvo/volvo-v40-se/ for the GDI engine.

@hellrazer - no thanks, if it doesn't have roof rails it just doesn't do it for me...

Hellrazer

langdang wrote: »

Looks like it's not a GDI, have a look at the engine pictures here http://www.ukcar.com/road_tests/volvo/volvo-v40-se/ for the GDI engine.

@hellrazer - no thanks, if it doesn't have roof rails it just doesn't do it for me...

Forgot it was an estate youre after.I missed out on a nice one yesterday.

2000 1.6 V40 65000 miles on it,full Volvo service history with ourselves and it went for scrappage.Kicking myself over it.