Xc60 problems. Volvo XC60 - the most common malfunctions and problems

If you are thinking about switching to a diesel, but do not know how to take care of it yourself, then we will say right away that keeping a diesel in good condition is no more difficult than a gasoline engine ...

Diesel cars are renowned for their durability, but that doesn't mean they don't need to be taken care of.

Prices for used diesel cars in the West are falling. This is due to the fact that for a long time the volume of sales of new diesel cars was very high and therefore there are now a large number of them on the used car market. New diesel cars are much more expensive than their equivalent gasoline counterparts. In addition, the time has passed when the diesel range familiar to us today was limited to just one model. Today, manufacturers are able to supply the market with diesel engines that meet the highest requirements.

Regrettable countries, if any, in which diesel fuel costs the same as gasoline or even exceeds it. But even then, you will benefit, as diesel cars tend to have a longer life, but only on the condition that you have a high annual mileage. No savings are obtained only with small annual runs. You save on spark plugs, although it is clear that when using spark plugs with a replacement interval of 60 thousand km, the savings on them will be small. At the same time, you will lose out on more frequent oil and filter changes.

What attracts diesel?

Modern diesel cars are attractive due to their ability to develop a lot of traction at low speeds, which is especially good for drivers who do not like to change gears too often. Most manufacturers offer turbocharged diesels to give the owner the opportunity to experience the beauty of a high-end car for himself.

If you're thinking about switching to a diesel but don't know how to take care of it yourself, let's just say that keeping a diesel in good condition is no more difficult than a gasoline engine, despite their differences. We offer you a brief guide to the purchase, operation and maintenance of a diesel engine.

The mechanisms of a gasoline and diesel engine are not much different. Both engines are based on a four-stroke combustion cycle, but they do this in completely different ways.

While gasoline engines ignite the air-fuel mixture with spark plugs, diesel fuel is ignited by very high compression.

When a gasoline engine sucks in air and gasoline on the first stroke, the diesel only sucks in air, which is compressed to such an extent that its temperature rises to 800 ° C. The hot air ignites diesel fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber of the cylinder shortly before the piston reaches BMT on the compression stroke. Because diesels have twice the compression ratio of gasoline engines, the fuel must be injected at very high pressure to enter the combustion chamber and keep the fuel jet shaped. Due to the increased injection requirements, the diesel high pressure fuel pump is a particularly precision-manufactured unit.

Why is diesel noisy?

The well-known rumble of a diesel engine is generated by the ignition of the fuel and the subsequent sharp drop in high pressure in the combustion chamber. The most clearly specific rumble of a diesel engine is heard after starting during the engine warming up at idle.

The diesel does not have an ignition system, but there is a system for pre-heating the combustion chambers of the cylinders using starting candles. In addition, the times of prolonged cranking of the engine by the starter and tedious waiting for the preheating end indicator lamp to go out are long gone. There are already quite a few manufacturers producing quick-start diesels, which take no more than a couple of seconds to start in winter. Some vehicles even have a "start knob" that can be directly controlled by the high pressure fuel pump to change injection timing, speed up warm-up and reduce smoke emissions at start-up.

Diesel maintenance

Since diesel contaminates the oil in the lubrication system faster than a gasoline engine, most car manufacturers require more frequent oil and filter changes.

Special diesel oils are widely available today and, judging by the reviews, are quite effective. However, any high-quality carbureted engine oil will also work for a diesel, as long as it is changed at regular intervals. Read the label on the can, where the manufacturer usually gives instructions for diesels. If you do not find anything on this label, then look at the label on the container in which the jars were packed.

For engines with an overhead camshaft, the toothed belt must be replaced at the indicated intervals. Otherwise, it is possible that the piston will hit the valves when the belt suddenly breaks. Eliminating the consequences of the latter will require considerable financial costs from you. In practice, there have already been cases of belt breaks with a range of up to 48 thousand km, but this happened as a result of oil or water getting on them due to depressurization of the lubrication and cooling systems, respectively. However, if you decide to drive without changing the belt after a run of 58 thousand km, then your unwillingness to take the time to change the belt in a timely manner can turn out to be much more time and money for you in the future.

To replace the fuel filter, buy the best one available to you. Some filters may look good on the outside, but "poorly perform their direct duties." Don't forget to also change the O-ring on the filter housing. We also note that on a diesel engine it is equally difficult to prevent both fuel leakage and air infiltration into the fuel system, which greatly disrupt engine operation.

If air enters the fuel lines, it may be necessary to remove it from there through a special valve using a small hand pump, usually mounted for this purpose on the high pressure fuel pump. Many modern diesel engines have self-bleeding air supply systems. You just need to spin the engine with a starter, and the air will be removed.

It is difficult to prevent moisture from condensing in the fuel filter, so for some diesels, a warning light is provided on the instrument panel to indicate the presence of water in the fuel system.

Usually, when changing the oil, it is only necessary to check the condition of the filter. However, if the vehicle is used in difficult conditions, such as high humidity and large differences between day and night temperatures, check the condition of the filters more often.

All diesels smoke in the cold, but this should not be excessive. One of the most common reasons for this is a failure in the injection timing of the high pressure pump, which is easily corrected by re-adjusting the injection timing according to the marks on the crankshaft and pump. This work is very similar to adjusting the initial ignition timing on a gasoline engine. The operation can be done with the engine not running, but it is better to purchase for this purpose a special lamp for setting the injection timing on diesel engines, which is fastened with a clip on the fuel supply pipe of the nozzle and flashes under the action of the pushes of the fuel passing through the pipe.

Another reason is fuel leakage through injectors with a loosely closed fuel supply channel, which can lead to overflow of the cylinder with fuel and, as a result, to excessive smoking during start-up. Other than a general cleaning of the injectors and replacing worn out ones after about 110 thousand km, there is little that can be done at home to check their operation. Is it possible to remove them and give them to check on some control equipment.

New injectors are not cheap, but you can save a lot of money by going to a diesel repair shop and having your injectors calibrated for a very reasonable price. The price for the service depends on the location of the station and the availability of spare parts stores around it.

However, you can extend the life of your injectors by keeping the diesel intake air and fuel filters clean, and thereby counteract injector fouling. For these purposes, special cleaners should be periodically poured into the fuel tank in a small amount.

If you monitor the high pressure fuel pump, it will function for a long time and work properly. However, we want to warn you that replacing it is a rather expensive undertaking.

Poor starting and low throttle response of a diesel engine can be caused by many things: poor quality spark plugs, clogged fuel line channels leading to a drop in fuel supply pressure, malfunctioning fuel lines, and even improper installation of injectors. It is easy to identify poorly performing spark plugs by how long the preheat indicator light does not go out.

This table of possible defects on a diesel engine has been compiled by Bosch, and we hope that it will help you get your engine back in good condition.

Talk to diesel car owners and you will see that none of them want to think about driving a gasoline car again. Perhaps your turn has come, if the diesel fully meets your needs.

Diesel engine malfunctions with Bosch fuel equipment

This table of possible defects on a diesel engine has been compiled by Bosch, and we hope that it will help you get your engine back in good condition.

Table of malfunctions and methods for their elimination on a diesel engine with Bosch fuel equipment

MALFUNCTION	POSSIBLE CAUSE CODES
Difficult start	1–9, 12, 13, 20, 22
Erratic idle	1, 2, 14, 18, 21, 22
Irregular idling of a warm engine	2, 10, 13, 17, 20, 22
Interruptions in engine operation under load	1, 2, 4, 5–10, 16, 22
Engine power drop	1, 4–7, 9, 10, 11, 13, 15, 16, 19–22
Increased fuel consumption	7, 9, 10, 11, 13, 15, 16, 19–22
Engine won't stop
Poor throttle response, black smoke exhaust, engine power loss	2, 5, 9, 10, 11, 13, 19–22
Blue exhaust at maximum load (white or blue)	1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 13, 19, 22
Abnormal minimum and maximum idle speeds
The engine does not accelerate	1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 19, 20, 21
High pressure fuel pump is overheating

MALFUNCTION	SOLUTION METHODS
1. Empty fuel tank or clogged tank vent valve	Fill the tank, flush the fuel lines, clean the vent valve.
2. Presence of air in the fuel system	Bleed the fuel system, eliminate air leakage.
3. Faulty diesel solenoid valve or starting fuel supply regulator
4. Clogged fuel filter	Replace fuel filter.
5. Clogged low pressure fuel lines	Restore the flow sections of the fuel lines.
6. Clogged low pressure fuel lines	Flush or replace fuel lines.
7. Loose connections, fuel lines leaking or broken	Tighten the connections, fix the leak.
8. Wax deposits in the fuel filter	Replace filter, use seasonal fuel.
9. Incorrect advance of fuel injection	Adjust the initial fuel injection advance angle.
10. Faulty injector nozzles	Repair or replace.
11. Clogged air filter	Replace filter element.
12. Faulty preheating system	Replace faulty spark plugs.
13. The distribution of the injection on the cylinders does not correspond to the order of their work	Rearrange the high pressure fuel lines in the required order.
14. Abnormal idle speed	Adjust the idle speed screw.
15. Abnormal maximum idle speed	Adjust the screw to the maximum engine speed.
16. Clogged or faulty bypass valve	Clean calibrated port or replace valve.
17. Leaky discharge valve (on a four-cylinder diesel) or two valves (on a six-cylinder)	Replace valve(s).
18. The force of the buffer spring of the diesel speed controller is not adjusted	Adjust buffer spring force.
19. Faulty fuel advance clutch	Repair or replace clutch.
20. Low compression	Restore compression.
21. Faulty or out of adjustment engine speed control	Adjust or replace regulator.
22. High pressure fuel pump defective or out of adjustment	Remove the pump and send it in for repair.

Buying a used engine

Be careful when buying a used diesel. Diesels last a long time, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't inspect all the traditional wear spots. On some engines, it is very easy to mask both life and wear. When evaluating the condition of such an engine, there is a danger of "bursting" if you are not well versed in diesel engines.

Like gasoline engines, diesel exhaust must be smokeless. In addition, no smoke should come out of the open neck of the oil filler pipe when the engine is warm. Since a diesel engine is noisier than a gasoline engine, you must distinguish between running noise and the sound of worn pistons, connecting rods, camshafts, etc. If you have any doubts about the condition of the engine, seek professional help.

Turbodiesels are very popular because turbocharging fits well with diesel performance. Turbochargers operate at low boost pressure and at low engine speeds, giving them a longer service life than gasoline engines. Turbodiesels are excellent for tractors and multi-ton trucks.

However, it is difficult for diesel automatics to meet the demands of an automatic transmission due to the flat torque curve. Only a few manufacturers are concerned about this problem. Among them are Citroen, Mercedes, Peugeot and the recently joined Opel, but even then they use automatic transmissions only on middle-class cars.

Thanks to their growing popularity, diesels are no longer looked upon as a poor relative, and in terms of their level of finish they are fully consistent with their gasoline counterparts.

When buying, pay attention to the residual value of the diesel. At one time, diesel cars gave a boost to car sales in Germany, but sales peaked four years ago and are still on a gradual decline, so make sure you don't overpay for the honor of owning a diesel car.

Check mileage. Diesel cars are snapping up for their potentially high reliability and possibly high mileage. Especially when they are bought new. But this does not mean at all that you should not pay attention to the odometer. Indeed, many dealers do not like to deal with cars whose mileage has exceeded 80 thousand km and, accordingly, adjust the price for them. Or, without further ado, they simply reset the mileage on the counter. A mileage of 160,000 is quite natural for a well-maintained diesel, but think twice if the meter shows 320,000 km or, especially, if it is a used taxi with such mileage.

With the exception of the engine, most diesel cars are identical in design to their gasoline counterparts, the same applies to suspensions, brakes, but consider the prices of spare parts. For example, exhaust systems last a long time, but differ from similar gasoline engines. And if you are used to buying parts from salvage car dealers, then keep in mind that parts of gasoline engines may be similar in appearance and fit in size, however, the diesel engine block is different from a similar gasoline engine block and in most cases cannot be selected as a replacement . Gear ratios of gearboxes and clutches also differ.

Be healthy diesel

The motor sneezed once, twice, and then died down... Everyone who has found himself in such a situation probably knows what a swarm of questions flash through his head during unsuccessful attempts to restart the "heart" of the "iron horse". Owners of cars with diesel engines are no different from everyone else, but the causes of trouble with diesel engines and how to fix them are largely specific to this type of engine. In order not to complicate your life, it is better to listen to the advice of professionals who have solid practice in this area.

They were also contacted this time, having learned a lot of useful information and rather easy-to-implement practical advice.

The biggest surprise is that the engine, which did not cause trouble yesterday, suddenly completely refuses to "come to life" at the very moment when you are in a hurry to work in the morning. If this happened for the first time, and even accompanied by a white exhaust, then with almost complete certainty we can say that the glow plugs are to blame. By the way, the indicator on the instrument panel may well be wrong, claiming that everything is okay with candles. To check, one end of the wire is connected to the "plus" of the battery, and the second one supplies voltage directly to the candles. If at the same time a good spark jumps (it is easy to distinguish it from a bright flash of a short circuit), the wire starts to heat up, and after that the motor starts, then the candles have nothing to do with it. The problem should be sought in the electrical circuits that supply voltage to them. This way you can also check the fuel supply valve.

And finally, blame only yourself if you tried to start the car on the move before. At the same time, the timing belt could easily slip through several teeth. It is not possible to start the engine and, perhaps, it is necessary to prepare for a complex and expensive engine repair.

As experience shows, another situation is also very common - the engine is idling, and when you try to add speed, it immediately stalls or stops after a little work. Most likely air has entered the fuel system. It is again worth paying attention to the exhaust. In this case, it is usually white with a characteristic smell of diesel fuel. A vacuum in the fuel stream can be caused by a blockage in, say, a fuel intake or fuel filter. Most often, it is the fuel filter that is clogged, and such troubles occur mostly in winter.

Technodiesel specialists advise everyone to adhere to the rule that has no exceptions: never repair fuel filters. A variety of "washing", "blowing", and other supposedly restorative procedures, at best, simply will not give an effect, and at worst, they will further aggravate the situation. Fuel, passing through such a "restored" filter, not only does not receive the required cleaning, but also washes away all the dirt accumulated in it before. This can quickly disable the precision injection pump mechanism.

Another pseudo help to the motor, which "knowledgeable" mechanics like to provide, is the installation of several fuel filters. From the point of view of achieving unprecedented purity of diesel fuel entering the engine, there is no point in this multi-stage filtration. Diesel car manufacturers make accurate filter performance calculations that are backed up by a series of tests, so they should be trusted. Additional filters are not just useless, but harmful. They create excessive resistance, due to which the high-pressure fuel pump works with overload and fails faster. Increased resistance in the piping can also cause air to be sucked in.

You should not be led by another fairly common misconception that additional filters help separate water from the fuel. In fact, filters do not retain water; for this, there are special settling tanks-separators. The presence of such a separator is indicated by a small plug from below under the filter. The accumulated moisture should be drained approximately every 3000 km. It is necessary to drain the liquid until almost clean diesel fuel flows.

The presence of water in the fuel also causes white exhaust clouds. Some modern diesel vehicles have an indicator on the instrument panel that will tell you if there is water in the fuel. If the indicator lights up, it is better, without delay, to stop, turn off the engine and drain the liquid from the separator. If necessary, you can repeat the procedure. If after that the indicator does not want to go out, then the problem is probably in the electrical circuits of the system for indicating the presence of water in the fuel. Trying to fix something in them in haste is not worth it, it is better to contact a car service.

It also happens that a regularly buzzing engine suddenly stops for no reason. The most trivial advice, which, oddly enough, helps in many "severe" cases - make sure that there is still diesel fuel in the tank. If things are worse, and something really happened, it is worth remembering if there was any sharp sound before the engine stopped. This sound is accompanied by a broken timing belt. If so, then it is better not to try to scroll the motor - the consequences can be devastating.

Another reason for the sudden stop of the engine may be the same air in the fuel system. You can try to directly connect the fuel pump to any container with diesel fuel. If the engine starts running, then the cause has been found. For any problems with the fuel pump, it is best to contact specialists, not trusting repair to dubious mechanics.

When the injection pump is excluded from the likely culprits of the trouble, you can try to loosen the fittings on the nozzles. If, during attempts to start the engine, diesel fuel begins to flow out from under them in a pulsating stream, this means that faulty nozzles do not provide a normal supply of fuel to the combustion chambers. You may notice that black exhaust smoke is pouring out - this is one of the signs of a stuck needle in the nozzle. Fuel begins to flow uncontrollably into the cylinder, and the black exhaust is due to its incomplete combustion.

And one more thing - no need to famously ride through deep puddles. Masters often have to see the engines of diesel cars crippled after such a bath. Water from the puddle enters the combustion chamber, and the strongest hydrodynamic shock bends even the strongest connecting rods!

Volvo XC60 appeared swiftly. They just showed his concept in 2007, when only six months later a serial model was released, which remained practically unchanged until last year's restyling. And, in fact, no changes were required. The crossover turned out to be both okay and successful from a technical point of view. This, by the way, is not surprising, since he shares the platform and a number of units with bestsellers in their fields - Land Rover Freelander 2 and Ford Mondeo ...

The platform itself was developed by Ford and, with some upgrades, survived up to the Land Rover Discovery Sport. Yes, our "Swede" walks in the uncles of the current novelty of the "green oval"! The paths of the global automotive industry are inscrutable.

THERE IS NO MUCH DIESEL
Three variants of diesel engines were installed on the Volvo XC60 at different times. The weakest and most economical is the 136-horsepower D3 with a working volume of 1984 cm3. Two engines of the same volume of 2.4 liters, but with different power, 181 and 215 hp. with., differ in indices - D4 and D5. At the beginning of the crossover, there was only one diesel engine - 2.4 liters and a capacity of 163 hp. with. - not the best option. By the way, the difference in output between the last two motors is easily compensated by chip tuning (about 20,000 rubles). You can also chip D3, but there are an order of magnitude more dissatisfied with the result. They complain about the sharply increased waste of oil - up to a liter per 1000 km - and the frequent inclusion of an indicator that requires a motor service. All diesel engines are extremely critical to the quality of the oil, but with timely and accurate maintenance, they serve 150,000 km without frightening problems. Little things can bring you out of balance. The truth is that the devil is in the details, and when you replace a leaking radiator hose or crankshaft position sensor for the fifth time, this old adage will seem very true. The sensor costs 2000 rubles. with a replacement, the tube is even smaller, but the floating quality of the components does not compensate for these prices ...

Design. Spacious, comfortable, beautiful and expensive.
True Scandinavian style!

With gasoline engines, the picture is exactly the same. True, there are two of them - four- and six-cylinder. Designated T5 and T6, equipped with turbines and have a volume of 2.0 and 3.0 liters, respectively. Power - 245 and 304 liters. with. - allow you to feel confident both in the city and on the highway. In contrast, the weakest diesel engine, according to the owners, does not provide proper elasticity and turns dynamic overtaking into a nerve-wracking event. Gasoline in this sense are good, although even the one that is smaller in volume is able to gobble up 16 liters of fuel in the city. Gasoline engines have no special problems, except for the same lottery with components. Unless the smaller one is prone to the formation of carbon deposits on the valves, if not very high-quality oil is poured in, and the quick demise of the particulate filter can be called a common problem. Well, of course, since the motors are equipped with turbines, you need to give them time to cool down or put a turbo timer. In 2010, almost all engines were boosted a little by changing the settings.

Finishing. Taking care of your leather upholstery
she will delight you for years

CAN ALL OR NOTHING
Volvo's handling can be described in many ways. And radically different. To one it seems that the XC60 is not controlled, does not slow down and does not accelerate. Another will call behavior on the road confident and stable. Swedish crossovers, like no other, require a clear understanding that a car is first and foremost a means of transportation, and a toy and entertainment are third and fifth ... We can admit that the sport component in setting up the suspension and steering in the Volvo XC60, of course, more than in the imposing XC90, but it still doesn’t pull on a rally car even in dreams. But the chassis of both is extremely reliable, which is a rarity in our time. Usually, crossovers on a passenger platform, and most of them, begin to rumble with the suspension already in the first dozen thousand kilometers. This is where the interior will rumble. After the first hundred thousand run, it is worth paying attention to the rear silent block of the McPherson front suspension and the bushings of the lower arm of the rear multi-link suspension. And also on very cheap stabilizer rubber bands. By the way, I heard about attempts to replace shock absorbers with stiffer ones. More often than not, this only reduces comfort without any noticeable improvement in handling. If we change it, then the brake discs, which after the winter can begin to beat on cars with powerful engines and among fans of a sharp ride. It is not necessary to install Brembo Gold, but it is worth climbing the forums in search of a good option ...

Cargo compartment. Volvo XC60 - family car,
And he just needs a big trunk

FAIL-FREE "AUTOMATOMS"
The Volvo XC60 was equipped with both manual and automatic transmissions. Since the vast majority of automatic transmissions, and you won’t even find “mechanics” on purpose, let’s touch on automatic transmission. Actually, there is also nothing special to talk about here ... Geartronic “automatic machines” are a model of reliability. If problems occur with them up to 200,000 km, then this is either the result of sloppy maintenance, inaccurate operation, or just an unsuccessful instance, which, I repeat, happens extremely rarely.

The drive can be front or full with a Haldex clutch. The unit is just as reliable, overheating or jamming is unfamiliar to him. When choosing a car, you should pay attention to all-wheel drive versions, since the difference in cross-country ability is radical. In general, off-road Volvo feels very confident. It is not for nothing that his family has such famous rogues as the Land Rover Freelander, even though it is a crossover. However, if the "British" on rough terrain can be found all the time, then the "Swede" in the swamp is an extraordinary phenomenon. However, it has 225 mm of ground clearance, good approach and departure angles, a well-protected bottom and a competent traction control system. There is a hill descent assistant and a switchable stabilization system. "Volvovittsy", however, know that their offspring will not stick in the dirt for nothing, and the car was not equipped with any additional off-road systems.

METAL AND WOOD
Salon Volvo XC60 bribed more than one thousand buyers who came to look at him in the store. This is the case when wealth is not vulgar, but cozy and not pretentious. Ergonomics on top, interior materials too. Gorgeous leather and wood trim. Only plastic is lame, which looks good, but is easily scratched. Over time, however, the skin can become covered with wrinkles and even small cracks. If you want to avoid this, use special leather conditioners.

All in all, the Volvo XC60 is a very high-tech car with a lot of options, quite complex and expensive to repair. Even a failure of the rear door electric sensor can lighten the owner's wallet by 5,000 rubles. Such failures occur extremely rarely, and I mention them not to scold the crossover, but to warn: try to be serviced by qualified craftsmen. In this case, the miser pays twice. Moreover, the conditions for warranty repairs for a Swedish crossover are such that almost all breakdowns, even the smallest ones, are resolved at the expense of the manufacturer. However, this does not negate the accuracy when choosing a used car.

OWNER'S OPINION: ANATOLY, VOLVO XC60 2.4 D5, AT, AWD, 2012
Reading positive and negative reviews of the XC60 on various resources, I put marks in two columns in a notebook. And for about 50 enthusiastic notes, there were two sharply negative ones. And so much so that there was an impression that this was an order from competitors ... I can put a tick on the side where everything is fine. Diesel, four-wheel drive, comfort, confident movement in the worst weather - in a word, I get what I expected from the car. Yes, it doesn't break. At all!

The domestic car market from year to year is replenished with new brands and models of crossovers. Not so long ago, namely in 2008, a new model of the Volvo brand appeared - the Volvo XC60. For the first days of operation, many drivers appreciated this car. Of course, to this day, Volvo has a lot of advantages, but, unfortunately, during the operation, weaknesses, illnesses, and shortcomings of this car, which every potential buyer should be aware of, were identified.

Weaknesses of the Volvo XC60

timing belt;
Turbine;
Particulate filter;
Fuel pump;
Other, but not critical.

Now more..

On Volvo XC60 vehicles with a timing belt drive, it is important to pay attention to the condition of the belt. Considering that the first Volvo XC60 in most cases have a mileage of more than 100 thousand km. it is imperative to make sure when the belt was last changed on the car you are buying and whether it was replaced at all. If not, then in the near future it will need to be done by the buyer. In the event that the Volvo XC60 has a timing chain drive, it is also important to make sure that the chain is not stretched. It is important to remember that a broken belt or a strong chain stretch, depending on the car you buy, will lead to very serious consequences for the engine.

A turbocharger, as you know, on any car in the event of its failure will cause a lot of trouble for its owner, ranging from its availability for purchase to its cost and price of work. On a Volvo XC60 with turbodiesel engines, the condition of the turbine must also be diagnosed first when buying. If this is not possible, then you can determine its condition by indirect signs, and these are: increased smoke, a drop in power during acceleration, the smell of oil fume, increased noise, etc.

Particulate filter.

The particulate filter on cars with diesel engines can also cause a lot of trouble to the future owner, and at the most inopportune moment. It should be understood that replacing the particulate filter or removing it costs a lot of money. Therefore, by indirect signs, one can also determine its condition. Whether he is beaten or not. The main alarming symptoms of a clogged filter are a problem with starting the engine, increased fuel consumption and floating speed.

Fuel pump.

The fuel pump on the Volvo XC60 often caused problems for the owners of these cars. It certainly can even be called not only a weak point, but a disease of the Volvo XC60. But it is important to clarify that basically not the pump itself, but the electronic control module for this unit. Therefore, in case of malfunctions of both the pump itself and its control module, the following symptoms will appear - problems with starting the engine, a change in the tone of the engine, or even a sudden stop of the engine. Therefore, when buying, it is important to make a test drive on the car you are buying and check the presence or absence of these signs, both after launch and in motion.

The above are the main weaknesses that you must first pay attention to and be aware of them before buying. The rest of the elements, like suspension, transmission, chassis or steering, are not weak points or are, but their replacement or repair will not result in a round sum to eliminate them. It is important to note that in most cases these elements fail mainly due to a limited service life, and most of them are consumables that require periodic replacement.

Disadvantages of the Volvo XC60

The creak of the drive of the fifth door;
Expensive parts;
Crickets in the cabin;
Rigid suspension;
For cars 2008-2013 problems with the windshield washer in cold weather;
On early models until 2013, the absence of a heated windshield;

In conclusion, we can say that weaknesses and shortcomings are present in almost any car, be it a crossover or a simple sedan, as they say to each his own. But the Volvo XC60 takes its rightful place among its competitors from other brands. When buying, it is important to carry out a complete diagnosis of all units, components and systems of the car in a reputable car service in order to avoid further unpleasant consequences after the purchase.

P.S: Dear owners, current and future owners of this car model, in case of frequent breakdowns and malfunctions during operation, please report it in the comments below.

Weaknesses and disadvantages of the Volvo XC60 was last modified: April 20th, 2018 by Administrator

Volvo XC60 is a very young model that debuted in 2008 in Geneva. The car was built on the EUCD platform, the same one that underpins the Ford Mondeo, as well as several other Volvo models, including the S60 and V60.

The compact SUV is equipped with a large number of innovative safety systems, such as "City Safety" - which allows you to avoid collisions when driving at low speeds in the city, "Hill Descent Control" - useful when climbing hills and "BLIS" - controlling dead zones.

In 2013, the XC60 underwent a deep modernization. In front of the changes affected lighting, grille and bumper. There are new side mirrors with built-in LED turn indicators. At the rear, cosmetic interventions were limited to a new decorative trim over the registration plate and futuristic forms of exhaust tips. The Volvo XC60 was assembled in Belgium.

Engines

The range of engines of the Swedish SUV is represented by in-line gasoline and diesel engines. Petrol: 4-cylinder 2.0 T and 2.0 T5 with a capacity of 203 and 240 hp respectively, 6-cylinder 3.0 T6 and 3.2 - 285-304 and 243 hp. respectively. Diesel: 5-cylinder 2.0 D3 with 163 hp, 2.4 D - 163-175 hp and 2.4 D5 - 185-205 hp

Gasoline engines are much more reliable than diesel engines. Which, in general, is not surprising. Which one is better to choose? It all depends on the thickness of your wallet. Even the 203-horsepower version has very good dynamics, accelerating to 100 km / h in 8.9 seconds. 304-strong modification spends only 7 seconds on this. Fuel consumption, depending on engine power, ranges from 9 liters to 21 liters per 100 km.

When purchasing a car with an R6 engine, it is necessary to reckon with the fact that it sometimes has problems with the timing chain. The R4 sometimes gives trouble with the turbocharger. In addition, the 2-liter gasoline engine is equipped with direct fuel injection, which over time inevitably leads to carbon deposits on the valves.

There are a lot of diesel modifications in the secondary market. Swedish diesels are quite reliable, but troubles happen to them. Most often, you have to deal with malfunctions of the fuel injection system and the failure of the turbocharger. High-pressure pipes do not differ in durability. Before buying, you also need to check the condition of the particulate filter. If it turns out to be clogged, big expenses await you. It should be noted that several cases of warranty replacement of a diesel engine have been recorded.

In terms of dynamics, diesel modifications are less impressive than their gasoline counterparts. A crossover with a D5 turbodiesel with a power of 185 hp or more has more or less acceptable dynamics. The rest of the motors are lazy and not too lively. But they please with low fuel consumption - about 8.5 l / 100 km, while the most powerful diesel consumes from 9.5 to 11.5 liters per 100 km.

Transmission

Volvo XC60 provides a choice of one of two transmissions: 6-speed "mechanics" or "automatic" Geartronic. The drive can be only front or full - with automatic connection of the rear axle through the Haldex coupling. Front-wheel drive modifications appeared in 2010.

Chassis

The front suspension of the Swedish MacPherson-type crossover, the rear - independent on wishbones. There are several options for adjusting the stiffness of the suspension, depending on the car's sales market. "Russian" XCs smooth out bumps well, but you have to pay for this with large rolls in corners. As befits a Volvo, the XC60 earned 5 stars in EuroNCAP crash tests.

Typical problems and malfunctions

Owners of the Volvo XC60 mostly complain about the creaking of plastic interior panels. The Swedes have been in no hurry to get rid of this problem for a long time. The disadvantage manifests itself mainly in severe frosts and while driving on broken roads. Authorized services, when contacted by customers, are not able to get rid of this "childish" disease.

Leather seat upholstery is also not without flaws. Over time, it is rubbed, and sometimes covered with microcracks. The paintwork of the body does not resist scratches well. However, the body metal in the places of chips is not prone to the appearance of pockets of rust, and the body itself is protected from corrosion at the highest level. Not surprisingly, the Swedes have vast experience in this matter.

During operation, several more shortcomings are revealed. For example, a knocking trunk lid, damage to servos, and leaking roof in the navigation antenna area. There are also security breaches. Even in relatively young specimens, brake pads can make noise, and in cars with powerful engines and manual transmission, premature clutch wear occurs.

Volvo, in the process of warranty service for the crossover, took a number of measures to eliminate defects in the belt tensioner roller and wiring under the driver's and passenger's seats. Problems with the headlight washer pump and washer fluid level sensor have also been eliminated.

Conclusion

Volvo XC60 does not belong to the category of problem cars with serious flaws. Yes, like any other car, it has its drawbacks. But in fact, you can only complain about minor flaws, which, however, are not permissible for representatives of the premium class. Having decided to purchase a Volvo XC60, you need to be prepared for high maintenance costs, especially in the case of diesel modifications. European copies are often restored after an accident or have huge mileage and twisted meters.

Should I pay attention to used Volvo XC60?

In the early 2000s, it was bad form for automakers not to have a compact crossover in their range. The segment grew by leaps and bounds, and was ready to absorb all new models in large quantities. Volvo was a bit late with the premiere of its XC60, but it “shot” right on target, finally getting rid of the image of the manufacturer of “cars for pensioners”.

A bright, dynamic, well-controlled crossover instantly won the love of a relatively young audience. The model started immediately with no alternative all-wheel drive, but with different power units: a 2.4-liter turbodiesel and a 3.0-liter petrol turbo engine. Volvo's traditionally rich range of safety systems set the car apart from its competitors. A little later, a year and a half after the official start of sales, a front-wheel drive version appeared with 2.0-liter units on different types of fuel. Volvo tried to experiment with robotic transmissions, but a large number of warranty claims forced the company to abandon Powershift boxes in favor of hydromechanical automatic machines.

The Swedes did not hesitate to offer new engines and upgrade old ones. Over time, there was a lot of confusion with the designation of engines: for example, in the secondary market, both 2.0-liter (163 hp) and 2.4-liter (181 hp) diesel engines can be hidden under the D3 index. The T5 nameplate does not make it possible to unambiguously determine: either under the hood of the car there is a 2.0-liter gasoline unit (245 hp), or 2.5 liters (249 hp). Far from new, and therefore very reliable 2.5-liter turbo engine, namely a 163-horsepower diesel engine, was used by the "people's love". By the way, when buying diesel modifications, you need to be careful. The accessory drive belt used to be prescribed to be changed every 120,000 km, but after repeated cases of premature wear and tear, the manufacturer decided to shorten the period by two. So if there is no documentary evidence of replacing the belt, and the mileage is already rather big, think about this procedure. The EGR valve can also cause trouble, the replacement of which costs a penny. If the channels are dirty, the valve stops closing - the engine does not receive the right amount of air and starts to work intermittently. The services offer an alternative repair option - flushing the valve. But no one will give a guarantee that after it everything will work perfectly, and how much such cleaning will last is also unknown.

It is recommended to change the oil in diesel modifications every 10,000 km. Incidents generally happened with oil: for example, information about a too high level often appeared on the dashboard. Many did not believe the on-board computer: the level can decrease, but increase ... Everything turned out to be simple: fuel got into the lubrication system. The manufacturer reacted quickly by correcting the software - dealers made changes for free, although there may be instances that did not pass this service campaign.

However, sometimes there are problems not with the main internal combustion engine, but with the auxiliary one - the preheater. Fuel burns in it in the same way, channels become clogged in the same way. If the heater stops working, at least cleaning will be required (about 6,000 rubles from the dealer), as a maximum, of course, replacement of elements (for example, nozzles). It is recommended to monitor the cleanliness of the radiators. A constantly running cooling fan is a clear reason to postpone all business and go to the service station. Moreover, it is unlikely that it will be possible to get off with “little blood”. If, for example, on the XC90, the radiator has large cells that can be blown through with compressed air, rinsed with water from a high-pressure apparatus, then this will not work with the “sixties”. The correct approach involves the dismantling of radiators, which will require partial disassembly of the front of the car (remove the bumper, headlights). But the suspension (structurally quite simple) gives practically no reason for criticism. Up to 100,000 km, the need for repair is unlikely; later, shock absorbers, tie rods, and hinges can traditionally fail - it all depends on the manner of operation.

It's time to take stock. Volvo XC60 is a very comfortable crossover with good off-road capabilities for this class and a wide range of security systems. But, like all high-tech products, it requires careful handling and timely quality service - only then it will serve for a long time and without fail.

Expert opinion

Alla Martynova, head of the technical department of the dealer center

If we take into account the totality of the main qualities that are valued in compact crossovers - good dynamics and cross-country ability, a high level of comfort and safety - I consider the Volvo XC60 one of the best offers in the class. Just do not think that the reliability of the car allows you to forget about visits to the service in principle. If you forget to change the timing belt in time - you have every chance of encountering major problems, be too lazy to flush the radiator in the spring - it is possible that you will overheat the engine in a summer traffic jam. In general, the XC60 units have a fairly large resource, so that with timely maintenance, the owner is unlikely to face high costs. As for the suspension, up to 100,000 km, most likely, large-scale replacements will not be required, and what happens next depends on how the car was operated.

Owner's opinion

Vorobieva Irina, 40 years old, experience 18 years
2.4 l diesel, year 2009 130,000 km

The car was bought in 2012 - well-groomed, in good condition. This is the first Volvo in the family and, I must say, quite successful. Diesel is very economical, in winter there are no problems with starting. It is easy to drive the car, and in terms of cross-country ability, it will give odds to many compact crossovers (tested in the snow). It still does not require serious expenses with a run of 100,000 km - the only repair (changed suspension parts) cost 18,000 rubles. The City Safety system has helped out more than once, saving my insurance company money. By the way, CASCO is not cheap, but cheaper than, for example, on the Lexus RX. There are no shortcomings worth mentioning so far. Several times the car began to twitch on the track, and, of course, it is impossible to demonstrate this in the service. Blamed it on poor quality fuel. A couple of times there were problems with the door locks in the cold, but this, again, is an episodic phenomenon. I think all cars have small “jambs”, so I don’t complain too much.

Specifications
Modifications	2.0TD	2.0T	3,0	2.4TD	3,2
GEOMETRIC PARAMETERS
Length/width/height, mm	4644/1891/1713
Wheel base, mm	2774
Track front / rear, mm	1632/1586
Ground clearance, mm	230
Turning diameter, m	11,9
Trunk volume, l	490/1450
Entry angle, degrees	22
Departure angle, degrees	27
Ramp angle, degrees	Fording depth - 350 mm
Standard tires	235/65 R17
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Curb weight, kg	1726	1696	1872	1826/1842	1941
Gross weight, kg	2505	2270	2440	2505	2430
Working volume, cm 3	1984	1999	2953	2400	3192
Location and number of cylinders	5 in a row	4 in a row	6 in a row	5 in a row	6 in a row
Power, hp (kW) at rpm	136/3500	240/5500	285/210/5600	185/4000	243/6200
Torque, Nm at rpm	400/1500–2200	320/1800–5000	400/1500–4800	400/2000–2750	320/3200
Transmission	AKP6	RKP6	AKP6	MCP6/AKP6	AKP6
Maximum speed, km/h	185	210	210	205/200	210
Acceleration time 0–100 km/h, s	11,2	8,1	7,5	9,5/9,9	9,9
Fuel consumption, city/highway, l per 100 km	17,9/5,0	11,4/6,8	17,1/8,9	9,8/10,9	13,8/7,6
Fuel/tank capacity, l	DT/70	AI-95/70	AI-95/70	DT/70	AI-95/70

Maintenance schedule for Volvo XC60
Operations	12 months 20,000 km	24 months 40,000 km	36 months 60,000 km	48 months 80,000 km	60 months 100,000 km	72 months 120,000 km	84 months 140,000 km	96 months 160,000 km	108 months 180,000 km	120 months 200,000 km
Engine oil and filter*	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Coolant		.		.		.		.		.
Air filter	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Cabin ventilation filter	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Fuel filter (petrol)	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Fuel filter (diesel)	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Spark plug			.			.			.
Fluid in the brake system			.			.			.
timing belt						.
Accessory drive belt						.
Oil in the gearbox				.				.

* For versions with a diesel engine, the operation should be carried out twice as often.