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Volvo V50 Diesel (2009) - Volvo Cold Weather Power Loss - mum321

In cold weather (below 3 degrees) my Volvo V50 Diesel (2009) has no power.
The car has recently had a new map censor, a new intake temperature censor, new boost control solenoid and the EGR cleaned. all to no avail.
It is also showing P0299 turbo under boost in the diagnostic faults.
I have also run through 2 bottles of Forte Turbo cleaner.
After all this the car still has no power in cold weather.
Please note that this problem is specific to cold weather as if the temperate is above 3 degrees the car runs perfectly.
Any help will be much appreciated.

Volvo V50 Diesel (2009) - Volvo Cold Weather Power Loss - RobJP

When (if ever) was the fuel filter last changed.

It sounds like fuel starvation. A partially blocked filter, especially if it's cold and the fuel is thicker or emulsified, could well be the cause.

I've no idea if on those the fuel filter incorporates a heater (to warm and thus 'thin' the diesel a bit in cold conditions), but if it does, and if the filter has been changed and doesn't need changing, then the heater might be at fault.

Volvo V50 Diesel (2009) - Volvo Cold Weather Power Loss - mum321

Hi RobJP, thank you so much for taking the time to reply to my problem but alas it has had a new fuel filter fitted and Im sorry to say that there isnt a fuel filter heater. thanks again anyway..

Volvo V50 Diesel (2009) - Volvo Cold Weather Power Loss - Railroad.

P0299 - Turbo Underboost? Has it not occurred to you that the turbo could be the problem? Either the vanes could be worn or damaged, the wastegate stuck open, or in the case of a VNT turbo the vanes could be stuck in the flat position.

Or you could have a blocked air intake, or an intake leak. Just changing sensors is no more than a wild shot guess, and unlikely to be the problem.

Volvo V50 Diesel (2009) - Volvo Cold Weather Power Loss - SLO76
Are we talking about the 1.6 diesel? If so this PSA engine is notorious for turbocharger issues.
Volvo V50 Diesel (2009) - Volvo Cold Weather Power Loss - Badspanner

If worn damaged turbo vanes, why is it ok above 3 degrees? and any fuel starvation would give a low rail pressure fault code.

When you say its only bellow 3 degrees, do you mean an over night stand or when ever the outside temp reads 3 or below it happens while driving (ie driving fine at 5 degrees but 10miles down road it gets colder and below 3 fault suddenly occurs)?

Does the Under Boost fault code appear everytime when the vehicle loses power, and if you stop and restart the engine is the power restored? (Once under boost detected engine will run in limited power stratagy until restart, even though reason for fault may have disappeared)

First thought would be (as you have said the soloniod changed that its vaccum operated) the vacuum hose from soloniod to turbo actuator may have water build up and freezing at low temp and therfore no vacuum able to pull vanes into position. however there is other possible causes, any further info you can give might narrow it down a bit

Volvo V50 Diesel (2009) - Volvo Cold Weather Power Loss - mum321

Thank you very much Badspanner, this is all very interesting and I will get back to you tomorrow afternoon with as much info as I can give...really appreciate this :)

Volvo V50 Diesel (2009) - Volvo Cold Weather Power Loss - mum321

Hi again Badspanner,

In answer to your questions, yes this can happen mid journey...car can be running perfectly for and hour or more then the temperature drops to 3 degrees or below and there is a total loss of power...this does not happen every single time the temperature drops below 3 degrees but 9 times out of 10 it does

The Under Boost fault code doesnt appear everytime when the car loses power and no, stopping and restarting the car does not restore the power.

Today the garage has fitted a new airflow meter....as yet do not know if this has solved the problem.

Thank you again for taking the time to try to help and any further ideas you may have would be much appreciated.

Volvo V50 Diesel (2009) - Volvo Cold Weather Power Loss - Badspanner

Its strange to have a power loss linked to such a precise Outside Air Temp reading, chances of a coolent temp sensor failing at the exact same time as the outside temp reaching 3 (Even 9/10 times) i would think is unrealistic, even if dropping to an open circuit of -40, the engine managment would still have no reason to drop power severly. Power loss is possible the other way if it failed short circuit ie 120 degrees, however all bells and whistles would be evident on instrumentation, aswell as relevent faultcodes stored in either event. Mass Air Flow could be a reason if icing up due to cold air flow, but again unlikley to be to that closley linked to the outside air temp sensor, and again fault code even if its "within range but lower than expected" , It may be worth thiking of what happens when 3 degrees is measured outside, obvoiusly ice warning on dash, but also some manufactures will turn on heated mirrors, washer jets and windscreens without buttons lighting up. May be worth checking common earth points with these compnents or if loss of power can be induced by turning any of them on. On a final note, first port of call, and easy to check, with these and strange electrical faults is the fuse box in the passenger footwell, sometimes people with big feet kick the connectors open. (Two multiplugs with horseshoe like clips pointing down, make sure they are fully pushed and clicked forward). Let us know how you get on.....

Volvo V50 Diesel (2009) - Volvo Cold Weather Power Loss - mum321

Hi, no this is the 2 litre..many thanks

Volvo V50 Diesel (2009) - Volvo Cold Weather Power Loss - Railroad.

Unlike petrol engines, diesels don't have a throttle, and no inlet manifold vacuum. The engine speed is controlled by metering the fuel. So delays with increasing engine speed can be noticed on diesels running at low speed when under load, even with turbos, especially when the engine is cold. It's a chicken and egg situation. The engine can't rev up until air and exhaust is flowing to spin the turbo. And air won't flow freely until the engine speed is higher. A turbo with worn vanes could be your problem.

Volvo V50 Diesel (2009) - Volvo Cold Weather Power Loss - mum321

Hi Railroad,

Many thanks for this however its perplexing as the car can have been running perfectly fine for an hour or more but as the temperature drops so does the power, when this happens the car even struggles to get up a small hill.

It has been to a Volvo specialist garage as well as other garages and at the last visit the Turbo was taken off cleaned and inspected and no problems were found. Also just today has had a new airflow meter fitted...dont yet know if this has cured the problem.

Thank you very much once more for taking the time to try to help.

Volvo V50 Diesel (2009) - Volvo Cold Weather Power Loss - hardway

Lots of new parts but no mention of the one part that alters with temperature,

And that would be the Coolant Temperature Sensor.

Volvo V50 Diesel (2009) - Volvo Cold Weather Power Loss - Railroad.

Lots of new parts but no mention of the one part that alters with temperature,

And that would be the Coolant Temperature Sensor.

That would show up on live data of course. If the engine temperature reading on the scantool said 40 degrees, and the actual coolant temperature was 5 degrees then we could suspect the sensor was bad. The point is it's easy to check.

Volvo V50 Diesel (2009) - Volvo Cold Weather Power Loss - mum321

Thank you hardway, I will mention this to the garage tomorrow.

Volvo V50 Diesel (2009) - Volvo Cold Weather Power Loss - Markus Ilomäki

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