1999 Xc Very Rough Idle and Loud Turbo Whine

dbo550 · Post by **dbo550** » 08 Mar 2010, 19:44

I need some help from you all. I have recently acquired a 99 xc70 and it runs like crap. The starter sounds weak and takes a few turns to start. When it does start it it runs very rough and shakes pretty bad, the car isn't blowing any smoke out of the exhaust but plenty comes from under the hood. The car has 227k on it and I have just changed out the platinum 4's for champion coppers, not much difference. If I stomp the gas it will not go above 4000 rpm, in park, but idles at around 900. I can't trip an engine code for the life of me. When driving there is a really loud turbo whine, almost sounds like a police siren. The previous owner said that the fan was not working but the gauge has never left where it is supposed to be. I plan on digging as deep as I can into the engine over the next 2 day so any input from you all would greatly help.
My questions:
How does the temp sensor work on this car? It seems different that my 95r. Is there more than one sensor on a 99 turbo car? If so where are they all located? Could the ect have anything to do with the fan not working?

Does anyone know a good way to test the coils without tazing myself?

I have scanned over all of the vacuum hoses and none are totally popped off but can anyone explain the excessive turbo whine? I don't think there are any exhaust leaks but it is definitely louder than my twin turbo allroad or my 95r.
I don't wanna throw too much money at this right out of the gate if I'm going to need an engine soon. So please help me no matter how far out of the box you're suggestions might be.

Post by **vegasjetskier** » 08 Mar 2010, 20:48

The loud turbo whine might be due to an aftermarket air cleaner or intake tube. Also, make sure all the hoses are on and tight.

i hate my volvo · Post by **i hate my volvo** » 08 Mar 2010, 21:13

second that on the hoses. if any of your crossover hoses, especially after the turbo are leaking, this will throw off the computer's air/fuel mapping and make for a loud sounding turbo. if your car is running like that and no check engine light is on, i wouldn't rely on that as an indicator. those hoses are probably roached at 227k miles. the turbo may be shot as well..maybe specify if the noise sounds like bad bearings or a hissing or wooshing noise. but is sounds like the turbo isn't building pressure.

Post by **JDS60R** » 08 Mar 2010, 21:32

Pull the turbo and do a rebuild. Its obvious you have a turbo issue. It sounds like you may have an internal engine issue as well but its hard to tell with the turbo out of whack.

Can you do a compression and leak down test and let us know the results. If both of those pass and there is no combustion gasses in the coolant you could probably get away with a turbo rebuild. Or grab a good used turbo from a junkyard and rebuild it. (This might be better as the whining is metal to metal contact inside the turbo and you will have to replace at leat 2 metal parts during this rebuild.)

I suggest the home rebuild as I am out of work and am saving up money for food etc. When I was working I would have spent a few hundred and got a new turbo or a very high quality rebuilt one. (tip to the wise - do not buy a modified turbo while diagnosing a car - Volvo did a good job of picking the right turbo for each application)

Good luck and let us know. You can PM or email me if you need anything. I am home everyday searching for work.

Post by **vegasjetskier** » 09 Mar 2010, 07:51

JD, have you tried for a job at a Toyota dealer? They probably need more service writers, at least temporarily.

Post by **jblackburn** » 09 Mar 2010, 08:30

second that on the hoses. if any of your crossover hoses, especially after the turbo are leaking, this will throw off the computer's air/fuel mapping and make for a loud sounding turbo. if your car is running like that and no check engine light is on, i wouldn't rely on that as an indicator. those hoses are probably roached at 227k miles. the turbo may be shot as well..maybe specify if the noise sounds like bad bearings or a hissing or wooshing noise. but is sounds like the turbo isn't building pressure.

I blew off my intercooler pipe as soon as I hit the boost once after doing some work because I forgot to clamp it back down, and I had very similar symptoms. I didn't have any codes either. Definitely worth a check before you assume the turbo itself is bad.

You also mentioned it was smoking under the hood...where exactly?

Does anyone know a good way to test the coils without tazing myself?

Look for any obvious cracks in the plastic sides of the coils. When they heat up, these cracks will expand and make misfiring problems worse. If you're not getting a flashing CEL though, you're probably not misfiring.

How does the temp sensor work on this car? It seems different that my 95r. Is there more than one sensor on a 99 turbo car? If so where are they all located? Could the ect have anything to do with the fan not working?

I believe it is just different in design than your 95 and my 98, and there is still only one, in the usual location under the thermostat housing. As for the last part of that question, yes. As will a bad cooling fan relay. Have you tried jumpering the leads on the relay itself (just above the cooling fan)?

dbo550 · Post by **dbo550** » 09 Mar 2010, 14:17

After much tinkering today I have an update, Thanks for all of the help so far, it looks like I'm gonna need some more. I replaced one of the coils that looked suspicious and it didn't help, the wiring to all the coils looks horrible but checks out ok.

The smoke from under the hood is coming from somewhere right below the exhaust manifold heat shield on the passenger side. I took all of the piping for the intercooler out and didn't see any cracks in it.

I hooked my scanner up and got the five following codes:

1. po650 mil control circuit malfunction, that explain the no cel.
2. po300 random/multiple misfire detected.
3. po036 ho2s bank 1 sensor 2.
4. po014 camshaft position actuator b- bank 1 timing over- advanced.
5. po136 o2 sensor circuit malfunction bank 1 sensor 2.

If any of you all have experienced anything like this please let me know. Keep up the good work everybody.

Post by **jblackburn** » 09 Mar 2010, 14:40

Egads, everything's wrong with it! RUN AWAY!

I wonder if your timing belt is off a tooth or two, and causing 2&4 and possibly 3&5. Have you checked the camshaft marks?

O2 sensors can be killed by too-rich conditions (misfiring - if your timing is off, that'll do it), or it could simply be loose vacuum lines. Sort out the misfire first.

The smoke from under the hood is coming from somewhere right below the exhaust manifold heat shield

Is the turbo covered in oil? Take a look at your cam seal behind the turbo intake pipe on the back right side of the engine block. Is it gushing oil? If so, there's a 95% chance your PCV's clogged as well.

dbo550 · Post by **dbo550** » 09 Mar 2010, 15:29

does anyone know which code would keep the engine from revving past 4000 rpm?