Squealing Noise S4o T5 AWD

Boys Car · Post by **Boys Car** » 24 Jan 2011, 23:13

Hi all, the wife just came home and told me the car was making a squealing noise. Lifted the hood and started it. Yes there is a squeal, but not straight away. Had her stop the motor and watched the serpentine belt. The belt stops before the squeal. Therefore its not a pulley etc. Started the motor again and the squeal is there, this time removed the oil filler cap, the noise stops. There is a hell of a lot of vacuum there, slow putting the cap back on and the squel starts again. Sounds as if there is a problem with the PCV but on this motor where do you look? Could it be something else? Would like some ideas?
Cheers to all.

Boys Car · Post by **Boys Car** » 25 Jan 2011, 00:12

OK, a little more information. Now that the car has cooled down I checked a few more things. I can now see that the crankcase ventilation hose has a split in the flexi plastic bit, more like a break than split. Any how started the motor and fiddled around with this joiner. The squeal disappears when the split (break) is open and returns when I re-seal the split (break). I am now a little confused? Does the oil seperator use vacuum to suck from the crankcase? Because the crankcase has an almighty suction and thus this squeal. I will continue to look.

Post by **jimmy57** » 25 Jan 2011, 07:35

The crankcase oil/vapor separator is integrated onto the oil filter housing on front of block. On top of that is a crankcase pressure regulator with a diaphragm inside. When the diapragm ruptures it lets vacuum be applied to crankcase side. I'm not sure how the pieces are serviced through volvo now. It may be the whole housing with no broken down spare parts.
The diaphragm is under the round cover on top of box under #2 intake port runner of intake.

Boys Car · Post by **Boys Car** » 25 Jan 2011, 19:45

Thanks for your time Jimmy57, further investigation has indeed pointed to the Oil Seperator as suggested. I am under the belief that the complete unit will need to be replaced as the diapham is not a wear & tear replace part. Reading from quite a lot of forums this seems to be a regular occurance? This motor has not even seen 60Km (35K miles), a similar complaint across the board. The servicing has always been done by Volvo and with strict adherance to the schedule.
I believe, though haven't tried yet, that the job can be completed in approximently 1 hour if you are confident. The Manifold does not need to be removed, just a bit of manoeuvring of other parts? Time will tell.
Volvo are aware of this issue? Makes me wonder if the Ford Focus XR5, in Australia, will suffer from the same problem?
As today is Australia Day, Oi, Oi, Oi, and we are all celebrating with a BBQ and Beer, I will contact Volvo tomorrow and ask for Customer Service. Although not expecting them to groval to me, I am hopeful they may come someway to the party? I live in hope, but not too concerned with disappointment.
I will also shoot a couple of emails off to our local motoring writers after the issue is repaired, how I mention Volvo will be dependant on their customer service?
Till then, the wife is going to commandeer our holidaying son's 98' S40, can't wait to hear what she has to say about that....
I will keep you all informed.