incontinent Volvo - leaking close to the turbo

[azureblue]

Neil- so how do I get in there?

[scot850]

Um, where? If you mean how do you get to the turbo coolant lines then best way is to remove the airbox, turbo inlet pipe (fiddly to access the clamp at the bottom, and this will give you a much better view of what is going on.

I'm assuming you have had the car in the air, as you can usually see the leaks from below best, that is how I found the lower radiator pipe was weeping, although you may be able to see enough with good lighting an a bendy mirror on a stick.

To replace the lower radiator hose you have to have the airbox and pipework out of the way as Volvo like to hide the pipe under stuff. Some will tell you different, but I prefer to pay up for the Volvo Pipe, in particular the lower one as it is a pain to fit and takes a lot of time. Also most have possibly been there for up to 20 years, so they are relatively good value from some of the on-line retailers.

The turbo pipes are a challenge to get to, and I have yet to have to do them. I'll be possibly tackling these on my 2000 R which I know will be a royal pain as the big turbo on there and AWD makes it a real pain to get to. I may chicken out and pay the dealer to do it! The turbo pipes when viewed from below often show that they have 'relaxed' and have swollen up. If that is the case it is definitely time to change them.

Neil.

[dyn blin]

Robert has a DIY video on YouTube that might help get oriented with location and access for the turbo inlet hose:

Robert Volvo DIY Channel
Coolant hose replacement, turbo inlet...


I've managed to swap them out on our P80's from the bottom without removing the whole pipe assembly with the car on ramps, even with my ham-fisted mitts, but his method may prove easier, especially if you're pulling the airbox to investigate the lower radiator hose.

If you're going with the OEM replacements, it's not too expensive & might be a good time to do them all on that side of the engine and be done with it.

[azureblue]

So about half the work can be done from the top?

I see in the vid that the coolant is dripping from the bottom of the turbo. Mine doesn't drip from there - it drips through the engine mount bracket... I am guessing that my leak is coming from the same hose that Robert removed in the vid - that is, if there is nothing else above the engine mounting bracket that could leak.. My rubber hoses down there are definitely swollen, so I will redo everything. That looks like a PITA job, so no use risking going in there twice...

My radiator hoses look fine - I gave them a squeeze and they are firm.. Thanks for the advice...

[Sommerfeldt]

My radiator hoses look fine - I gave them a squeeze and they are firm.. Thanks for the advice...

My lower one also felt fine. Until the reservoir was empty.

- S