Red triangle “ engine performance reduced” message

Post by **Blacklab467** » 21 May 2021, 20:53

Hello Volvo friends! I’m trying to help my friend troubleshoot his ‘05 XC 90 with a 2.5 turbo. The vehicle turned on the red triangle and the engine reduced performance message, no amber CEL. He said it was running a bit rough and took it to a generic shop and they said the throttle body and intake manifold was full of oil and suspected the turbo had a seal fail. Apparently they tried to clean the TB and maybe screwed it up.
I am out of town for a couple weeks so I asked if they got any DTC’s out of it. It has about 290,000 kms on it.
Might it just be in need of a PCV overhaul and a good TB cleaning? I’d like to help him resolve this when I get home but am not sure where to start. Any ideas based on this information?

Post by **kcodyjr** » 21 May 2021, 21:17

I'd think a totally banjaxed PCV system would result in LESS oil making it to the intake, and instead being pushed out through every seam and seal in the engine.

The way to diagnose this is to pull the intake tubing, and see where it looks like an oil tanker ran aground.

I'd definitely see if you can get him hooked up to VIDA to read out set and pending codes. If the car set a light, then it has some idea what's wrong.

I also wonder if maybe the amber CEL bulb is burned out?