Just got a '07 XC70 2.5T. 113K. Throwing P0027, P0026, P0020 - can it drive? (We bailed out 2 of 3 bad XC90s)

[GreenMagicMan]

Hi

We had (3) XC90 cars: (2005, 2007, 2008). Way too many problems. Ditching 2 and keeping one.

We replaced it this week with a 2007 XC70 2.5T with 113K miles. Drive super smooth, quiet and strong.

It's throwing the above codes: P0027, P0026, P0020
I know two are related to the VVT.

I'm a Honda guy and familiar with their mechanicals, but still very novice with Volvo.

Can this be driving 4 hours to where I am at to look at it / change in a new VVT part?
Are these engines (I presume) low / no (zero) clearance "interference" engines?

A guy trying to help my g.f. (owner) ran these codes. Said the P0027 was "exhaust valve control solenoid Circuit A Cyl. 1 'medium severity'" on his scan tool.
She wrote that it was not good, and could 'throw a piston into the engine and destroy it' if it gets / goes badly.
I am sure she really meant it might throw this exhaust valve into the engine piston and destroy that valve.

I assume if that happens it's remove the turbo and a lot of stuff and pull the head and rebuild the valvetrain. Which I can only guess is a pain to major pain on this Volvo engine or a lot of money from a mechanic shop.

Thoughts on if this might be ok to drive 4 hours today to get to me?

Helper outside this AutoZone - his scan tool - showed a $200 part to replace at the side / top of the engine should fix it. I've been reading it could be sludgey oil clogging VVT passageway, bad wiring, bad solenoid, ECU potentially etc...
I presume that part was the VVT Solenoid. Is this a common issue on the XC70?

[jonesg]

the wrong oil can make the CVVT sluggish and throw a code or CEL.
I think it needs 10/30 or 5/30 full synth.
If thats the problem it won't crash the valves.
Its not that big of a deal to do a valve job, approx $600 or $3k in a shop.
Plenty of posters here have done it at home.

Maybe someone in VT can run vida on it to look a bit deeper than the generic OBD scan.
Where in VT are you located, I'm in northern Maine near Katahdin.

PS. I'd drive it, check the oil or change it, since its running fine....I'd go for it.

[jkatz]

I’m in the Burlington vt area. If you’re nearby you are welcome to bring it by and plug in my iCarSoft i906 to read the codes when you get it home. It’s no Vida, but it reads Volvo codes. It was really useful when I bought my ‘07 XC70 in January. Mine is black with tinted glass. What’s yours?

[SuperHerman]

Pull the timing cover and check your timing marks. Do a little digging for procedure, fairly simple.

Check your oil condition. You can pull the two solenoids and inspect and clean them. There may be a mesh filter on the gasket. Use a razor blade and carefully remove the solenoid being careful of the gasket as at this point you will most likely be reusing them. A thin layer of Gray should seal it up fine. The solenoids have been known to gum up and cause your issues (as well as them failing). Do a little reading on them and you will get a good idea on how to approach them. If I recall you will need a torx to pull the plastics and a 10mm and razor blade to pull the solenoids.