V50 /v70 2.0D engine won't start

[Horton]

Not often we get a bit stuck with something, but I thought I'd just post this up for discussion.
Had a call a couple of weeks ago from my previous employers. "We've got one right up your street blah blah blah...." Anyway, it's a very nice v70 2.0D hdi engine model and it won't start. It was very cheap....
Got it back to the workshop and after checking all the usual (cambelt, codes, fuel feed/pressure), including spraying brake cleaner it simply won't go. It turns over, will occasionally run for a couple of secs and then will not start again unless it's wound over for ages. Further investigation reveals there's a fair bit of back pressure coming out of the oil filler when it's turned over, and if the exhaust or intercooler hose is removed it will run for a bit longer without smoke from the breather... The turbo vanes seemed seized, so we changed the turbo, cleaned out the DPF and it's still the same. I'm thinking a blocked EGR, and to be fair, we ran out of time today?! Anyone experienced anything similar..?

I know this is a V70 but this engine is much more common on the V50/S40/C30 and I thought this was a better place to post.... Hope that's ok.

[The Thong]

Blank the EGR for starters, then see what happens

[Horton]

Found the issue, seems to have been a broken EGR, the little disc that opens and closes the EGR had fallen off. When the stainless EGR tube that goes from the inlet manifold to the EGR manifold is removed the engine runs fine.....spooky.

[The Thong]

Now buy a blanking plate..... We'll end by the way

TT

[Horton]

Thanks for your advice, but I'm not a great fan of such mods.... For me, as a Volvo specialist, an engine is best left the way it left the factory. We need to be sure this car doesn't have management lights coming on once we have found a home for it, and my experience of any kind of mod has always been a bad one. Fair enough if it's your own car, as you know why the light has come on, but try explaining this to someone who has bought it?

I still can't get my head around why the broken EGR would cause this issue though, it doesn't really make sense to me....

[Bloders2]

surely, if the egr valve was not functioning, then the engine cant get any clean air to burn the fuel?

[Bungo]

Originally Posted by Horton

Thanks for your advice, but I'm not a great fan of such mods.... For me, as a Volvo specialist, an engine is best left the way it left the factory. We need to be sure this car doesn't have management lights coming on once we have found a home for it, and my experience of any kind of mod has always been a bad one. Fair enough if it's your own car, as you know why the light has come on, but try explaining this to someone who has bought it?

I still can't get my head around why the broken EGR would cause this issue though, it doesn't really make sense to me....

It doesn't make sense.
If the silver tube is removed then you are sucking fresh air in rather than exhaust gas from the egr. It would suggest the engine isn't getting enough air through the usual way, which would mean backtracking through the inlet system.
As you know the egr is faulty are you going to fix or replace it ?

[Bungo]

Originally Posted by Bloders2

surely, if the egr valve was not functioning, then the engine cant get any clean air to burn the fuel?

The egr lets exhaust gas into the engine, not fresh air.
They don't operate that often so rarely cause an issue other than when they are faulty.

[daveyonthemove]

@ Horton, is this your website/Garage?
http://hortoncars.co.uk/

[Horton]

Yup, that's me!
Just to follow up on above, once we fitted a new EGR it ran as new - going to pop a cambelt on tomorrow just to be sure and then it's found a new home with one of our customers!