S90 Turbo Actuator Whistle

I'm having a weird issue with my 2019 Volvo S90 diesel. It's got about 73,587 km on the clock. Lately, the check engine light keeps popping up, and I've noticed a significant drop in engine power. The engine response is also terrible, it feels like I'm driving through treacle. On top of that, there's a noticeable whistling noise, almost like a loud hissing sound, especially when I accelerate. Sometimes, the engine even stalls when I'm idling. Fuel consumption has also gone up. I suspect it might be related to a boost pressure actuator fault. Could a defective electrical bypass valve be the culprit? Anyone experienced similar?

4 comment(s)

Woah, that sounds rough! I had something similar happen with my S90. Check that turbo actuator. Is it a consistent whistle, or only under load?

Thanks for the quick reply! The whistle is more prominent when the engine is under load, like when I'm accelerating or going uphill. When idling or cruising, it's barely noticeable, if at all. Was your issue exactly the same, and was it definitely the actuator valve?

Yep, sounds like the same thing. I fiddled with it for ages trying to figure it out. Eventually I just took it to a workshop. They said it was definitely the turbo wastegate and the actuator fault. Cost me about 250€ to sort it out.

Thanks a lot for confirming! It's reassuring to know someone else had the same problem and got it resolved. I'll book it in at a workshop ASAP and mention the boost pressure actuator fault. Hopefully, it's a straightforward fix like yours. I appreciate the help!

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