Seeking Advice on 2002 Volvo V50 Diesel with Increased Fuel Consumption and Exhaust Smell

Hey, I get your concern. I drive a 2005 Volvo S60, so not too different from yours. I had somewhat same trouble a while back. My check engine light popped on, fuel consumption spiked, and I also had this weird exhaust smell. Turned out, the issue was the secondary air valve and pump. They had become defective due to a dodgy cable/plug connection. The garage guys spotted it right away, so it's not something that goes unnoticed. The fix was straight forward, they just replaced the faulty parts and repaired the connection. Ever since then, haven't had any reoccurrence and my Volvo is running smooth as ever. So, don't stress too much. Get the car to a competent mechanic. Fixing it won't be rocket science if that's the issue. Good luck with your V50!

(Translated from German)

Hey there, your experience really puts my mind at ease! So it was the secondary air valve and pump causing trouble in your S60, huh? And it sounds like the fix was relatively simple. If it's not too much to ask, do you remember how much you dropped for the repairs? And have you encountered any similar issues or anything related since they fixed it? Cheers for the insights my friend!

(Translated from German)

Hey, good to hear you're feeling a bit better about this. Yes, indeed it was a problem with the secondary air valve and pump in my S60. The repair wasn't too complicated and the mechanic managed to admit it right away. Regarding the costs, it came to 95€ in total. It fixed the issue with the Cable/plug connection to the secondary air valve and pump. This was quite reasonable and painless compared to some car repairs I've had in the past. Worth noting, there has been no sign of a similar problem since they sorted it out. My old Volvo's been running like a dream ever since, no issues related to this at all. So worry less, once you get it fixed, it should run just fine! Best of luck with it!

(Translated from German)

Sounds like a relief! Good to hear the repair turned out manageable and wasn't a hit to the wallet. And it's super comforting to know that your S60 has been running smoothly since the fix. This has certainly bolstered my confidence in handling this issue. I guess I better get my V50 to a decent mechanic soon then. Appreciate your time and the valuable insights! Cheers for the help, fingers crossed my experience will be as smooth as yours!

(Translated from German)