XC60 Boost Pressure Issue

Alright, Volvo gurus, I'm in a pickle. My 2018 XC60 hybrid is throwing a fit with what I suspect is a boost pressure issue. The check engine light is mocking me, engine power is limping, and the throttle response is slow. Sometimes it even stalls at idle, which is just lovely at stop lights. Oh, and fuel consumption? Astronomical! Plus, I'm hearing this weird whistling noise, and a LOUD hissing sound when I try to accelerate. I've already checked for obvious leaks in the intake, but nothing jumps out. Could it be the MAP sensor acting up, or something more sinister related to the turbo? Mileage is sitting at 231307 km. Any ideas before I start throwing parts at it?

4 comment(s)

Dude, that sounds eerily familiar! I had almost the exact same symptoms on my XC60 – whistling, hissing under acceleration, the whole shebang. Check engine light, power loss, the works. Have you tried looking at the wastegate valve? It's a common culprit for boost-related headaches on these engines. Is the hissing sound more prominent when the engine is cold versus warm?

Wastegate valve, huh? That's a new one for me. I'll definitely add that to my list of things to investigate. But, how would I go about diagnosing a faulty wastegate valve? And yeah, the hissing is definitely louder when the engine is cold. Does that point more directly to the wastegate?

Okay, cold hissing definitely leans towards the wastegate. Basically, the valve isn't sealing properly when cold, leading to the boost leak. Honestly, diagnosing it properly can be tricky without the right tools. I ended up just taking mine to a shop. They confirmed it was a defect in the wastegate valve and replaced it. Cost me around 860€. It solved all the issues. The whistling was the air escaping, and the hissing was the more pronounced leak under load. Seriously, save yourself the headache and get it checked out by a pro.

Thanks a bunch for the insight! Sounds like my weekend just got a lot less fun and a lot more expensive. I'll bite the bullet and get it to a workshop. The wastegate valve seems like a solid lead. Hopefully, that's all it is! I appreciate you sharing your experience!

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