XC70 Crankshaft Sensor Issue

Whoa, sounds familiar! I have an XC70 too, though I can't recall the exact year. I had almost the same symptoms – engine light, sluggishness, and the fuel consumption went crazy. The 'crankshaft to camshaft reference value' thing sounds like a crank sensor issue to me as well. The crankshaft sensor tells the engine where the crankshaft is, so the engine computer knows when to fire the spark plugs in relation to the position of the pistons. If the sensor is faulty, the timing goes out of whack. Did the error code point specifically to the crank sensor?

Thanks for the quick response! The error code didn't explicitly say "crank sensor defective," but the description mentioned 'crankshaft to camshaft reference value' issue. So you think it really points to the crank sensor then? Is there anything I can check myself before replacing it completely?

Yeah, that reference value error is a pretty big indicator that the crankshaft sensor might be failing. You could try visually inspecting the sensor itself and the wiring around it for any obvious damage, like cracks or frayed wires, but honestly, those sensors can be finicky and fail internally without any visible signs. I messed around with mine for a while and ended up just taking it to a trusted mechanic. They confirmed it was the crank sensor and swapped it out. If you aren't sure what you're doing, or how to test for voltage drops, I would take it to a professional.

OK, thanks for the insight! I appreciate you sharing your experience. I'll take it to the shop and have them check the crankshaft sensor. I'll share the diagnosis and repair. The final bill for replacing the crankshaft position sensor was around 340€ with parts and labour. Now my XC70 runs like new again!