Vibrations @55-80mph

Faults and Technical chat for the Volvo XC40
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ChrisLF
Posts: 1346
Joined: Wed Apr 24, 2019 8:21 am
Location: Heart of England

Post by ChrisLF »

So as we thought the gearbox is used, unsurprisingly, in other cars. Many sales folks don't have a clue do they and the motor industry is their job - it is technical though I suppose! Just like Borg-Warner autos were used in a number of cars, are they still going?
2023 B4 Plus Dark FWD in Silver Dawn. Tinted Rear Windows. Spare Wheel & Tow Bar dealer fitted.

Gone - 2019 T4 R-Design FWD in Bursting Blue. Winter & Convenience Packs, Power Seat, Front Park Assist, Rear Camera, Spare Wheel & Tow Bar.

Kipper
Posts: 45
Joined: Tue May 21, 2019 7:47 pm

Post by Kipper »

I bought my first Volvo from a big main dealer and the salesman was an ex furniture salesman. I fear today the skill set is selling rather than knowledge of product. When I was looking at a BL vehicle a long time ago, I asked whether the air vents gave cool air, he said “I expect so”. On the other hand when I was replacing a Vectra, the salesman told me in great detail the spec of my vehicle without recourse to any brochure.
In fairness in this case, as the XC40 is a new range, the spec is changing as the sales increase. I suppose it’s down to how keen the salesman is at his job, and I sense these days, as in many cases, it is just that, a job.
I must admit, the knowledge of the sales person does form part of my decision making when I choose a dealership.
When I think of it, there are more examples I can think of.
In this case I wonder if it was to to counter the question, “ How come the xxxxx model has no problem with the same gearbox”, just a guess, or did he “just guess”.
I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to go on like that, I guess I am just as frustrated as every one else with this issue.

Kipper
XC40 T4 Inscription Pro / Luminous Sand / Blond
Elvo57
Posts: 39
Joined: Mon Feb 18, 2019 5:14 pm

Post by Elvo57 »

Booked in again next Wednesday….

This time Volvo is asking the dealership to look at the tailgate and suspension. I’ll get the details of what’s involved from the technician and update you all when I pick up the car later that day! I must admit that I was quite happy with the R-Design suspension on 19” wheels until I drove the Momentum on 18” wheels. It was much smoother and ironed out the bumps much more effectively..... but cross winds were more noticeable and it was not as ‘pointy’ as the R-design.

Re the gearbox being unique to Volvo… rule No1, never trust a salesman!
For me, a salesman can never ’sell’ me the car (yes, he does the paperwork, but the car should sell itself), but he/she can put me off a dealership and make me go to another one! Point in case... a month ago we popped into the Hull Kia dealership to look at the E-Niro. Terrible experience, so we tried the Scarborough dealership last week and what a difference, excellent! Shame the E-Niro is not available for many months because the first quota has already gone. Saying that, the Kia Soul EV would be our preferred car (going for a test drive soon in the E-Nero as it has the same drive train... salesman aware and more than happy to oblige).

XC40 | First Edition | D4 AWD | Bursting Blue | 19" Continental Premium Contact 6 tyres | Ordered 14/03/18 | Delivered 11th October 2018 | UK.
Kipper
Posts: 45
Joined: Tue May 21, 2019 7:47 pm

Post by Kipper »

I believe, although I could be wrong, that the R-Design has a sharper chassis set up. I have19" wheels with the Inscription Pro and that seems to be smooth enough, although that is somewhat subjective. Straws and clutching come to mind, but it is complex and the only way may be by elimination.
XC40 T4 Inscription Pro / Luminous Sand / Blond
Silver Moose
Posts: 344
Joined: Wed Dec 26, 2018 9:10 am

Post by Silver Moose »

Kipper wrote: Tue Jun 25, 2019 12:09 pm I believe, although I could be wrong, that the R-Design has a sharper chassis set up. I have19" wheels with the Inscription Pro and that seems to be smooth enough, although that is somewhat subjective. Straws and clutching come to mind, but it is complex and the only way may be by elimination.
Yes, Inscription has 'dynamic' suspension, R-Design has 'sport'.

Don't think it's the defining factor though, as Momentum & Inscription owners have complained about same issue.

My Inscription is delightfully smooth - I suspect some cars have slipped through the net with some sort of chassis and/or transmission alignment issue. I'm surprised nobody's bit the bullet and paid for an independent check.
Real name Carl
T4 Inscription Pro ordered 13/12/2018 - collected 30/3/2019
Bright Silver/Charcoal
Convenience pack, Intellisafe Pro, 360 camera
Kipper
Posts: 45
Joined: Tue May 21, 2019 7:47 pm

Post by Kipper »

You may have hit the nail on the head there. When I mentioned such a thing to my nephew, very knowledgeable about vehicle dynamics, he identified the possibility of tolerances being at the extremes of their range on some vehicles. In which case tricky to define.

If we share such info on this thread, we can help in identifying where the problem lays. Interestingly, I see you picked up your vehicle the same month I did, although mine was on the 3rd, does the problem occur in batches? Food for thought.

Kipper
XC40 T4 Inscription Pro / Luminous Sand / Blond
Elvo57
Posts: 39
Joined: Mon Feb 18, 2019 5:14 pm

Post by Elvo57 »

Progress ?

Just come off the phone with the technician working on the car today…

Volvo UK ‘Technical’ are quite confident that maladjustment of the hatchback has been a major factor in the vibration resonance issue. Ours was not in spec with their tolerances, and has now been adjusted.
The second procedure was to slacken the engine mountings, run the engine for 15mins, let the engine bay cool of for 10 mins, and then re tighten the mountings. This was to let things settle in to a more natural position for the components involved.

The technician and workshop supervisor are saying that there has been a marked improvement noticed on the subsequent test drive. My wife is picking the car up later in the day and hopefully we can put it through its paces tomorrow and update the forum thereafter.
As an aside, today’s (different) Momentum D3 manual loan car again exhibited the fault. Although as per the last one, it was much more subdued than in our car.

XC40 | First Edition | D4 AWD | Bursting Blue | 19" Continental Premium Contact 6 tyres | Ordered 14/03/18 | Delivered 11th October 2018 | UK.
Kipper
Posts: 45
Joined: Tue May 21, 2019 7:47 pm

Post by Kipper »

Thanks for that, I await you conclusions so that I can update my garage. This would indicate that vehicle construction procedures need tightening up and would account for the effect only to be on seemingly random vehicles.

Kipper
XC40 T4 Inscription Pro / Luminous Sand / Blond
cuznvin
Posts: 17
Joined: Thu May 09, 2019 12:10 am

Post by cuznvin »

Interesting
Elvo57
Posts: 39
Joined: Mon Feb 18, 2019 5:14 pm

Post by Elvo57 »

Marked improvement!

Been a bit busy but managed to get a couple of test drives in on Thursday and Friday. Overall quite a noticeable improvement. Car feels generally smoother, with the resonance and vibration being reduced, although the vibration was still coming and going at steady speeds of 60 to 70(and a bit more) MPH. Saying that, it was windy and the road temperatures were high (23C), both of which could be affecting the results?
Dropped back in to the dealership on the way home to report our findings, but stressed to the engineer that there was still an issue seen on the short runs, hence more would probably show when we took it out on our normal longer routes (to the East Coast etc).

Engineer admitted that every XC40 he has driven has had the problem we are experiencing, but in varying degrees, with ours being initially one of, if not the worse so far.
He is reporting back to Volvo UK and is expecting their next step to be for them to send out one of their three specialist national engineers for a test drive with us.

Apparently, the hatch realignment and engine mount readjustment has come out of the latest research back in Sweden.
I would definitely say get back to your dealerships and give it a go, and see what it does for your car!

XC40 | First Edition | D4 AWD | Bursting Blue | 19" Continental Premium Contact 6 tyres | Ordered
14/03/18 | Delivered 11th October 2018 | UK.
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