S40 noise

I own a 2000 S40 and in addition to many problems which were already
discussed I always seem to get a really loud clunking noise from
underneath the left side of the car every time I press the accelerator
pedal. At the dealership they told me it is caused by "travel" of the
transmission as it shifts and that it is normal and cannot be fixed. I
have never had similar problems with any other cars I've had, sure you'd
hear transmission shifting but this thing happens about 90% percent of the
time I press the gas pedal. No big deal certainly compared to other
problems this model has but nonetheless annoying.

I was wondering if anyone experienced anything similar on S40 or other
Volvo models, this is the only Volvo I've had.

Thanks,
Paul

 

I had a similar clunk to what you describe, on my V70 a couple of years ago.
It turned out to be the 'top engine steady' bush broken. This is a standard
type of bonded rubber bush, which is on a bracket which spans
Bulkhead---engine at the top. Mine bolts to the engine right above the turbo
(on my diesel), and I made a special bit of tube/studding to pull the old
bush out, and then press the new one in.
Total cost £3.22. Dealer probably wouldn't charge a lot for this simple
exercise (!).
There is apparently another one of these brackets at the bottom too. They
stop the engine rotating about the crankshaft axis, or about the
driveshafts' axis too much. Everytime I pushed my gas (derv?) pedal, I got
the clunk as the engine rotates slightly and the bracket touched on the
engine.
Cheers.
p.s Are you in the UK?
joe.

 

No, I'm in the US, so have the first American S40 model. During one of my
many visits to the dealer I asked them about the noise and they said they
couldn't reproduce the problem. Next time they said it is the loose
suspension but after it was tightened, I test drove it with one of the
mechanics and he said it was the transmission and "all S40s are like
that", that's why I was curious if anyone experienced the same thing. It
is kind of a hollow sound right from somewhere underneath the driver's
side of the car, not from the direction of the engine and I can feel the
slight vibration from it too. I learned to just ignore it but on some
days it tends to annoy the heck out of me.

I had numerous other problems as well (blown gasket, fuel pump, air flow
sensor, pads/rotors) and since I bought the car used, I attributed them to
the previous owner not taking good care of it but now I'm starting to
think differently. Are S40s really that bad?

 

Return to the dealer & have them check their Tech-Net
Notes for #61-04 dated 07/24/2003 Front Center Member
Bushings
I have a copy of the Tech-Net Note if you would like
supply a valid E-Mail address & will send to you
Glenn