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2015.5 s60 T5 clicking/ticking noise when accelerating

144290 Views 582 Replies 117 Participants Last post by  klr142
Has anyone experience this issue? I have a 2015.5 S60 T5, when accelerating, I get this ticking/clicking noise for about a second or so. And it feels like its losing power. Usually occurs between 3k to 4K rpm. I feel like I don't get that quick torch. Any idea?
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did you try any software update? Have you done the Polestar optimization (T5 2.0 only)?
I did the polestar optimization on my 2015.5 months ago mainly for better performance but also hoping that would do something. It definitely improved the performance but didn't fix the noise/loss of power issues. Only with my recent 30k mile service did something change for the better.
I did the polestar optimization on my 2015.5 months ago mainly for better performance but also hoping that would do something. It definitely improved the performance but didn't fix the noise/loss of power issues. Only with my recent 30k mile service did something change for the better.
good to know and thanks for the feedback. as I followed this thread, some people said the polestar tune helped with this.
Did you ask what they changed during the 30k maintenance? I could be a lead to the issue
Here's my receipt from my recent trip to the dealer for the 30k mile service. After this service, the clicking and power loss issues have gone away. Service was done March 28, 2018. Car has run flawlessly since then.

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Here's my receipt from my recent trip to the dealer for the 30k mile service. After this service, the clicking and power loss issues have gone away. Service was done March 28, 2018. Car has run flawlessly since then.

thanks. it look like they just did a flush and nothing else. weird
I'm thinking it's software (see the top of the receipt), unless something (e.g., parts of the defective spark plugs?) made it into the engine somehow and then a flush cleared it out (I'm nowhere close to being a mechanic, though, so I'm going to defer to other people on that).
I'm thinking it's software (see the top of the receipt), unless something (e.g., parts of the defective spark plugs?) made it into the engine somehow and then a flush cleared it out (I'm nowhere close to being a mechanic, though, so I'm going to defer to other people on that).
Exactly but cannot tell what they did with the software update.
I became my own mechanic guy for 2 reasons:
1/ I like clean work
2/ I met and went to so many garages where people do not care about your car or about doing a good job (they will be covered by the company insurance and find a new job down the street
Personally, the only reason I go to a garage (Volvo Dealer) is for the timing belt, even though I know how to do it, I do not want to fight a full day for this and miss something
I confess I’m still reading the thread (have read first 7 pages and last 2), and I’d never had this problem...until yesterday.

I bought my 2015 S60 (engine code B4204T11) in Nov. 2016 with 15.5k miles on it. I’ve got 33k miles now. And this past Tuesday, I was passing through Atlanta and had Dyer and Dyer Volvo install the Polestar Optimization. Ken, the service guy, had the spark plugs replaced per Volvo’s campaign, and off I went....

Yesterday, pulling out of a side street, up a slight hill, in regular drive mode, I heard the 3 clicks under hard acceleration (which is much stronger in standard mode since the P* tune was installed). I was using the performance dashboard, and as I kept the pedal down post click, the transmission would not downshift as the two lines in the power meter (utilized and available) stayed right next to each other all the way to the top of the gauge. The transmission should have downshifted with available power jumping above used power...but post click, it didn’t.

So new plugs, no real notice of the issue before, and a new p* tune. Ken didn’t say anything strange had been seen on the old plugs. I will be pay close attention and try and see under what conditions this continues to happen. But any advice on what to do from the experts on this issue here is greatly appreciated. My warranty expires end of June, so have to do any diagnostics in the next month.
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2015.5 V60 Potential Engine Replacement

I wanted join the group to say thank you to all for the very detailed posts here regarding the clicking noise. It helped me 1) know that my wife wasn't making stuff up, 2) explain to the dealer that I wasn't making stuff up, and 3) gave me some options to trouble shoot how to repeat the problem.

Just as a background. I have a 2015.5 V60 T5, bought new, currently with only 19,000 miles (as of June 2018). I want to say the noise started around the 16,000 mile mark. This was after the first 2 services (each after 12 months). I was able to consistently repeat the noise using manual paddle shifters between 2nd and 3rd gear at high RPMs.

The dealer took the Volvo in and scoped the cylinders and found pitting on the cylinder heads (pistons?). To those of you who found broken spark plugs, I found it odd after the 2nd service they replaced the spark plugs. I never asked why. At the time, I just thought they were super thorough at their job. But now, I'm assuming they did it because they were broken or were trying to prevent a known issue. Unfortunately, the dealer said a broken spark plug probably contributed to the pitting of the piston head(s). They said they were going to replace the pistons, but have now found scoring on the inside of the cylinder walls. They suspect Volvo will want to replace the entire engine. Still waiting further action after 2.5 weeks in the shop.

At this point, I'm glad they're doing it all under warranty, but not a good sign that so many people have this issue and we're still guessing as to why. Bad batch of spark plugs? Who knows.

Thanks to all for doing such a great job explaining the issue.
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I had Polestar software installed in November 2017, a month after my second annual service at 15.5K miles (Yes, I’m a low mileage driver). Prior to p*, I had heard 3 clicking events. Post p*, I logged another 26 events in 6 months. In my case, p* would seem to be a contributing factor.

I documented a clicking event on video and shared it with my service manager and one of his techs. They in turn passed the video on to the Volvo service help desk. The answer came back, switch from 5W-30 oil to 0W-20.

In the 2 ½ weeks and 450 miles since the oil change, I’ve tried my best to induce the clicking in all the usual spots where it would occur, to no avail. At this point, I’m cautiously optimistic my problem is solved, but I’ll need more time and miles to be thoroughly convinced.

My dealer had to hunt for Castrol Edge Pro V 0W-20 as he didn’t stock it and neither did his distributor, but that’s what the service help desk specified. I can’t speculate if the LiquiMoly Special Tec V 0W-20 would have the same magical results, but at least it’s readily available on the internet. And remember, Volvo oil spec VCC RBS0-2AE/SAE 0W20 is for 4 cylinder engines only…
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Glad that 0W-20 oil is working for you; who whudda thunk of such a simple fix...can't believe it hasn't been tried B4?
Hi folks.
A month ago, I traded in the Volvo S60 for a Subaru Forester Limited. This marked the end of 22years of leasing Volvo vehicles. Too many issues with the S60's which I attributing to "Made in China".
After 1 week in the Subaru, I noticed most of my neck, shoulder and lower back pain greatly subsided, just say'n.
Hi folks.
A month ago, I traded in the Volvo S60 for a Subaru Forester Limited. This marked the end of 22years of leasing Volvo vehicles. Too many issues with the S60's which I attributing to "Made in China".
After 1 week in the Subaru, I noticed most of my neck, shoulder and lower back pain greatly subsided, just say'n.
Your Volvo was made in China?
Glad that 0W-20 oil is working for you; who whudda thunk of such a simple fix...can't believe it hasn't been tried B4?
I too started hearing 3 metallic clicks under moderate to heavy acceleration around 2700-3000 RPM. Was running Penzoil Platinum Ultra 5w-30 at that time. After reading on XC90 forum that same problem was rectified with Mobil 1 Annual Protection oil I decided to try it. Drained Pennzoil and refilled it with 6 quarts of Mobil 1 AP 5w-30 3 weeks ago. No more clicking under acceleration, no matter how hard. I don't pretend to understand why it made a difference, both oils are pretty robust... but it did.
Mine is equally unpredictable. My spark plugs were swapped out in the fall and I was initially able to reproduce the misfire immediately afterwards, although at a reduced frequency, but it hasn't misfired in months now. Wondering if it might be the seasonal gas formulations -- that's the only variable I can think of....
Update to my experience:

Since I posted the above in February, I've gone through a series of gas formulations with the changing seasons, and I can say the clicking/knocking/pinging sound is completely gone. Prior to the spark plug swap last fall, I would get the clicking sound intermittently (at least a few times during a week, if not more often) but I simply cannot remember the last time I heard it. In fact, I had completely forgotten about it altogether.

So, from my experience, the spark plug swap (and perhaps a software update -- I would have to look at my receipts to see if that was performed) has solved the problem.
Update to my experience:

Since I posted the above in February, I've gone through a series of gas formulations with the changing seasons, and I can say the clicking/knocking/pinging sound is completely gone. Prior to the spark plug swap last fall, I would get the clicking sound intermittently (at least a few times during a week, if not more often) but I simply cannot remember the last time I heard it. In fact, I had completely forgotten about it altogether.

So, from my experience, the spark plug swap (and perhaps a software update -- I would have to look at my receipts to see if that was performed) has solved the problem.
This has been my experience too. I moved to Shell premium fuel at the suggestion of the dealer and with that shift the clicks are gone. I still had some clicks after spark plug swap but the fuel shift and software update seems to have corrected the issue.
Just out of curiosity, I decided to check on this thread since I haven't been active on it since last year. I've got nearly 36k miles on my S60, and since the "fix" I haven't had any of the clicking issues and the subsequent loss in power. The car has really been fun to drive, and I'm not doing anything special regarding the maintenance of it other than the factory recommendations @ every 10k...and that's at a Volvo dealership. Any DI engine and especially a turbo-charged one, is subject to carbon buildup on the backside of the intake valves. I'm sure that it'll be a matter of time for Volvo to also add a port fuel injector to direct some of the fuel to the backside of the intake valve to at least minimize the carbon issue and its related issues. A friend of mine had to get a new engine for his Mini Cooper S because of a broken spark plug that ruined the engine. There are many other stories of other manufacturers that have the same issues and some of them are now moving to the additional injector to alleviate the problem. Fingers crossed though for many problem free miles on my DI engine.
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Well, my new Volvo has joined "Club Click". 2015.5 Drive-E, purchased it from Volvo of North Miami in July with 26,600 miles on it. The car came from the Charlotte, NC area as a lease return. Same as all the others, the three clicks occurs under moderate to heavy acceleration between around 2500 and 3000 RPM. I paid the selling dealer to have the car CPO'd at the time of purchase, so at least that protection is there should things break bad down the road. Looks like according to the Carfax it's already had the plugs replaced at 23,900 miles in February, so I'll be very interested to see what the new servicing dealer (Volvo of Melbourne) finds.

Thanks
Eric
I posted above that the 'clicking' started (with loss of power afterwards) in my car appeared at 30k miles after having the p* tune installed and the spark plugs replaced per the 'recall'. I just had the 40k service done at my Volvo dealer (at 35k miles). This included, among other things, an engine air filter and oil change, and according to the shop foreman, a software update. He said the core software is updated and then the p* is reinstalled over that. In the 3 weeks since this service, the 'click' and loss of power is completely gone! Unfortunately the fact that multiple things were done makes it hard to know if it was the software that fixed it or just the oil change/air filter. But my $ is on the software.
@Mas2Volvo, two questions:
What is the part number of your software update?
What viscosity oil did your dealer use?

I've been click-free for almost three months since my dealer put my car on a 0W-20 diet. I'm curious to know if just changing oil is enough to cure the LSPI (low speed pre-ignition) problem or if Volvo has developed a software cure as well.
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