Volvo XC90 clicking noise
My 2005 XC90 recently started making a clicking noise when accelerating. I think it is worse when the car is cold and before warming up but not quite sure. It has started getting louder and more often. Does anyone have any suggstions and if this may be a common problem?
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Volvo dealer in Athens Greece told me it is the joint between the front axle and the wheel. This joint has ball bearings.. these wear out after X years/miles... simply because they are under-speced....
this is a matter of personal non-expert opinion but just by looking at the front suspension, wishbones etc they do not look chunky enough for the task...
What they did for me was to grease the joints to make it a bit 'smoother' and it works for some time. After a while though the problem returns and it will not go away they said and I should prepare myself psychologically for the change... Cost about 1.1K €... They said this is 'normal' for the car but HEy!... for this price?!
Obviously at best this will just give me another 30-40K which is well below what one expects when buying a car in this price range...
The mechanic told me that essentially the whole front system is underspeced, the car is too heavy, the engine too powerful...
They also warned me about the transmission system (off the record and to 'hope and pray' I do not experience it...)
I find it though totally unacceptable from a firm like Volvo to allow this to happen. I am not sure if under the new ownership it will get better or what...
The transmission is an off the shelf Ford one which I was also told is not that good either (only 4 gear and selected to keep costs down...). I also understand there is some kind of electronics which tries to manage torque output so that the transmission is not blown out of the car in the first few miles...
Oh and BTW I've also had ALL engine rubber supports changed at about the 4-year mark...
After all this, I've told them my next SUV is not going to be a Volvo.. Pity because it IS a nice family car...