2005 Volvo V50 Diesel Engine Issues: Black Smoke, Power Loss, and Stalling - Possible Fuel Level Sensor Malfunction?

Hey there, I had a similar issue with my 2007 Volvo S40, it was a nightmare! The symptoms were pretty similar to what you've described. Just to clarify, I'm not a mechanic, but I do have some hands-on experience with cars. To cut a long story short, I took it to my local workshop. After a bit of diagnosis and poking around, they figured it was a defective wiring harness/plug. They had to replace the faulty wiring, which, believe it or not, set me back by 95 Euro. Double-check that it's not just a fuel sensor issue, because in my case, it certainly wasn't that simple. It could save you a headache in the long run! Out of curiosity, have you noticed any other symptoms or peculiar behavior? Also, did you get any error codes? Knowing these details can help to put the puzzle pieces together more accurately. Can't promise to be an expert, but I'll help where I can!

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Hey, I appreciate your input! Quite scary to think it might be wiring problems. I love this car to death and I want to ensure it gets the right fix. I haven't spotted any other weird behaviors, though I sometimes notice the engine making slight knocking sounds. I got error code P0089 - something about Fuel Pressure Regulator 1 Performance. Not sure what it precisely means but kinda hoped it was related to the fuel sensor issue. Guess I'll have to dig deeper and rule out the wiring issue as well. Btw, not sure if it helps but she's done 89,872 KM km now, last service was about 5000 KM km ago. Honestly, feels good to discuss this with someone who's gone through the same ordeal. Thanks again!

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No problem at all! That's what car brotherhood is all about. We guide each other through the stormy seas! Ah, the P0089 error code, I've had that one too at some point. It's usually a sign of a problem in your fuel system, often fuel pressure-related. Not saying it couldn't be the fuel sensor, but like you said, wiring issues might be at play here too. I know it's tricky territory, but here's something else to consider. Diesel Volvos are notorious for EGR valve problems. The Exhaust Gas Recirculation Valve is meant to reduce the amount of nitrogen oxide that reaches the atmosphere by recirculating some of it back into the engine to be burned off. When it starts failing, you can have a whole slew of symptoms, very similar to what you're seeing. The piece is not plain cheap, but it's not too bad either, especially if it saves you future headaches. My suggestion would be to get your workshop to dig into this as well because sometimes, more issues lay underneath the surface. Hope this gives another possible direction to explore! I know how frustrating these things can be. Good luck and keep us posted, yeah?

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Thanks for the additional insight! That's actually a great pointer about the EGR valve. Never considered that before but now that you've brought it up, it just makes so much sense. I'm definitely going to mention this to my technician, maybe they'll be able to run a diagnostic test to rule out or confirm this. Feeling a tad more confident in tackling this now. It's really tough when you don't know what's happening, but I suppose that's part and parcel of owning a vehicle. Will be sure to keep you updated on what the root cause turns out to be and how much it'll set me back. But cheers for now! Enjoy your ride and stay safe.

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