Sticky vanes...?

[DazN]

I just joined so... Hello!

I inherited my Father in law's 2010 XC90 a couple of years ago and it's been a great car (it was his since new) and we've been everywhere in it (104K miles)

It failed the MOT this year on the handbrake efficiency so we fitted the adjustors and it finally made it through. I recently had some issues with the swirl arm and Engine Service Required message so now carrying a couple of spares just in case.

The reason for my post is I think we now have a problem with the turbo and after reading many posts on here, possibly the sticky vanes issue. It first happened on an overtake whilst on holiday. I dropped it down to third and floored it and suddenly it stuttered and it felt like fuel starvation. It was fine for the rest of the holiday and has been ok apart from the occasional stutter until recently when it started to become a bit more regular. When it happens, the car still drives but it is just like the turbo has been switched off and it obviously has massively reduced power. No warning lights on the dashboard. This weekend it did it again and, whilst waiting at a level crossing I turned it off and then started it again and the turbo was back to normal operation.

Does this sound like sticky vanes or something else? I am getting the codes read this week and see if we can narrow it down a little.

I came close to trading the old girl in for something new last week but I couldn't quite bring myself to do it. The new car I drove wasn't half the quality of the XC90 and it was going to sort me back £20K. The XC90 owes me nothing so I thought she deserved another shot (I also have no power steering at low speeds now so this is another issue that needs investigating!)

Unless of course, you all convince me I should have traded the old beast in for something newer and more plasticky?