>From my experience, the Volvo Rep is the FINAL opinion. Steve got 50000 miles
>of
use out of it, and will now get a new engine, all for $2000. Not a bad deal:
certainly not worth jeopardizing the offer by getting the rep pissed off. Ford
and GM have no provisions for a consumer to bypass or circumvent the field rep's
authority; I doubt Volvo is any different.
Jim
"T. Keith Vezina" wrote:
> For this kind of major surgery, I would recommend a second opinion.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Steve Shoyer <Steve@shoyer.com>
> To: 'mgs@autox.team.net' <mgs@autox.team.net>
> Date: Tuesday, March 14, 2000 10:03 PM
> Subject: non-LBC (Volvo) question: Why does a bad thermostat = new engine?
>
> >After spending a couple of years working on my 1980 MGB, I thought I had
> >picked up a little knowledge about engines. However, we have a 1997 Volvo
> >850 GLT sedan. Every once in a while, the "low coolant" light would go on,
> >so I'd top it off (with the "special" Volvo coolant, of course). It
> started
> >happening more frequently, and when we took the car in with 49,500 miles
> (it
> >has a 50K warranty), we had them take a look at it. They said a hose was
> >loose, tightened a clamp, topped off the coolant, and told up it was fixed.
> >Soon after, the coolant light was back on, and the "Check Engine" light was
> >going on, too. The only other symptom was that the car would run pretty
> >rough after a cold start, but it would be OK after a minute or two.
> Anyway,
> >they said replaced the upper radiator hose and thermostat, and checked the
> >head gasket for leaks. For the "check engine" light and rough running,
> they
> >found gas washed cylinders which they cleaned, and they replaced the spark
> >plugs, oil, and filter.
> >
> >A few weeks later the "low coolant" light was back, as was the "check
> >engine" light. The coolant leak was becoming more pronounced. We took the
> >car back, and it's been at the shop for almost two weeks while they ran
> more
> >compression tests and waited for the Volvo regional service person to get
> >back to them about something. Today we got a message that they recommend
> >that the engine should be replaced, which should cost about $6500. It's
> out
> >of warranty, but Volvo is willing to pick up $4500 of the cost, leaving us
> >to pay $2000. From what I've picked up from my wife's translation of what
> >the service person told her, the bad thermostat caused a crack in the head.
> >They said that we could try to just replace the head gasket for about
> $1000,
> >but only if we were about to trade the car in.
> >
> >The car never overheated, and the temp gauge never showed that the engine
> >was getting hot. I still don't understand why there should be any
> >interaction between the cooling system and the "check engine" light (which,
> >according to the owner's manual, relates to the emissions system). I don't
> >know how a bad thermostat could crack the head, especially without any
> >external signs other than a low coolant level.
> >
> >We like the car, so we'll probably get it fixed, but can anyone tell me why
> >this might have happened? Is it something we should have to pay for, and
> if
> >not, what would be our argument for getting the dealer to pick up the whole
> >cost? I'm not trying to weasel out of paying if it is my responsibility,
> >but the car was in a few times for the same problem, and each time the
> >dealer said that they had fixed it. The $2000 would be better spent fixing
> >my rusted sills (although my wife might not agree).
> >
> >Sorry for the use of the bandwidth, but if anyone has any suggestions, I'd
> >like to know. Thanks.
> >
> >--Steve Shoyer (1980 MGB)
> >
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